Modi joins Bear Grylls’ adventure series to throw light on environmental conservation

After weeks of hype, a special episode of Bear Grylls’ adventure series, Running Wild, featuring Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi aired on Monday, reports BBC.

A trailer showing Mr Modi learning to make a spear went viral weeks earlier.

Filmed in India’s Jim Corbett National Park, it showed the men smelling elephant dung, and crossing a fast-flowing river in a raft made of reed.

Mr Modi said it was filmed to throw “light on environmental conservation and climate change”.

Monday’s episode sparked a huge discussion among Indian viewers on social media, drawing both admiration and ridicule.

Mr Modi has been known to use social media and celebrity power to reach younger voters and widen his mass appeal.

After his appearance on Grylls’ show, some people praised the prime minister for his “candidness” - he discussed a range of topics from his political and personal life, to his love for nature.