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Sudipa Mondal, a 38-year-old parkour coach from Sindri, Jharkhand, is seen in Discovery India’s survival reality series, Naked and Afraid: Aadimanav. Premiered on June 15 on Discovery Channel and streaming on discovery+, the six-episode series marks the first Indian adaptation of the globally acclaimed Naked and Afraid franchise. Set amidst the rugged jungles of Palawan in the Philippines, the show follows six participants navigating extreme survival conditions while relying on limited resources. The participants are challenged to survive dense forests, dark caves, rivers and coastal terrains with adaptability and mental strength as their toolkit.

Known for advocating conscious living, functional movement and holistic wellbeing, Sudipta Mondal brings her unique perspective, discipline and years of experience in movement training to one of the toughest challenges of her life.

Speaking about the experience, Sudipa Mondal said, “Life has shown me some serious contrasts. I grew up in Sindri within limited means and my career took me to the big city, Mumbai where excess is a way of life. I battled that, centered myself and chose a life of frugality circumventing the minute-to-minute temptations. Little did I realize that this lifestyle was the universe preparing me for Naked and Afraid. Entering the jungles of the Philippines was surreal, a complete contrast to anything that I have been exposed to all my life. The experience challenged me in ways I never imagined and reminded me how much strength exists within us when we’re stripped of comfort and forced to trust ourselves. Every minute I’m excited for audiences to witness this journey.”

On why she said yes for Naked and Afraid, Sudipta shared, “When I was approached for the show, I was going through a particularly challenging phase in my life. I remember thinking, if I can survive the concrete jungle, why not the real wild? I wanted to discover who I am when I am left with nothing except a single survival tool. I wanted to witness and remind myself of my own potential when all the comforts of modern life are taken away. So, I said yes.”

The series promises an immersive look at survival, endurance and the human spirit as participants push beyond their perceived limits in one of nature’s most demanding environments.

Naked and Afraid: Aadimanav airs every Monday and Tuesday at 11:00 PM on Discovery Channel and is also available for streaming on discovery+.