Dino Morea's fitness message travels to four more cities

After installing 20 fitness stations in Mumbai over the past two years - and courting a fair bit of controversy initially - actor Dino Morea is taking his pet project to four other Indian cities. His firm is currently setting up free-for-all, open air gymnasiums in Ahmedabad, Jamshedpur, Raipur and Port Blair.

Says Dino, "Our fitness stations have become a hit with the youth. Everyone who passes by and sees people working out wants to do the same. So, we have had a lot of enquiries pouring in with requests for setting up fitness stations in other cities. The idea is loved because it's simple yet effective."

In some cases, his company, DMâu00c2u0080u00c2u0088Fitness, will bear the installation charges while in others, it is collaborating with the state government concerned or has sought sponsorship from local industrialists or business houses that are keen to promote the idea of physical well being.

Next on his agenda are Bengaluru, his hometown, and Kolkata.

Does he believe that general consciousness about fitness has increased, in the true sense, over the past decade? "Definitely, more people are opting for a healthier living than just keeping busy with work, leading to a more balanced lifestyle. Priorities are changing for the better and leaning more towards healthier options."

In July 2015, Dino set up an open air gym at the Marine Drive, which was inaugurated by Jacqueline Fernandes and Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray. However, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) pulled it down the next day only to be reinstalled again. Dino wasn't given an extension for the experimental project and had to shift the fitness station to Sewree.