Bollywood actors dare to alter their bodies for their characters

Apr 8: Bollywood actors are yet to undergo 'extreme body modification', practised by the likes of Christian Bale and Tom Hardy, but they are definitely getting there. Superstars Aamir Khan (Ghajini, 3 Idiots) and Hrithik Roshan (Krrish 3, Guzaarish) have modified their physique to get into the skin of their characters. And joining the duo are a 'passionate' few like Ranveer Singh, Shahid Kapoor, Vidya Balan and Farhan Akhtar. Actors, who have dared to alter their bodies, to look the characters they portray.

Ranveer Singh: I love to go to extremes for a role

He reasons, "Looking the character is half the battle won as it lends authenticity to the film. I like to look different in every film I do. I love to go to extremes for a role! Hrithik is a huge inspiration. I was expected to have a chor body (lean from the outside but ripped when shirtless) for my first film, sexy body (beach body) for my second, no-workout look for Lootera as it is set in 1950s (had to have a little weight on the face) and a chiselled body for Ram Leela as I had to look desirable as Romeo. I work out according to the requirement of the role. I am currently undergoing Drastic Transformation Programme (DTP), a concept of Hrithik's trainer. It guarantees startling results within a stipulated time period."

Shahid Kapoor: 'Look' per se is not important, but looking your character is

Heartthrob Shahid Kapoor, known for his boyish good looks, will be seen all buffed up for his forthcoming action films Rambo Rajkumar and Phata Poster Nikla Hero. About his transformation, he says, "For an actor, his body is nothing but a medium through which he expresses and enacts different characters. 'Look' per se is not important, but looking your character is. I am currently shooting for films that require me to do action sequences along with some good amount of dancing. I have been instructed by directors to have a tough, but agile body that will compliment the characters I am playing. My trainer has come up with a regimen that is a mix of functional training, weights and stretching exercises. I wasn't expected to lose much weight, but I had to gain sharpness and definition."

Vidya Balan: "Once she decides to play a character, she starts living the character."

Vidya Balan was on the verge of losing weight after gaining 12 kgs for The Dirty Picture, until she was asked to retain it by director Raj Kumar Gupta for Ghanchakkar. He says, "Vidya is one of the finest actresses we have today. Once she decides to play a character, she starts living the character and gets into the minutest details of it. When we decided to collaborate on Ghanchakkar, I told her that she had to retain the weight she had gained for The Dirty Picture. She was on her way to lose weight and I had a slight apprehension that she would have reservations about doing so, but she instantly agreed. I felt Vidya is the only actress who could pull off the character of a hatti katti Punjabi housewife, who has a little bizarre sense of fashion. She has effortlessly gone into the skin of the character. She even learnt Punjabi for the film."

Farhan Akhtar: Wear your shoes and go running!

A man who dons many hats, Farhan Akhtar went through a rigorous training to exact the body of an Olympic athlete for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, it being a biopic on 'Flying Sikh', Milkha Singh. Reportedly, it took Farhan almost two years to achieve the body of a professional runner. He followed the fitness regime that athletes follow to look like a sportsman.

Perfection comes with a price: The Side-Effects

Weight fluctuation has its side-effects. Says Ranveer, "I love gymming, but hate dieting. I am very fond of chocolates. It's very taxing to refrain from your favourite food. After Ram Leela, I let go of the diet to give myself a break. I had burgers and chocolate. Weight fluctuation can take a toll on you mentally. It made me crabby! But now, I have learnt to control it.

Says Shahid, "Sometimes, it is tough and sometimes not so tough. But as actors, we have to change ourselves according to the script and director's vision. It often requires you to change your lifestyle, but for me, finding motivation to train or regulate diet has not been an issue. When one is training with the particular aim of playing a character, there is always a thrill attached to it."