Milind Soman: Why India Must Teach Health and Fitness

Actor and Fitness enthusiast Milind Soman has highlighted what he believes is a major gap in India’s education system and social conditioning: people are taught how to study, find jobs and build careers, but rarely how to stay healthy, physically active and happy.

Speaking at the India Today Health Wealth Conclave 2026, Soman argued that health and happiness should receive greater attention in the way people are raised and educated. He said individuals are often prepared for professional responsibilities without being taught how to understand their bodies or develop habits that support long-term well-being.

“We are not taught how to have a healthy, fit life. Nobody is teaching us,” Soman said during the discussion.

He added: “We are only taught how to get a job and how to sit in the office. That is what we are taught as a society. This is what we focus on.”

Why Health and Happiness Are Missing From Everyday Learning

Soman made the remarks while responding to a retired defence officer in the audience, who spoke about the difficulty of unlearning the idea that physical activity was not part of an officer’s life.

He said the issue was not limited to the defence services or any particular profession. Instead, it reflected a broader social pattern in which education and upbringing tend to prioritise academic performance, employment and career development over physical well-being.

“Health and Happiness” Are Life’s Most Important Priorities

Highlighting what he considers the two most important aspects of life, Soman questioned why people are not systematically taught how to achieve them.

“What are the two most important things in life? Health and happiness. Who teaches you? Nobody,” he said.

According to Soman, neither schools nor families necessarily provide people with the knowledge needed to understand health and happiness. As a result, individuals often have to take responsibility for learning what these concepts mean and how to incorporate them into their daily lives.

His comments underline the importance of treating physical and mental well-being as essential parts of everyday education rather than concerns that people should address only after entering professional life.

Milind Soman Says Fitness Is More About Choice Than Time

The discussion also focused on a common challenge faced by working professionals: finding time for exercise alongside office responsibilities and other daily commitments.

Soman suggested that the difficulty is not always a lack of time but often a matter of personal choices and priorities. Rather than waiting for an ideal schedule or a lengthy workout session, he encouraged people to begin with small amounts of physical activity.

He shared that he exercises for around 10 minutes a day, sometimes dividing that time into several short bursts of movement.

His approach challenges the assumption that maintaining fitness requires long gym sessions or a demanding exercise routine. The emphasis, instead, is on making movement a regular part of everyday life.

Fitness Does Not Have to Mean Going to the Gym

Soman’s 87-year-old mother, Usha Soman, and his wife, Ankita Konwar, joined him on stage during the discussion. Usha spoke about how everyday life once involved considerably more physical movement.

She pointed out that the introduction of lifts, escalators and household technology has reduced the need for people to perform many routine physical activities. Tasks and movements that were once naturally part of daily life can now be avoided through modern conveniences.

The discussion highlighted how changes in lifestyles and technology can influence everyday activity levels. People may spend more time sitting and rely on machines for tasks that previously required physical effort.

Soman said staying fit does not necessarily require access to a gym or a strict exercise programme. What matters is remaining active, developing awareness of one’s physical condition and understanding which activities suit the body.

Self-Awareness Is the Key to Health and Fitness

Emphasising the importance of understanding individual physical needs, Soman said people should pay attention to their bodies rather than depend entirely on technology or fitness gadgets to guide their decisions.

“The key to health and fitness and even happiness is self-awareness,” he said.

His message was that fitness should not be reduced to numbers displayed on wearable devices or performance measurements. People need to recognise their own physical needs and understand how everyday habits affect their well-being.

Self-awareness, in this context, means paying attention to the body, recognising personal limitations and identifying practical ways to remain active. It also involves making consistent choices instead of relying on occasional intensive workouts.

A Wider Conversation About India’s Approach to Fitness

Soman’s remarks at the India Today Health Wealth Conclave 2026 raise a broader question about how Indian society defines success and prepares people for adulthood.

Academic qualifications, professional skills and career achievements receive considerable attention during a person’s formative years. However, his comments suggest that knowledge about physical activity, personal well-being and healthy daily routines deserves a more prominent place in education and family life.

His advice also offers a practical starting point for people who struggle to balance fitness with demanding schedules: begin with manageable periods of movement rather than treating exercise as an activity that requires a gym membership or a large amount of free time.

Ultimately, Soman’s message is that health and happiness should not be postponed until people have achieved their professional goals. They are essential parts of life that require awareness, personal responsibility and consistent attention.