Who Was Prateek Yadav? Akhilesh Yadav's Stepbrother, Considered Divorcing Wife, Aparna, Before Death

Prateek Yadav, the younger son of late Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav and half-brother of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, died on Wednesday morning at the age of 38. His sudden demise has thrown political and social circles in Uttar Pradesh into shock.

Rather than following his family's footsteps into politics, Prateek had always stayed away from the field and carved his own identity in the worlds of fitness, real estate, and animal welfare. Although there were rumours that he might join politics in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, that never materialised. In recent months, the influencer's personal life grabbed attention for a public fallout with his wife, Aparna, whom he planned to divorce.

What happened to Prateek Yadav? All that is known so far about his sudden demise

Prateek was rushed to Lucknow’s Civil Hospital in the early hours of Wednesday, May 13, 2026, after his condition reportedly deteriorated at home. The medical team was informed about his critical health around 5:00 a.m., following which they rushed to his residence. He was rushed to the hospital at around 5:30 a.m. for emergency treatment, but could not be saved despite all efforts. Dr GP Gupta, director of the hospital, declared him dead at 5:55 a.m.

While the initial details did not reveal the official cause of his death, reports suggested that Prateek had been battling lung-related health issues and was undergoing treatment for blood clots in his lungs. However, doctors said the exact cause of death would only be confirmed after a postmortem examination. 

Who was Prateek Yadav?

Prateek was the son of the late Samajwadi Party leader, Mulayam Singh Yadav, and his second wife, Sadhna Gupta. He was the half-brother of former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. Born in July 1987 in Lucknow, he got his schooling from City Montessori School and graduated with a B.Com from the University of Lucknow. He finished his higher education in the UK, graduating with an MBA from the University of Leeds. 

Unlike his heavily politically inclined family, Prateek steered clear of anything related to politics and rather used his business and commerce knowledge to build his own identity. That decision worked highly in his favour, as he eventually made a name as one of the trailblazers in the Indian fitness industry. Beginning his venture with real estate, Prateek transitioned to fitness entrepreneurship and launched Iron Core Fit Gym in Lucknow. His brand set new standards for fitness centres in the region and made him a recognised figure in the market.

In 2019, he expanded his business with Iron Hyde Apparel, aimed at reshaping the country's fitness apparel market. Fitness was a huge part of Prateek’s public image. In fact, he once featured on an internationally recognised bodybuilding platform for his dramatic physical transformation. He was the first ever Indian to win International Transformation of the Month on bodybuilding.com in 2012.

Over the years, Prateek Yadav made a name for himself as a widely recognised fitness influencer, having over a million followers on Instagram. His pioneering entrepreneurial venture even got him featured on Forbes India's Brand Connect profile in 2024. Apart from business, he was deeply passionate about animal welfare. He founded the Jeev Aashraya Foundation, an organisation dedicated to rescuing, feeding, and treating stray animals, especially dogs.

Inside Prateek Yadav's personal life with wife and daughter

In 2011, Prateek married his wife, Aparna Bisht (now known as Aparna Yadav), after reportedly dating for several years. The couple welcomed a daughter, Prathama Yadav, in March 2014. His wife, Aparna, eventually emerged as a political figure herself. Initially beginning her journey at her father-in-law's party, she contested in the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election from Lucknow Cantonment. However, in 2022, she joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and currently serves as the Vice Chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh State Women's Commission. The couple also has a furbaby, a pug, whom Prateek used to call his "first daughter."

Prateek Yadav planned to get a divorce from Aparna Yadav

Just months before his tragic demise, Prateek and Aparna had a public fallout. The fitness influencer had publicly announced that he planned to divorce his wife. In January 2026, he made an Instagram post, accusing Aparna of ruining his relationship with his family and claiming that she only married into the family for fame and influence. He further accused her of creating distance between him and members of his family, including his parents and brother.

In the since-deleted post, Prateek also reportedly revealed that he had been struggling with mental health issues, and claimed that Aparna was indifferent to his condition. In the emotional post, he wrote:

"I am going to divorce this selfish woman as soon as possible. She ruined my family ties. All she wants to become is famous and influential... Right now, I am in very bad mental health condition and she doesn’t bother. Because it’s only herself she bothers about."

Photos: Instagram/Prateek Yadav

The posts quickly grabbed headlines because of the political stature attached to both families. However, reports later suggested the couple had not formally proceeded with divorce proceedings. Prateek's recent social media activities suggested the couple were in a better space and working on the marriage, with a March 2026 post showing them enjoying a vacation at the Blue Lagoon, Iceland, with their daughter.

At just 38, Prateek Yadav's sudden death has left many in the political and fitness industry in utter shock. May he rest in peace.

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