Fitness experts talk to TNM about celebrity-inspired diets and workouts, while adding that there’s more awareness of health and fitness in the film industry than ever before.
Malayalam actor Prithviraj Sukumaran is in the midst of intense physical and mental training, preparing for his role in the much awaited upcoming film. Aadujeevitham. Just like the dangerous videos that come with legal warnings, Prithviraj physical training is also only possible under the supervision of an expert. Celebrity trainer and fitness expert Ajith told TNM that the system was physically and mentally taxing for the actor.
“We came up with a diet plan in which his calorie intake is gradually reduced over several weeks. The fitness training was centered around strength training, proper nutrition and supplements.
Ajith also adds that since the shooting of Aadujeevitham took place in remote locations in Jordan and Algeria, and is currently taking place in the Sahara Desert, the team had to be content with the resources at its disposal in terms of equipment and training space. . “Earlier, we had to work for almost 30 days in a very basic setup in Gokarna. Likewise, training while shooting in other countries was not easy. But Prithviraj sir has been identified,” Ajith shares.
Like Prithviraj, several actors including Ram Charan (RRR)salamparasan (Vendhu Thaninthathu Kaadu), son NTR ($$$$), Anushka Shetty (Size Zero, Bahubali), Rajisha Vijayan (Juneand Bumi PednekarDom Laga Ke HaishaThey underwent a physical transformation in order to prepare for a role. Time and time again, the actors have left their fans stunned by the level of discipline and hard work they put into preparing for their roles. But with the conversation constantly changing around fitness and wellness, there are concerns about whether the methods celebrities use to look the part are sustainable and healthy.
Fitness and Sustainability
Malayalam actress Vara Chebla gained nearly 20 kg in a period of three to four months while preparing for her role in OMG: Amminippilla. She plays the protagonist Kanthi, who does not like the man she has newly married, due to her weight and also because he is forced into marriage.
Speaking to TNM, Vara made it clear that she didn’t diet while gaining weight for her role. “I ate chocolate bars and sweets to gain weight. During the movie, I weighed 87kg, but I followed a sugar-free and carb-free diet and came back to 63kg in the following months. While losing weight was an organic process, gaining weight involved the An unhealthy diet, which had an effect on her health, “I had hormonal issues and developed pigmentation during the shoot,” she says.
Since the process has been satisfactory to her as an actress, Fara shares that if another physically demanding role came up, she wouldn’t mind following a regimen that could have a negative impact on her health. “Production roles are not always equipped with the resources to do this in a sustainable manner when deadlines are tight. Besides, even in personal life, fitness is a journey full of ups and downs.”
She adds, “It’s very hard to find good roles because we just keep typecasting once we’ve done a certain role. If I hear a good script about an oversized woman standing apart from other stories we’ve seen on screen, I’ll be happy to take it up,” she says.
Ironically, even when movies are funded by big production houses that assign specialized fitness teams — including doctors, physiotherapists, dietitians, and others — to help the actors through the process, the headlines rarely have room to say no to unrealistic goals. Forty-five-year-old Kiran Dembla, a famous bodybuilder and fitness trainer who has trained actors like Tamana Bhatia, Anushka Shetty and Ram Charan, among others, tells TNM that actors may try to achieve their fitness goals on time. He was hired by the directors rather than leaving the opportunity to act in a particular movie.
“Especially when the film is being directed and produced by big names from the industry, it is only natural that movie stars do not want to turn down these opportunities. Kieran explains that production of the film is halted if the title is not available, so there is a lot of pressure on the actors. The rigorous practice sessions posted by actors like Samantha, Arya, Silambarasan, and others, which are circulating online, show how much preparation the actors are doing for their upcoming projects.
The bright side is that over the years, there has been more awareness of health and fitness in the film industry than before. Actress Anushka Shetty, a yoga practitioner, decided to gain weight in an organic way in order to star in the movie size zero Which is about the life of a plus size, brave and independent woman who doesn’t let her body image affect her mental health, until a man is drawn to choose another girl. The remainder of the movie tracks how you stumble upon unscientific and dangerous weight loss routines. Anushka, who gained 20 kg for this role and later lost weight to prepare for her role in Baahubali, chose natural methods for herself.
Fast food, albeit unhealthy, is often the preferred option for gaining weight. Kiran, who trained Anushka and wished him before bahubali Shoot, he says, “Anushka decided to gain and lose weight by following a balanced diet. Even for size zeroInstead of opting for bodysuits like other actors in the past, she wanted to look the part and ensure the shooting was authentic.”
Bheegaran, a Kerala-based celebrity trainer whose clients include actors Jayasurya, Parvathy and Rima Kallingal among others, notes that fortunately the debate about fitness is no longer limited to body building. “Champions were expected to work out and gain muscle, while heroines were expected to maintain a small image. But recently, actors, directors, and production houses have woken up to the dangers of unscientific or short-term approaches.
Read: Meet Hyd’s bodybuilder, Kieran Dembla, who is one of the few women in the field
ALSO READ: Meet the Malayalam Actor Chebla who put on 20kg weight for a role and then lost everything
Media reports
News stories focusing on celebrity fitness regimens have been used by production companies as part of promotions, and appeal to a wide cross-section of audiences. With cliched diets and extreme workouts gaining in popularity, coaches point out that media reports can be misleading if they lack all the information about a celebrity’s physical transformation. It is important to note that unscientific diets and exercise pose serious threats and have a significant impact on an individual’s well-being.
After watching Dangal, I remember telling my coach I wanted to undergo a similar transformation. It is normal for the audience to be influenced by the actors. But they often fail to understand that celebrities have been training for years together. So they will be comfortable working on different routines in a short amount of time,” says Bhaijaran. He also uses the example of actor Prithviraj to explain how the exercise for several years helped him go through the intense training of Aadujeevitham.
Ajith, who does not exclusively train actors, points out that the diet and exercise routines devised by the trainers are highly personalized. Drawing a picture of how to review any regime on a case-by-case basis, he shares that a ketogenic diet (a high-fat, low-carb diet), or a vegetarian diet may not work for people accustomed to Indian diets and local food.
In agreement with Ajith, Kiran states that fitness training should be comprehensive and focused on overall health. “It is understandable that the media share information about celebrity workouts because it is attractive and also inspires many to think about their health as well. At the same time, the media has a responsibility to present all the facts.”
“Ideally, media reports should be comprehensive so that they are not misleading to viewers/readers, or can be devoid of detail, so that people are inspired and influenced by the actors’ exercises but not imitated without seeking professional advice,” Ajith says.
Incorporating sustainable, healthy lifestyle changes can be an uphill battle while we’re one click away from junk food, but Ajith notes that personalized fitness training can be designed to avoid such temptations.
“Even if people follow intense cycles and low-calorie diets, they may be back to their normal routine within a few days or weeks. People need to find sustainable plans so they don’t end up getting weaker by the end of their ‘instant weight loss/weight gain’ plan. , Bheegaran tells TNM.
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