TIGHT by Mark Leaver

What does it mean to be a young man in India today? As globalisation rapidly transforms India’s traditional, conservative society, the greased-up world of bodybuilding is the perfect window through which to see broader societal changes play out in the lives of young men. More than any other sport today bodybuilding, with its explosive growth, is emblematic of contemporary India and its new middle class. India remains a country where there are always more people than there are opportunities. With the help of steroids, young men are increasingly transforming themselves into superhuman muscle men to put themselves ahead in a tough competition for power, prestige, women and wealth. This series reveals the dreams and aspirations of a new generation of Indian men, their willingness to turn their backs on tradition and how much they are prepared to sacrifice, including their health, in the hope of winning a better life.