Archive · 16 Nov 2025
India's 'Zombie' Pioneer: Manjunath Poojari on Extreme Body Modifications
Imagine someone who really loves art and wants to make their body their masterpiece.
That's Manjunath Poojari, sometimes called 'Zombie the Piercer' in India.
He's changed his body a lot to look like a zombie, which is a character from scary stories.
He split his tongue like a snake's, made his eyes red, and put horns under his skin.
He even took his belly button away to feel completely different from how he was born.
For him, this isn't just for fun; it's his way of showing who he is and what he believes in.
It cost him a lot of money, like buying expensive art supplies.
Even though some people are shocked, he doesn't regret it because it makes him happy and shows how dedicated he is to his unique style.
He hopes others see body art like his as a real passion, not just a way to get attention.
He's helping to show that in India, people can choose to express themselves in very different ways.
Manjunath Poojari, known as 'Zombie the Piercer', is recognized as India's first 'zombie' for his extreme body modifications.
His transformations include a surgically split tongue, red-tinted eyeballs, subdermal horns, stretched earlobes, and removal of his belly button.
Poojari views these irreversible changes as a personal evolution and investment in his identity and art, not a rebellion.
He estimates spending ₹35-40 lakh on these procedures, which he considers an achievement despite the pain.
Manjunath is part of a growing, albeit niche, underground extreme body modification scene in India, gaining visibility through social media.
- Who
- Manjunath Poojari, known as 'Zombie the Piercer', a professional tattoo and piercing artist.
- What
- Undergoing extensive and irreversible body modifications to achieve a 'zombie' identity, including a split tongue, red eyeballs, and subdermal implants.
- When
- The viral interview that brought him attention occurred recently, though the modifications have been ongoing for years.
- Where
- India, as a pioneer in the extreme body modification subculture.
- Why
- To express his identity, personal evolution, and challenge societal norms around beauty and self-ownership.
Manjunath's Perspective
Societal Perception
Motivation for Modifications
Manjunath's Perspective
Sees body transformations as a personal evolution and creative expression, an investment in his identity and art.
Societal Perception
Perceived by the public as shocking, a stunt for attention, or rebellion, often misunderstood as not a serious passion.
Regret and Pain
Manjunath's Perspective
Has zero regrets, viewing the pain and effort as achievements and proof of commitment to self-expression.
Societal Perception
Public shock and criticism suggest a negative reaction to the extreme nature and apparent discomfort of the modifications.
Cultural Context
Manjunath's Perspective
Believes extreme body modification is a lifestyle and passion, challenging stereotypes about beauty and self-ownership.
Societal Perception
Extreme transformation is still niche and misunderstood in India, despite a long history of tattoos and piercings.
- Name
- Manjunath Poojari ('Zombie the Piercer')
- Profession
- Professional tattoo and piercing artist
- Notable Modifications
- Surgically split tongue, red-tinted eyeballs, subdermal forehead horns, stretched earlobes, subdermal metal plates, removed belly button.
- Estimated Cost
- ₹35-40 lakh
- Status
- Considered India's first 'zombie' due to extreme body transformations.
- Geographic Context
- Pioneering extreme body modification in India, a trend more established in the U.S., Brazil, and Europe.