You've probably seen his face pop up on your feed lately. Maybe it was a clip of him lifting a terrifying amount of weight, or perhaps it was a headline about a high-speed car chase that had half of Twitter calling for his arrest. Honestly, it’s hard to keep up.
Rajat Dalal is one of those rare internet personalities who seems to exist in two worlds at once. To the fitness community, he’s a beast—a world-record-holding powerlifter who puts up numbers that don't even look real. But to the general public, he’s often seen as the "bad boy" of Indian social media.
So, who is Rajat Dalal? Is he a misunderstood athlete or a reckless influencer?
The answer, as you might expect, is kinda messy.
From Faridabad to the World Stage
Born on January 12, 1996, in Faridabad, Haryana, Rajat didn't just stumble into fame. He grew up in a middle-class Jaat Hindu family where discipline was basically the house rule. His father, Mohinder Singh Dalal, was a huge influence, pushing him toward sports early on.
He wasn't always a "villain."
In his early 20s, Rajat was a force in the professional powerlifting circuit. We aren't just talking about local gym meets. In 2018, he set a Classic Raw World Record in Deadlift, pulling a massive 302.5 kg (roughly 666 lbs) in the 90 kg Junior category. Think about that for a second. That's like lifting three full-grown motorcycles at once.
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By 2021, he had a shelf full of gold and silver medals from the WPC (World Powerlifting Congress) World Cup and national championships. But here’s the kicker—Rajat often says that when he was winning medals for India, nobody cared.
"When I wore medals, no one paid attention," he once told Salman Khan. "But when I was handcuffed, that’s when everyone started searching my name."
The Turning Point: Why Everyone is Searching Who is Rajat Dalal
Social media changed everything for him. He moved from being an athlete to a "fitness influencer," and that's where the lines started to blur. His Instagram (@rajat_9629) exploded, but not just because of his workouts.
It was the "bhaichara" (brotherhood) and the beefs.
Rajat became a central figure in the North Indian "influencer wars." He was right in the middle of the infamous clash between Elvish Yadav and Maxtern, playing a weird hybrid role of mediator and muscle. His "no-nonsense" attitude—which his fans call "alpha" and his critics call "aggressive"—turned him into a digital vigilante of sorts.
Then came the legal trouble.
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- The 140 km/h Incident: In late 2024, a video went viral of Rajat driving at 143 km/h on a busy road. He allegedly clipped a biker and, instead of stopping, famously remarked, "Roz ka yahi kaam hai, ma'am" (This is a daily routine for me, ma'am). The backlash was instant.
- The Kidnapping Allegations: Earlier that year, he was arrested in Ahmedabad following a dispute with a teenager over a social media video. The charges were serious—abduction and assault.
- The CarryMinati Feud: Even Asia’s biggest YouTuber, CarryMinati, couldn’t resist roasting him. Rajat didn't take it lightly, leading to a tense back-and-forth that eventually saw segments of the video being removed.
Bigg Boss 18: The Attempt at a "Image Clean-up"
By the time Bigg Boss 18 (Time Ka Tandav) rolled around in late 2024, Rajat Dalal was a household name for all the wrong reasons. Entering the house was a strategic move. He wanted people to see the "real Gullu" (his nickname at home).
He actually did pretty well.
Inside the house, he was surprisingly calm at times, acting as a protector for contestants like Sara Arfeen Khan. He formed a massive voting bloc, largely backed by the "Elvish Army." Despite the controversies outside, he survived every nomination and made it to the Grand Finale in January 2025.
He didn't win—Karan Veer Mehra took the trophy—but Rajat finished as the second runner-up. Even without the win, his popularity soared. As of early 2026, his Instagram following has blown past the 4 million mark.
The Wealth and the Lifestyle
People often wonder how a powerlifter from Faridabad lives such a luxe life. His net worth is estimated to be around ₹16 to ₹20 crore (roughly $2-2.5 million USD).
Most of this doesn't come from lifting weights. It's the influencer machine. With an engagement rate that brands dream of (nearly 10%), he commands massive fees for promotions. He’s also expanded into the gym business, aiming to open a chain of accessible fitness centers across Haryana and Delhi.
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He drives high-end cars, wears expensive jewelry, and lives the "Haryanvi King" lifestyle that resonates deeply with his core audience.
What Really Happened with the Biker?
To be fair, Rajat has addressed these things head-on. In a press conference inside the Bigg Boss house, he claimed many of the allegations were "blown out of proportion" to tarnish his image.
He admits he has a temper.
"I am violent when I get angry," he confessed. He attributes some of this to the "aggression" required for elite powerlifting, but he also acknowledges the embarrassment his family faced because of the police vans at his door.
Rajat Dalal in 2026: What's Next?
Today, Rajat is trying to pivot. He’s still the guy who will get into a verbal spat on a livestream, but he’s also focusing on:
- Youth Mentorship: He provides free training to underprivileged kids in Faridabad.
- Animal Welfare: He's surprisingly vocal about protecting stray dogs.
- Pro Sports: After a stint in the Entertainers Cricket League (ECL) for Team Haryana, he's looking at more mainstream sports entertainment.
Whether you like him or not, you can't ignore him. He represents a specific subculture of the Indian internet—one that values strength, loyalty, and "raw" authenticity over polished PR.
Actionable Insights for the Curious
If you're following the Rajat Dalal story, here is what you should actually keep an eye on to see if he's "reformed" or just rebranding:
- Watch the Gym Rollouts: Check if his "accessible gym" initiative actually launches in Tier 2 cities. It’s the best indicator of whether he’s building a real business legacy.
- Monitor Legal Dispositions: Headlines move fast, but court cases move slow. If you want the truth about the 2024 incidents, look for the final police reports rather than 30-second Instagram reels.
- The Content Shift: Notice if his feed starts moving away from "beef" and more toward professional coaching. Authenticity is his brand, but sustainability requires a shift in tone.
The story of Rajat Dalal isn't finished yet. He's a 30-year-old with the world at his feet and a history that keeps trying to trip him up. Only time will tell if the "Hulk of Haryana" can keep his temper—and his career—under control.