'Feel this is Indian culture': Milind Soman reacts to nude photo controversy

At 55, he is one of the fittest actors in the film industry. Yes, we are talking none other than model-turned-actor and fitness enthusiast Milind Soman, who can easily give any young actor a run for their money. And while many would envy the star for his fit body, the controversies that follow the life of a celebrity is not something that anyone would desire. 

A recent controversy that Milind found himself in the middle of had to do with a nude photo of him on the internet. 

Well, on his 55th birthday, Milind had taken to his Instagram handle to share a nude of himself running on a Goa beach. While many praised the star for his fit bod, a section of users took offence and also filed an FIR against him for obscenity. 

Now, opening up on the photo row, Milind had said that in an interview with Times of India that "it was like people never saw anybody naked before."

"I don’t know why! It was like people never saw anybody naked before, It is crazy!," reacted Milind when asked about his nude photo, which was clicked by his wife Ankita.

Explaining what trolling meant to him and why he never paid attention to them, Milind continued, "I don't really notice trolls. Sometimes I look for it, just for fun sake. Even if you look at that (nude) picture, it is not really trolling. I know what is trolling. When I see some people and the response they get on social media, I really wonder - how does it affect their mental health. Because it is such an attack. It is hard to digest when thousands of people are fermenting negativity. I really wonder how they deal with it."

He added, "Even for my nude picture, 99% of people were like - WOW! This is amazing! And it was shot by my wife, it was not like some photographer was hired or some newspaper shot it. I think people were just a little bit shocked! especially those who are new to Internet culture as these people are not exposed to what's already on the Internet which is basically the real world. For those, I think my picture was a wakeup call. Search the hashtag naked on Instagram and there will be 10 million posts. It’s just that people have not seen it."

He further said, "The problem is that people think whatever my house, my family does is a good culture and what others do that's American. So for them let me share that in America, it is illegal to be nude. And in most places in India, it is not. I feel this is Indian culture."  

He concluded by saying that if Instagram had found a problem with the photo they would have taken it down since the platform has its own rules and regulations.