Kanhaiya Gullapalli from Maharashtra has been selected as one of the national finalists for the 2026 Mr. India Universe competition. The national finale of the competition is scheduled to take place later this year. At the culmination of the event, the new Mr. India Universe winner will be chosen.
Kanhaiya Gullapalli is an engineering student, content creator, freelance video editor and aspiring model from Maharashtra. Born in Solapur and raised in Mumbai, where he is currently based, he is pursuing a Bachelor of Engineering in Information Technology at Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology, Mumbai. Fluent in Telugu, Marathi, Hindi, and English, he has successfully combined his technical education with a passion for fashion, digital media, and creative storytelling. Alongside his studies, he has built expertise in professional video editing, content creation, public speaking, fashion styling, and fitness while actively pursuing badminton. His achievements include being selected as an Official Collaborator for Flipkart India's Spoyl fashion campaign, winning the Best Walk Award at his college's Freshers' Event, and earning a place as a Mr. India Universe 2026 Finalist. He is passionate about fashion, photography, filmmaking, and building a meaningful presence in the digital content space.
Kanhaiya's journey reflects perseverance, balance and the courage to pursue unconventional ambitions. Raised in a family that valued academics, he chose to follow both engineering and modelling with equal dedication, proving that technical excellence and creative expression can complement one another. Inspired by personalities such as Arjun Rampal and Ranveer Singh, he spent years refining his fitness, confidence, communication, and creative skills through disciplined self-improvement. His routine of balancing engineering studies with gym sessions, content creation, freelance editing, and modelling gradually shaped both his character and career. A defining milestone was gaining the unwavering support of his family, whose belief in his aspirations became one of his greatest sources of motivation. Looking ahead, Kanhaiya aims to establish himself as a leading fashion model, walk for renowned designers such as Manish Malhotra and Manyavar, and collaborate with international fashion brands. Through the platform of Mr. India Universe, he hopes to inspire young people to pursue their passions fearlessly while remaining committed to discipline, education, and continuous personal growth.
Mr. India Universe is a national competition for men in India. It is organised by Glamanand Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., the Indian franchise holder of the globally renowned Miss Universe competition. The event is spearheaded by its founder and chairman, Nikhil Anand, and serves as a platform for aspiring male models and personalities from across the country. Following a nationwide audition process, some of India's most talented and promising contestants have been selected to compete in this year's national finale. Before the grand finale, the finalists will undergo an intensive series of grooming and training sessions designed to enhance their confidence, communication skills, personality and stage presence. The contestants will arrive at the finale venue, where they will participate in a schedule of official photoshoots, pre-finale activities, rehearsals and a range of preliminary events leading up to the grand finale. At the culmination of the competition, the reigning Mr. India Universe, Bishan Madappa from Karnataka, will ceremonially relinquish his title and award his successor.
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