‘Peddar road ka nimbu paani hero’: Meet Rajesh Shah, who’s been hydrating Mumbai’s runners for 12 years

The video then shifts to Shah, who narrates how this custom started. “During my own running days, I used to place a water bottle on Peddar Road to stay hydrated. Soon, I realised that other runners also needed something to drink. That’s when I thought I should do the same for fellow runners,” he explains.

What started with just a few bottles of lemonade has grown over the years. Shah now uses a large bag to carry six bottles and ensures he’s ready at 5:30 AM each morning to serve the growing number of runners. When some athletes began running earlier, Shah adjusted his schedule so no one missed out. “I feel it’s my duty to be there every week. Because they know now that every week it is there,” he says with a sense of pride.

Shah also credits Sanjay, who has been making the lemonade since the very beginning. Together, they’ve created a routine that allows runners to begin their day with a refreshing boost.

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The video went viral and Shah’s heart-felt gesture resonated deeply with social media users.

Responding to the video, one user wrote, “Give this man an award!” Another user commented, “We are proud of you Rajesh jee… Such a nice gesture… Right to the spirit of Mumbai.”

A third individual wrote, “So very nice of you! I’ve never encountered this point though I run there some often …. I’ll surely discover this soon but yet thanks a lot from a fellow runner.”