After playing math whiz and IIT coach Anand Kumar in Super 30 earlier this year, Hrithik Roshan returned to the big screen in fine form as buff intelligence agent Kabir in Siddharth Anand’s War. The actor’s swagger may seem effortless, but his transformation from your average Joe to Greek god was nothing but. Hrithik recently posted a video detailing the work that has gone into sculpting each of his rippling muscles you see in the film, after letting go of his six pack and gaining weight for Super 30.
In the video, the actor revealed that the shooting schedule allowed him only a month to get back into shape for the action film, when realistically he needed at least six. “There was a very slim chance that we could pull this off. It was the hardest thing that I had to go through. The only person I had to blame was myself,” he says. Another impediment were slip discs that he had suffered from the impact of his training sessions due to one leg being shorter than the other. The video documents Hrithik’s rigorous routine, from lifting weights to pull-ups and planks as well as dance practice sessions.
Fellow Bollywood actors complimented Hrithik’s hard work. “Sir bade hoke aap ke tarah banna hai (When I grow up, I want to be like you),” wrote his awestruck War co-star Tiger Shroff. Varun Dhawan called his dedication “incredible” and Katrina agreed saying it was “outstanding”.
War stars Hrithik Roshan as Kabir, an Indian intelligence agent who goes rogue. His protege Khalid, played by Tiger Shroff, is sent to hunt him down. The film also features Vaani Kapoor and released in theatres on 2 October.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)