Mumbai: Indian cinema has always loved showing athletes on screen because apart from movies, sports is what we love the most.. Over the last ten years actors have stopped just doing it for looks.
The modern “pehelwan body” is not about having big muscles; it’s about learning how athletes breathe, move get tired and deal with pain. Stars are now training like competitors, not just for movie scenes.
Here are five actors who completely changed their bodies for roles.
Ram Charan. Peddi
Early pictures show that Peddi may have the athletic body Ram Charan has built. Unlike his movies like Magadheera or RRR this change looks like its from doing many sports.
Reports say Charan trained with wrestlers doing live matches, sprinting and endurance exercises. The goal was not to be perfect but to look real. This process was so tough that Charan got a ligament injury while wrestling.
Aamir Khan. Dangal
Aamir Khans transformation for Dangal was very impressive. He had to play wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat in an aged look. So he gained weight then lost it and built muscle again. What made it special was the order. Aamir shot the parts first gaining weight to look like a retired athlete. After that he worked out for months to get back to a wrestlers body. He also trained in wrestling techniques to look authentic.
* Ranveer Singh. 83
For 83 Ranveer Singh knew he couldn’t become Kapil Dev.. He loves a challenge. He worked hard on his posture, bowling and shoulder movement to copy Kapils style. Cricket experts said Ranveer was very serious about getting it right. He trained daily to copy Kapils bowling, walking and batting.
Salman Khan. Sultan
Salman Khans transformation for Sultan was a change. He had to look like a wrestler, not just an action hero. The role needed him to be big and strong. Salman trained in wrestling, strength exercises and akhada routines. This helped him move slowly and heavily like a wrestler.
Farhan Akhtar. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
Farhan Akhtars preparation for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag was amazing. Playing Milkha Singh required him to be very lean and have legs like a sprinter. Farhan trained for months in sprinting and sports conditioning. Coaches said he was very disciplined and adapted to an athletes lifestyle.
What connects these performances is a change in how Indian stars prepare. They are no longer just built in gyms. They are built through work, exhaustion, injury, technique and effort to look real. These leading men showed us their commitment, to their roles.
