In commemoration of World No Tobacco Day, Grand Chennai by GRT Hotels and Resorts hosted an extraordinary cross-disciplinary panel discussion. Aimed at inspiring individuals to reject toxic dependencies and reclaim their health, the event brought together three of India’s most celebrated trailblazers in medicine, sports nutrition, and fitness to champion sustainable lifestyle choices, mental resilience, and preventive medicine.
The high-powered session, presented as a core chapter of GRT’s larger ‘GReaT Being’ wellness platform, was expertly moderated by Mr. Vikram Cotah, CEO of GRT Hotels. Under his guidance, the panel dove into an inspiring and highly actionable dialogue featuring the distinguished speakers
Adding an element of high engagement and excitement to the day, the event also featured a specially curated health and awareness quiz conducted by Nawabzada Asif Ali, Dewan to the Prince of Arcot. The thought-provoking quiz actively involved the audience, testing their knowledge on wellness, healthy lifestyles, and the impact of tobacco, making the afternoon both educational and deeply interactive.
“Our ‘GReaT Being’ wellness IP is built on a continuous commitment to the complete well-being of our guests and larger community – spanning physical vitality, mental clarity, and purposeful living,” said Mr. Vikram Cotah, CEO of GRT Hotels. “On World No Tobacco Day, bringing together icons like Dr. Ramasubramanian, Neville, Shiny and Dr Ajmal perfectly embodies the core ethos of this platform: showing that true wellness is not a passing trend, but an active, daily choice to live life to its absolute fullest.”
Shiny Surendran (India’s Leading Sports Nutritionist & Founder, Art of Eating LLP): The first Indian certified in Sports Nutrition by the International Olympic Committee (I.O.C.), Shiny addressed the physiological recovery of the body. She provided actionable insights on how clean, tailored nutrition and nutrigenomics can repair cellular damage, restore gut health, and make a smoke-free lifestyle a permanent, vibrant reality.
Neville Jamshed Bilimoria (Ultra-Endurance Athlete & Philanthropist): A World Major Marathon Six-Star Finisher and 13-time consecutive Super Randonneur cyclist, Neville shared his journey of building elite cardiovascular endurance. He emphasized how choosing a life of active purpose—such as organizing and running his flagship Dawn to Dusk (D2D) Marathon—channels human energy away from negative habits and toward peak physical performance.
Dr. V. Ramasubramanian (Senior Consultant, Apollo Hospitals & Co-Founder, The Capstone Clinic): A pioneer in Infectious Diseases with over two decades of clinical mastery, Dr. Ramasubramanian spoke profoundly on respiratory health, the biological realities of addiction, and why preventive, ethical care is the ultimate foundation for long-term health.
Dr. Ajmal Dastagir, is a dynamic entrepreneur, financial strategist, and advisor to the Ministry of MSMS Govt. of India. An alumnus of XLRI Jamshedpur with a Doctorate in Finance, he has held leadership roles at HSBC and Kotak Mahindra Bank. Currently, he is the Managing Director of Silk Trail Global Exports and founder of Mimi Bow Bow, India’s first AI pet healthcare startup. Dr. Ajmal advises the Ministry of MSME and chairs the India-Sustainable Development Council under the UN-ECOSOC. A dedicated philanthropist, his award-winning initiative, AATRAL, has saved the lives of over 125 underprivileged cancer patients.
