Prateek Yadav was the younger son of late Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav and the step-brother of former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. Despite being born into one of India’s most influential political families, he chose a quiet path of his own as a fitness entrepreneur, animal welfare advocate, and businessman based in Lucknow. He passed away on 13 May 2026 at the age of 38, leaving behind his wife Aparna Bisht Yadav and their two daughters, Prathama and Katyayani.
Prateek Yadav Biography, Wiki
| Full Name | Prateek Yadav |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 7 July 1987 (sources conflict; Wikipedia cites 1988) |
| Age (2026) | 38 Years (at time of passing; per most sources) |
| Date of Death | 13 May 2026 |
| Birthplace | Uttar Pradesh, India (exact birthplace not publicly confirmed; sources cite both Lucknow and Saifai) |
| Hometown | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Caste or Community | Yadav |
| Zodiac Sign | Cancer |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) |
| Weight | 82 kg (181 lbs) |
| Eye Colour | Black |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Profession | Fitness Entrepreneur, Businessman |
| Known For | Son of Mulayam Singh Yadav; Founder of Iron Core Fit gym, Lucknow |
| Father’s Name | Chandra Prakash Gupta (biological); Mulayam Singh Yadav (step-father) |
| Mother’s Name | Sadhana Gupta (died 9 July 2022) |
| Siblings | Akhilesh Yadav (step-brother) |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Aparna Bisht Yadav (BJP leader) |
| Marriage Date | December 2011 |
| Children | Prathama Yadav (elder daughter); Katyayani Yadav (younger daughter) |
| School | Not publicly confirmed |
| College / University | University of Leeds, United Kingdom |
| Degree / Qualification | MBA, University of Leeds |
| Political Party | N/A (never entered politics) |
| Net Worth (estimated) | Rs. 10–15 crore (estimated) |
| Monthly Income (estimated) | Not publicly confirmed |
| @iamprateekyadav (1 million followers) | |
| @iamprateekyadav | |
| Twitter / X | Not publicly confirmed |
| Official Website | ironcorefit.co.in |
Prateek Yadav Career
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2003 | Mother Sadhana Gupta reportedly married Mulayam Singh Yadav (exact date not publicly confirmed); Prateek recognised as Mulayam’s step-son |
| 2007 | Mulayam’s Supreme Court affidavit formally acknowledged Prateek as a legitimate family member |
| 2011 | Married Aparna Bisht in Lucknow (December) |
| 2015 | Opened Iron Core Fit gym in Gomti Nagar, Lucknow; inauguration performed by Mulayam Singh Yadav (January) |
| 2017 | Wife Aparna Yadav contested UP Assembly Elections from Lucknow Cantt constituency |
| 2022 | Mother Sadhana Gupta passed away (July); step-father Mulayam Singh Yadav passed away (October) |
| 2022 | Wife Aparna Yadav joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (January) |
| 2025 | Reportedly lost Rs. 4 crore in an investment fraud; alleged threats followed when he sought a refund |
| January 2026 | Publicly posted about marital difficulties and stated intention to seek divorce; later announced reconciliation |
| 13 May 2026 | Passed away at the age of 38 at Civil Hospital, Lucknow |
Prateek Yadav Early Life and Family
Prateek Yadav was born on 7 July 1987 (Wikipedia cites 1988; the exact year is disputed across sources) in Uttar Pradesh to Sadhana Gupta and her then-husband Chandra Prakash Gupta. His early years were shaped by a family story that would eventually place him at the centre of one of UP’s most powerful political households. Sadhana and Chandra Prakash separated a couple of years after Prateek’s birth, and Sadhana later began a relationship with Mulayam Singh Yadav that remained largely private through the 1990s.
That relationship was officially acknowledged in a 2007 Supreme Court affidavit, when Mulayam confirmed Sadhana as his wife during a Disproportionate Assets inquiry by the CBI. From that point, Prateek was widely accepted as the step-son of the Samajwadi Party patriarch. Growing up in Lucknow, he was candid about having no political ambitions; he once recalled in an interview how at age eight he would mimic Mulayam’s speeches at home, only to lose all interest in politics as he grew older.
Prateek Yadav Father
Prateek’s biological father was Chandra Prakash Gupta, a resident of Uttar Pradesh. His step-father, Mulayam Singh Yadav, was the founder of the Samajwadi Party and a three-time Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh who passed away on 10 October 2022 at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram. In public interviews, Prateek spoke warmly of Mulayam, describing him as a man with an extraordinary memory who never forgot a face or a name.
Prateek Yadav Mother
Sadhana Gupta was originally from Bidhuna Tehsil in Etawah district and had married Chandra Prakash Gupta in 1986. Prateek was born a year later. Following her separation from Chandra Prakash, she grew close to Mulayam Singh Yadav, and the two were formally married on 23 May 2003. Sadhana passed away on 9 July 2022 at a private hospital in Gurugram after a prolonged illness, just three months before Mulayam’s own death.
Prateek Yadav Siblings and Family Background
Prateek’s step-brother Akhilesh Yadav is the son of Mulayam Singh and his first wife Malti Devi, who passed away in 2003. Akhilesh served as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and remains the sitting president of the Samajwadi Party. Prateek had no biological siblings. Despite their different mothers, the two maintained family ties, and the Samajwadi Party expressed condolences immediately upon Prateek’s passing in May 2026.
Prateek Yadav Education
Prateek Yadav earned an MBA from the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom. The degree gave him a foundation in business management that would later shape his work in the fitness and real estate sectors in Lucknow. Details about his schooling in India were never publicly confirmed.
The Leeds degree set him apart within a family known primarily for electoral politics. Where Akhilesh Yadav had studied engineering before entering governance, Prateek returned from the UK with a clear personal direction: build businesses, stay physically disciplined, and remain outside the world of political campaigns and party rallies.
Prateek Yadav Career
Prateek Yadav’s most visible public identity was built around fitness. As a child and teenager he had been overweight, and the discipline required to transform his own body became central to who he was. He developed a muscular physique over years of training, eventually becoming known for his commitment to vegetarian bodybuilding at a time when most fitness culture in India associated muscle with meat.
Iron Core Fit and Fitness Entrepreneurship
In January 2015, Prateek opened Iron Core Fit gym in Gomti Nagar, Lucknow, with the inauguration performed by Mulayam Singh Yadav. At the time it was one of the largest gyms in Uttar Pradesh, fitted with Italian and American equipment and charging an annual membership fee of Rs. 36,000. The facility positioned itself at the premium end of the Lucknow fitness market and became Prateek’s central professional project for years.
Beyond the gym, Prateek maintained a highly active Instagram account at @iamprateekyadav, where he built a following of one million by the time of his death. He posted workout content, personal updates, and his animal welfare work, cultivating a persona as a fitness influencer with a social conscience.
Real Estate and Business
Prateek was also associated with real estate interests in Lucknow, though the specifics of these ventures were never detailed publicly. He was known in local business circles as someone with multiple income streams outside politics. His ownership of a Lamborghini worth over Rs. 5 crore attracted media attention on more than one occasion, and he publicly clarified that the vehicle was purchased from his own taxable earnings.
Jeev Ashray and Animal Welfare
One of the causes closest to Prateek was animal welfare. He ran an organisation called Jeev Ashray, dedicated to the rescue, treatment, feeding, and care of stray dogs across Lucknow. His Instagram bio listed the foundation prominently alongside Iron Core Fit. Friends and followers consistently described his commitment to animals as genuine and not merely performative, and it remained a defining part of his public identity until his death.
Prateek Yadav Political Journey and Family Context
Prateek Yadav never contested an election or held a party position. In a family where his step-brother led a major regional party and his wife eventually joined the BJP, Prateek occupied an unusual space: a prominent political surname without any political role. He stated repeatedly in interviews that politics held no appeal for him beyond the childhood memories of watching his step-father on television.
His wife Aparna Bisht Yadav took a very different path. After contesting the 2017 UP Assembly Elections from Lucknow Cantt on a Samajwadi Party ticket, she eventually joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in January 2022 and was appointed as Vice-Chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh State Women’s Commission. This placed the couple in an unusual dynamic: one rooted in the SP household, the other a BJP officeholder, in a state where the two parties are fierce rivals.
Prateek Yadav Religion and Community
What is Prateek Yadav’s Religion?
Prateek Yadav followed Hinduism. He was raised in a Hindu household and observed Hindu traditions throughout his life. His Instagram content included occasional references to religious values and his love for all living beings, consistent with his animal welfare commitments.
What is Prateek Yadav’s Caste or Community?
Prateek belonged to the Yadav community, one of the most politically significant communities in Uttar Pradesh. The Yadav identity was central to Mulayam Singh Yadav’s political project and the foundation of the Samajwadi Party’s core support base, though Prateek himself chose to stay entirely outside that political equation.
Prateek Yadav Personal Life and Relationships
Prateek Yadav met Aparna Bisht during his school years, though the two studied at different schools and would cross paths at school programmes and events held in Lucknow. According to Aparna, she had no idea at the time that Prateek was Mulayam Singh Yadav’s son. Their friendship deepened through common friends and email correspondence from around 2001, and they remained in a relationship for nearly a decade before marrying in December 2011 in Lucknow — a ceremony attended by prominent figures including Amitabh Bachchan and Anil Ambani.
Is Prateek Yadav Married?
Yes, Prateek Yadav was married to Aparna Bisht Yadav. In January 2026, he publicly posted on Instagram about severe marital difficulties, accusing Aparna of prioritising fame and public influence over family life and stating an intention to seek a divorce. He described being in a very poor mental health condition at the time. However, within ten days he posted a reconciliation video and stated that the matter had been resolved between them. He passed away on 13 May 2026, and the couple was considered reconciled at the time of his death.
Prateek Yadav Wife
Aparna Bisht Yadav is a BJP leader and current Vice-Chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh State Women’s Commission. She previously contested the 2017 UP Assembly Elections from Lucknow Cantt on an SP ticket before crossing over to the BJP in January 2022. She holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and Politics from the University of Manchester.
Prateek Yadav Children
Prateek and Aparna have two daughters. The elder daughter is Prathama Yadav and the younger is Katyayani Yadav. Prateek regularly shared pictures with his daughters on Instagram and was described by those close to him as a devoted father.
Prateek Yadav Height, Weight and Physical Appearance
Prateek Yadav stood at 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm) and maintained a physique that was central to his public identity. He weighed approximately 82 kg and had notable body measurements including a 44-inch chest and 20-inch biceps, the result of years of disciplined training. He had black eyes and black hair.
Prateek Yadav Net Worth and Earnings
| Source | Estimated Amount |
|---|---|
| Iron Core Fit gym (annual revenue) | Not publicly disclosed |
| Real estate interests | Not publicly confirmed |
| Assets (Lamborghini) | Rs. 5 crore+ |
| Overall net worth (estimated) | Rs. 10–15 crore (estimated) |
Prateek Yadav’s estimated net worth stood at between Rs. 10 crore and Rs. 15 crore, sourced primarily from his gym business, real estate interests, and other entrepreneurial ventures. He owned a Lamborghini worth over Rs. 5 crore and resided at 5 Vikramaditya Marg, Lucknow. In 2025, he reportedly lost Rs. 4 crore in a fraudulent investment scheme, and sources indicated that the parties involved threatened him with legal action under the POCSO Act and demanded an additional Rs. 5 crore when he sought a refund.
Prateek Yadav Social Media
| Platform | Handle | Followers (approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| @iamprateekyadav | 1 million | Primary platform; fitness, animals, personal life | |
| @iamprateekyadav | Not publicly confirmed | Public figure page | |
| Twitter / X | Not publicly confirmed | — | — |
| YouTube | Not publicly confirmed | — | — |
Instagram was Prateek’s dominant platform, where he accumulated one million followers. His content mixed fitness motivation with animal welfare updates from Jeev Ashray, personal reflections, and glimpses of his lifestyle including aviation experiences and driving. In January 2026, the account became the site of his most publicised personal moment when he posted about his marriage difficulties, drawing national media attention overnight.
Prateek Yadav Controversies
The Lamborghini Row (2015)
Prateek attracted significant public scrutiny after he was photographed driving a blue Lamborghini worth over Rs. 5 crore through Lucknow. Questions were raised in the press about the source of funds for the vehicle, given his family’s political background. Prateek responded directly, stating that he was a taxpayer and that the car had been purchased from his legitimate earnings. The episode drew a clear line between him and his step-father’s world, with Prateek insisting on his financial independence.
Investment Fraud (2025)
In a widely reported incident in 2025, Prateek lost Rs. 4 crore after investing in what turned out to be a fraudulent scheme. When he demanded the return of his money, the parties involved reportedly threatened to file a case against him under the POCSO Act and made an additional demand of Rs. 5 crore. The case highlighted the personal vulnerabilities behind his otherwise polished public image.
Marital Discord (January 2026)
In January 2026, Prateek posted a lengthy statement on Instagram in which he accused his wife Aparna of prioritising her political career and public influence over their family life. He described her as a “family destroyer” and said he was in a very poor state of mental health. The post went viral and ignited a national debate. Within ten days, Prateek posted a reconciliation video saying the matter had been resolved. He passed away four months later.
Lesser Known Facts About Prateek Yadav
- Prateek was obese as a child and underwent a significant physical transformation through years of dedicated training, eventually becoming a vegetarian bodybuilder with a 44-inch chest and 20-inch biceps.
- He was one of the few prominent advocates of vegetarian bodybuilding in India at a time when the fitness community widely believed that muscle could only be built on a meat-heavy diet.
- The Iron Core Fit gym he opened in 2015 was among the largest in Uttar Pradesh, equipped exclusively with imported Italian and American machines.
- Mulayam Singh Yadav personally inaugurated Prateek’s gym in January 2015, one of the rare public occasions where the patriarch publicly aligned himself with his step-son’s ventures.
- Prateek had a passion for flying and posted aviation-related content on Instagram in the months before his death, including a post from April 2026 in which he described taking control of an aircraft.
- He ran Jeev Ashray entirely separate from his business ventures, funding the rescue and care of stray dogs across Lucknow from his own resources.
- Despite being part of a family at the centre of Uttar Pradesh’s most intense political rivalries, Prateek maintained cordial relations with political figures across party lines, including attending meetings with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath alongside Aparna.
- His Instagram bio quoted a personal motto: “Aspire to inspire always. A life of achievement and fulfilment is the one that all of us deserve.”
Prateek Yadav Latest News (2026)
On 13 May 2026, Prateek Yadav passed away at the age of 38 after being rushed to Civil Hospital, Lucknow in the early morning hours and declared brought dead upon arrival. He was found unconscious at his residence at around 5:00 am. Reports suggest he had been unwell for some time and was recently admitted to Medanta Hospital in Lucknow before being brought home after showing improvement. The official cause of death had not been confirmed at the time of writing. National leaders including UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Minister Pankaj Chaudhary conveyed their condolences, and the Samajwadi Party posted a tribute on X.
Prateek Yadav was, in many ways, the quiet member of a very loud family. He built a gym, cared for animals, trained his body, and lived by his own terms in a city where his surname carried enormous political weight. His passing at 38 leaves behind two daughters, a wife in public life, and a city that knew him not as a politician’s son, but as the man who opened the biggest gym in Lucknow and loved stray dogs.
Prateek Yadav FAQ
Who is Prateek Yadav?
Prateek Yadav was the younger son of late Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav and the step-brother of Akhilesh Yadav. He was a fitness entrepreneur based in Lucknow, founder of Iron Core Fit gym, and the husband of BJP leader Aparna Bisht Yadav. He passed away on 13 May 2026 at the age of 38.
How old was Prateek Yadav?
Prateek Yadav was 38 years old at the time of his death on 13 May 2026. He was born on 7 July 1987.
What is Prateek Yadav’s net worth?
Prateek Yadav’s estimated net worth was between Rs. 10 crore and Rs. 15 crore, earned through his gym business, real estate interests, and other ventures. He owned a Lamborghini worth over Rs. 5 crore.
Was Prateek Yadav married?
Yes. Prateek Yadav was married to Aparna Bisht Yadav in December 2011. The couple had two daughters: Prathama Yadav and Katyayani Yadav. In January 2026 he publicly posted about seeking a divorce, but the two reconciled within ten days. He passed away four months after their reconciliation.
Who is Prateek Yadav’s wife?
Prateek Yadav’s wife is Aparna Bisht Yadav, a BJP leader and Vice-Chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh State Women’s Commission. She holds a Master’s degree from the University of Manchester and previously contested the 2017 UP Assembly Elections on an SP ticket before joining the BJP in 2022.
What is Prateek Yadav’s religion?
Prateek Yadav followed Hinduism. He was raised in a Hindu household and his public posts reflected personal values rooted in Hindu traditions and compassion for all living beings.
How tall was Prateek Yadav?
Prateek Yadav was 5 feet 9 inches tall (175 cm) and weighed approximately 82 kg. He was known for his muscular physique, with 20-inch biceps developed through years of vegetarian bodybuilding.
Who are Prateek Yadav’s father and mother?
Prateek’s biological father was Chandra Prakash Gupta. His mother was Sadhana Gupta, who later married Mulayam Singh Yadav, making Mulayam his step-father. Both his mother (July 2022) and step-father (October 2022) passed away within months of each other.
What was Prateek Yadav known for?
Prateek Yadav was known as the son of Mulayam Singh Yadav, as the founder of Iron Core Fit gym in Lucknow, as a vegetarian bodybuilder, and as the founder of animal welfare organisation Jeev Ashray. He was also known for his Lamborghini, his one million Instagram followers, and his widely reported marital dispute in January 2026.
What is the latest news about Prateek Yadav?
Prateek Yadav passed away on 13 May 2026 at Civil Hospital, Lucknow, at the age of 38. He was found unconscious at his residence in the early morning hours. The official cause of death had not been confirmed at the time of reporting, with media citing several possible causes pending postmortem results. Political leaders across party lines expressed condolences upon news of his death.
Did Prateek Yadav enter politics?
No. Despite belonging to one of Uttar Pradesh’s most powerful political families, Prateek Yadav never contested an election or held any party position. He consistently stated in interviews that he had no interest in politics.
What gym did Prateek Yadav own?
Prateek Yadav owned and founded Iron Core Fit, one of the largest gyms in Uttar Pradesh, located in Gomti Nagar, Lucknow. The gym was inaugurated by Mulayam Singh Yadav in January 2015 and was equipped with Italian and American fitness machines. Its website was ironcorefit.co.in.
Sources
- The Print (PTI) – Prateek Yadav death report, 13 May 2026 — https://theprint.in/india/prateek-yadav-son-of-mulayam-singh-yadav-brother-of-akhilesh-dies/2929610/
- Republic World – Prateek Yadav passes away, 13 May 2026 — https://www.republicworld.com/india/sp-leader-and-akhilesh-yadav-s-younger-brother-prateek-yadav-passes-away-2026-05-13-123991
- India.com – Mulayam Singh Yadav’s younger son Prateek Yadav dies at 38 — https://www.india.com/news/india/prateek-yadav-mulayum-singh-yadav-akhilesh-aparna-dimple-samajwadi-party-divorce-row-uttar-pradesh-yogi-adityanath-8412717/
- ProKerala / NDTV – CM Yogi condolences on Prateek Yadav death — https://www.prokerala.com/news/articles/a1762130.html
- OpIndia – Aparna Yadav joins BJP; Prateek Yadav family background — https://opindia.com/2022/01/mulayam-singh-yadav-akhilesh-sadhna-gupta-aparna-joins-bjp-love-affair
- India TV News – Prateek Yadav profile — https://indiatvnews.com/politics/national/prateek-yadav-little-known-pehelwan-son-of-mulayam-singh-yadav-6763.html
- Instagram – @iamprateekyadav official account — https://www.instagram.com/iamprateekyadav/