Lucknow boy Jitesh Singh Deo, who won the title of Peter England Mr India World 2017, in Mumbai on Thursday, says he always had the confidence to make it to the top but could hardly believe it when his name was announced as the winner.

The 22-year defeated 15 other contestants in the final round to win the coveted title. Having worked hard for two years to clinch the title Jitesh is “super happy” and is now looking forward to coming back home to Lucknow and celebrating his success with his friends and family. Also on the top of his to-do list, when in Lucknow, is tucking in his favourite Tundey kebabs.

Speaking to us from Mumbai, Jitesh says, “I froze on stage when they announced my name as the winner. And then when Kangana Ranaut put that sash around me, it was the most incredible feeling. I knew I had it in me but frankly, the win was unexpected. But as they say, and now I firmly believe it too, that hard work definitely pays.”

And Jitesh would know that as the engineering graduate also tried his luck in the contest two-years ago but couldn’t make it to the finals. He then groomed and trained himself for this year’s contest and succeeded, and how!

The former City Montessori School student of Mahanagar, third branch, says he is now looking forward to sharing his happiness with his family and friends in Lucknow. “Bas ab Lucknow aa ke celebrate karna hai”Jitesh laughs and adds, “My grandmother and parents are eagerly waiting for me to be there at home.

My grandmother and mom had started crying when they got to know that I had won. My parents were so happy that they cut a cake and partied the whole night the day I won. My friends have been calling me up ki ‘bhai kab aa raha hai, party karni hai’. There’s so much excitement among all my relatives and even our neighbours. Ab bas sabse milna hai. Aur sabse zyada, Lucknow aa ke khoob saare Tundey kabab khaane hain. I am dying to have them. Mein thoda patla bhi ho gaya hoon toh Lucknow aane ke baad khoob sara khana khaunga.”

‘But what surprised Jitesh was a call from his school congratulating him for his win. “I got a call from my school and they said they want to felicitate me. It was a bit surprising kyunki mein aisa koi studies mein bahut achha nahi tha. And now they want to honour me. That’s what I call god’s blessings. It’s all feeling so nice.

My friends are calling me and saying ‘yeh ladka jo hamare saath padhta tha, khada hota tha, aaj TV pe hai aur Mr India bann gaya hai!’

Giving credit to his city of birth for his win, Jitesh says, “All credit goes to Lucknow for my success. Yahan ki tehzeeb, parvarish, grooming, yahi sab zimmedar hain meri kaamyabi ke. My basic personality has been shaped in this city. Yes, I got the exposure and the confidence to face the world in Mumbai, where I shifted six-months ago and also in college in Ghaziabad, but shuruaat toh Lucknow se hi hui hai.”

An aspiring actor, Jitesh has acted as lead in a film made last year on the 2013 Uttrakhand floods. He has also participated in fashion shows in the past and says that Bollywood will be a natural progression, but not just yet.

“As of now, I want to focus on the Mr World title. After Rohit Khandelwal winning the Mr World title and Manushi Chillar being crowned Miss World, I feel my responsibility has increased. I want to retain the Mr World title in India and win it for my country again. So abhi toh usi ki taiyyari karni hai,” says Jitesh, adding, “As a kid I always was interested in singing, dancing and acting but I had never imagined myself to be Mr India. I used to participate in cultural activities in school.

In fact, when I was in class 12th, the school annual function was to be held. And since we had our board exams, we weren’t allowed to participate in it. But I saw these juniors practicing for the group song and I also joined in. On the final day of the event when people saw me as the lead singer in the group, they were shocked ki yeh ladka kaise aa gaya annual function mein, so main aisi cheezen karta rehta hoon. But, eventually, I want to be an actor.”

— Itishree.Misra@timesgroup.com

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> City News> Lucknow News / TNN / December 18th, 2017