From an instinctive entry into the fitness industry to building Nitrro into a growing fitness and wellness ecosystem, Prabodh Davkhare’s journey is a story of passion, perseverance, and the courage to turn an unexpected opportunity into a lasting vision.
WHEN DESTINY MEETS DETERMINATION
Some entrepreneurial journeys begin with a carefully drawn business plan. Others begin with an opportunity that changes everything. For Prabodh Davkhare, his entry into the fitness industry was remarkably the latter.
An entrepreneur with a deep-rooted passion for fitness, Davkhare often describes his journey with a simple yet powerful statement: “I did not choose the industry; the industry chose me.”
Coming from an affluent political family, he grew up surrounded by people, relationships, businesses, and public life. Yet, his academic pursuits took him beyond familiar surroundings. He pursued an MBA in Hospitality Management in Switzerland, where he developed an understanding of international service standards, hospitality, and customer experience.
Although his professional beginnings were in real estate, fitness had always remained close to his heart. During his years in Switzerland, he was passionate about training and drew inspiration from global fitness icons such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. However, he never imagined that this personal interest would eventually define his professional identity.
The turning point arrived when he came across a gym that was up for sale. What appeared to be a business opportunity soon became the beginning of an extraordinary entrepreneurial journey. Without a meticulously mapped-out plan to enter the fitness industry, he trusted his instinct and took the plunge.
That single decision would eventually lead to the creation of Nitrro Fitness, a brand built around an ambition that extended far beyond conventional gym operations.
FROM A SINGLE GYM TO A DISTINCTIVE FITNESS IDENTITY
Davkhare’s early journey in fitness gained significant momentum when he brought World Gym USA to India, establishing its first fitness centre in Thane. At the time, Arnold Schwarzenegger was the brand ambassador of World Gym, making the association a defining milestone in his entrepreneurial career.
However, operating a global franchise was only the beginning. Encouraged by close friends from the Bollywood industry, particularly Suniel Shetty and Salman Khan, Davkhare began envisioning something of his own—a fitness brand that would reflect his personal philosophy, ambition, and understanding of the evolving Indian consumer.
That vision took shape as Nitrro Fitness.
On 8 August 2008, Mr. Prabodh Davkhare embarked on his journey by launching his first fitness centre in Thane West, inaugurated by Bollywood superstar Salman Khan.
On 9 May 2012, the journey continued when Nitrro opened its first major facility in Thane East, a sprawling one-lakh-square-foot fitness centre featuring a swimming pool. Designed by Suniel Shetty and inaugurated by Salman Khan, the facility marked a significant milestone in redefining the fitness experience.
Next came the launch of Nitrro’s South Mumbai flagship at Breach Candy around the monsoon of 2015. With an emphasis on design, service, ambience, and experience, Nitrro continued to build its identity as a premium fitness destination.
For Davkhare, fitness was never meant to be restricted to physical exercise. It was about creating an environment where people could experience motivation, aspiration, discipline, and well-being.
BUILDING A BRAND THAT PEOPLE BELIEVE IN
For many entrepreneurs, success is measured through expansion, revenue, or industry recognition. For Davkhare, however, one achievement carries a deeper significance: the trust people have placed in the brand he created.
Building a fitness centre requires investment and operational expertise. Building a brand that inspires other entrepreneurs to invest their hard-earned money is an entirely different responsibility.
Nitrro’s franchise partners have invested approximately ₹5–6 crore in individual clubs, with several partners extending their association by investing in two or even three facilities.
To Davkhare, this repeated confidence is one of the strongest validations of his entrepreneurial vision.
“Someone putting their hard-earned money behind your name and your vision is a much greater validation than any award,” is the philosophy that underlines his approach to business.
Over the years, Nitrro has received several industry recognitions, including the Fitness Excellence Award for Best Gym in the Country, the Times Icon Award, the CIMS Award for Best Fitness Entrepreneur of the Year, and recognition among the Top 10 Iconic Global Fitness Centers by Destination Luxury, Los Angeles.
The brand has also received recognition in the ÜBER LUXE / Over & Beyond category at the Fitness Excellence Awards, the Best Elite Luxury Fitness Chain Award at the Action Hero Fitness Awards 2024, and honours for its contribution to the health and fitness sector.
Yet, Davkhare views these accolades as milestones rather than destinations. What matters more is the credibility and confidence they represent.
The association of celebrated personalities such as Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Dharmendra, and Suniel Shetty with Nitrro has also contributed to the brand’s public identity. For Davkhare, these relationships signify more than celebrity presence; they reflect the trust and reputation the brand has built over time.
THE COURAGE TO CHALLENGE CONVENTION
One of Nitrro’s defining characteristics has been its willingness to challenge the conventional perception of fitness spaces in India.
At a time when gyms were largely viewed as functional workout environments, Nitrro introduced a more immersive visual and experiential approach. RGB lighting, magenta and blue interiors, exposed brick walls, and open ceilings became part of its distinctive design language.
These were not merely aesthetic decisions. They reflected a larger philosophy: fitness should feel aspirational, engaging, and exciting.
Over time, many of these design elements became widely adopted across the industry, reinforcing Nitrro’s role in shaping the evolving fitness environment.
But Davkhare’s ambition was never limited to creating visually distinctive gyms. He wanted to build a comprehensive ecosystem that could address different dimensions of fitness and wellness.
This led to the development of Nitrro Fitness Academy (NFA), focused on fitness education and professional development, alongside performance training, endurance activities, fitness events, and community initiatives.
The introduction of Zone 360 by Nitrro Fitness further expanded this vision. Built around the philosophy of “Fitness for All,” the concept offers an affordable, express-format, no-frills model designed to make quality fitness accessible to a broader audience.
The organisation has also ventured into wellness, spa, salon, and beauty services, while its consumer-product initiative, ROAR, an energy drink developed with natural ingredients and a natural sweetener, represents another extension of the brand.
From premium fitness centres to accessible formats, education, wellness, and lifestyle products, Nitrro is steadily evolving into a multidimensional business.
THE DEFINING TEST: SURVIVING THE PANDEMIC
Every entrepreneurial journey encounters moments that test its foundation. For Davkhare, the COVID-19 lockdown was undoubtedly one of the most difficult periods.
The pandemic brought the fitness industry to an unprecedented standstill. Gyms shut down, members could no longer visit facilities, and businesses faced uncertainty over reopening timelines and the future of operations.
For an entrepreneur responsible for employees, franchise partners, members, and an established brand, the crisis was deeply personal.
There was no established playbook to follow. The duration of the disruption was unknown, and the fitness industry received limited government support during the period.
In those uncertain circumstances, Mr. Davkhare focused on patience, protecting the organisation, staying connected with people, and maintaining faith in the future.
The experience reinforced a lesson that continues to shape his entrepreneurial philosophy: resilience is not always about making the boldest move. Sometimes, it is about having the courage to endure, adapt, and preserve the vision through difficult times.
The pandemic also strengthened his belief that no business, regardless of its scale or reputation, is immune to sudden change. People, relationships, adaptability, and a strong purpose remain central to an organisation’s ability to navigate uncertainty.
A VISION BEYOND GYMS: MAKING INDIA FITTER
For Davkhare, the future of Nitrro is closely connected to a larger national aspiration: making India fitter.
However, he believes that achieving this requires more than expanding the number of fitness centres. It demands a comprehensive approach that brings together education, accessibility, wellness, community, and professional standards.
Education forms the first pillar of this vision. Through Nitrro Fitness Academy, he aims to promote scientific knowledge, better training practices, and professional development. In an industry where expertise directly influences people’s health and quality of life, he believes that better education and better trainers are essential for sustainable growth.
The second pillar is scalability through differentiated business formats. While Nitrro continues to develop its premium fitness experience, Zone 360 provides an opportunity to reach a wider audience through a more accessible model.
The wellness and beauty verticals are another important part of the expansion strategy. Facilities in Kalyani Nagar, Pune, and Express Tower, Nariman Point, South Mumbai, reflect the organisation’s growing focus on wellness, beauty, and longevity.
Davkhare believes the future lies in creating an integrated ecosystem where fitness, nutrition, recovery, wellness, beauty, and lifestyle complement one another.
ROAR represents another step in this direction, taking the brand beyond traditional fitness-centre operations and into consumer products.
Yet, amidst expansion and diversification, one element remains central to his vision: community.
CREATING A COMMUNITY THAT MOVES TOGETHER
For Davkhare, Nitrro is not simply a collection of gyms, swimming pools, spas, salons, or health cafés. It is a community built around shared aspirations for a healthier and more active lifestyle.
Initiatives such as Nitrrothon, fitness competitions, endurance activities, and member experiences provide platforms for individuals to challenge themselves, build connections, and celebrate progress.
The organisation’s social initiatives, including blood donation camps, full-body health check-up camps, and breast cancer awareness programmes, further reflect its commitment to extending its impact beyond its commercial operations.
These efforts underline Davkhare’s belief that fitness is not merely a personal pursuit but an important component of collective well-being.
His ambition is to continue expanding Nitrro, generate employment, strengthen fitness education, promote wellness and longevity, and contribute to raising the overall standards of the Indian fitness industry.
The larger goal is not simply to build more centres, but to help create a healthier society.
THE ENTREPRENEURIAL PHILOSOPHY: BALANCING PASSION WITH PERSPECTIVE
Despite the scale of his journey, Davkhare’s advice to aspiring entrepreneurs remains grounded in a simple principle: follow your passion, but never follow it blindly.
He believes successful entrepreneurship requires a balance between emotional quotient (EQ) and intellectual quotient (IQ).
Passion provides the motivation to begin, but strategic thinking, planning, financial understanding, risk assessment, and the right team are what enable a business to grow sustainably.
His own journey reflects this balance. While destiny introduced him to the fitness industry, it was his willingness to recognise the opportunity, learn continuously, and build with conviction that transformed it into a long-term enterprise.
From acquiring a single gym to bringing World Gym USA to India, from establishing Nitrro to expanding into education, wellness, and consumer products, his journey has been shaped by instinct, relationships, persistence, and an evolving vision.
And for Davkhare, the journey is far from complete.
BEYOND BUSINESS: BUILDING A VISION BIGGER THAN YOURSELF
The most rewarding part of entrepreneurship, Davkhare believes, is not seeing one’s name on a building. It is witnessing a vision grow beyond its founder—when employees believe in it, partners invest in it, customers identify with it, and others draw inspiration from it.
That belief captures the essence of his journey.
What began as an unexpected opportunity has evolved into a brand with a distinctive identity, a growing ecosystem, and an ambition that reaches beyond commercial success.
As Nitrro continues to explore new formats, expand its wellness offerings, strengthen fitness education, and build communities, Davkhare remains focused on the larger purpose that now defines his work.
His story is a reminder that entrepreneurial journeys do not always begin with certainty. Sometimes, they begin with a decision to take a chance—and the determination to make that chance count.
“I did not choose fitness. Fitness chose me. But today, fitness is not just my business—it is my passion, my purpose, and a significant part of my life’s journey.”
