Kasad’s physique

Half a century ago, when I was in my early 20s, as a competitive bodybuilder and weightlifter I had the good fortune of befriending the gentlest giant in the Parsi community. Kersi Dhanjishaw Kasad, a rural lad who farmed for a livelihood along with his father and uncles, was a big built giant as a teenager. Thirty miles from Navsari in a village called Borkhad where he had no training partners, no gymnasium and no encouragement, he inspired himself into building up a sterling championship physique by, in his own words, "Lokhan na chana chawva pariya (having had to eat chickpeas made of iron: undergone many hardships).”
At the age of 19 he won a place at the All India Best Physique contest, compelling ace physical culturist Dabba Shetty to declare, "He is the Reg Park of India.” While American Mr Universe Steve Reeves began his movie career with Hercules Unchained, British Mr Universe Reg Park had a role in Hercules Conquers Atlantis.

Kersi Kasad: muscular eye-catcher

Keen on a Bollywood career with physique related roles, one night Kasad surprised me by taking me to see an obscure Hindi movie called Khakaam in which he had played a part. Dara Singh and Kasad were pitted against each other in wrestling bouts. Kasad was a stunning muscular eye-catcher versus Singh, a wrestler of international caliber, and acclaimed free style wrestling champion whose claim to fame had nothing to do with muscles.
Kasad calmly and modestly informed me that since he was neither a fighter nor a wrestler, Singh did not wish to have him on the sets. With deliberate intent Singh threw Kasad around very roughly to drive him away. The young man got the message and quit Bollywood, a career sadly nipped in the bud.
Recently actor Salman Khan, in connection with physical exhaustion while shooting for the film Sultan, made an unfortunate comment which raised women’s hackles. What a difference between him and Kasad! With apologies to Thomas Gray’s Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard, here is my tribute: "A very rare Mr Kasad/ Of beautiful muscularity seen/ In just one episode on the Hindi film scene/ Makes him a gem of purest ray serene/ For whom no one would care/ Being brought up in Borkhad’s rural air!”
RASHID G. KHOSRAVI