International Yoga Day 2026 saw participation and messages from several Bollywood personalities including Shilpa Shetty Kundra, Sunil Shetty and Neil Nitin Mukesh. The actors opened up about the importance of yoga in promoting both physical and mental well-being.Shilpa Shetty talks about yoga’s Indian origins and its growing acceptance worldwide. He noted that the practice has now become a global movement that spans different cultures.“I feel very proud that yoga belongs to India and people in the West are accepting it,” the ‘Dhadkan’ actor said while talking to ANI.
Shilpa Shetty credits PM Modi for yoga’s global reach
Shilpa Shetty praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for promoting yoga internationally. He credits his initiatives for expanding awareness and participation in India and abroad.He said, “Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided that he will give importance to yoga. I want to thank him for the recognition that yoga has received today.”He also mentioned the Fit India movement and encouraged citizens to actively participate in building a healthy nation. According to him, yoga should not be limited to a one-day observance but should be integrated into daily life.Endorsing the initiative, he said, “The Fit India movement he started is a dream, we have to make it a reality.”
Sunil Shetty emphasizes discipline and daily practice
Actor Sunil Shetty talks about the importance of consistency in maintaining fitness through yoga. He emphasized that yoga is not limited by age and can benefit individuals at every stage of life.“Consistency is very important to stay fit. Whatever you do, it’s very important to do it every day. Sometimes yoga can seem very boring. But it’s all about breathing, stretching and life,” she told ANI.He explains the benefits of breathing exercises and yoga practice for both physical health and mental balance.“For longevity or weight loss, only breathing can help you. Pranayama helps you, your asanas help you. It is not restricted to any particular age group. Yoga is equally important for children to control their endurance, breathing and anxiety or depression,” he adds.Sunil Shetty also acknowledged PM Modi’s role in promoting yoga globally. “By establishing Yoga Day, our Prime Minister Narendra Modi has proved that yoga belongs to India,” he said.
Neil Nitin Mukesh highlights the benefits of mental well-being
Actor Neil Nitin Mukesh focuses on the importance of mental discipline and emotional balance. He says yoga helps people manage stress and improve concentration in daily life.“I believe fitness starts with yourself. If you believe in fitness, being mentally fit is very important, and having discipline is very important. Yoga teaches you that,” he told ANI.He adds that yoga is especially helpful for young people to cope with the fast-paced lifestyle and stress.“Today, young people appear in a hurry to achieve something in life. Yoga helps balance stress. It teaches us to focus on ourselves and control anxiety,” he said.Neil praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a source of inspiration. “Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I have learned a lot from him and I am very impressed with him,” he said.
Celebrating Yoga Day
Filmmaker Anil Sharma also shared a short message on the occasion, encouraging to use yoga as a daily practice. “If you celebrate Yoga Day every day, you will be fit… My best wishes for Yoga Day,” he said.The theme for International Yoga Day 2026, “Yoga for Healthy Aging”, highlights the role of yoga in supporting physical health, mental strength and active ageing. The focus is on improving the overall quality of life through regular exercise.Since 2015, when the UN General Assembly accepted India’s proposal to observe June 21 as the International Day of Yoga, the initiative has become a global event. The Prime Minister has led celebrations in various places over the years, including cities in India and abroad.This year, Yoga Divas celebrations are being organized at around 2,500 locations worldwide with the participation of over 210 Indian missions and posts.
