EXCLUSIVE: “A week before the NUDE photoshoot, I cut down Vijay Deverakonda’s carbs completely” – Kuldeep Sethi

“My contribution to Liger would be the maximum (laughs)! After all, Vijay Deverakonda’s role is that of a UFC fighter and he can only pass off as a fighter when he’ll look the part.” This is what Kuldeep Sethi said at the very onset as Bollywood Hungama exclusively spoke to him about transforming the dashing actor in the much-awaited upcoming film, Liger. The celebrity fitness trainer also opened up about his acting aspirations, his beginnings and a lot more.

EXCLUSIVE: “A week before the NUDE photoshoot, I cut down Vijay Deverakonda’s carbs completely” – Kuldeep Sethi

How did you get a chance to train Vijay Deverakonda for Liger?
I have been training Vijay Deverakonda since 2018, but it was on and off. He was playing a lover boy in most of his films and he had never taken up a movie that required him to have a ripped physique. He used to travel extensively too. So, he’d train for a month and then would be out for work or shoots for two or three months. He was a complete fresher, so to say, when he approached me and signed up for Liger in December 2019. I met director Puri Jagannadh sir who explained to me his role and the requirements. I assured him that it’ll be done. Vijay’s personality and height made him ideal for the role. Also, I didn’t want him to be hefty, as it usually happens in such films. I wanted him to be more like an athlete wherein he can jump and do kicks easily and look ripped. For me, the most important thing was to come up with a proportionate body. Be it his neck muscles, shoulder muscles, mid-section, leg, calf etc, you can see how well-defined his body looks throughout the film.

How long did it take and what was the process like?
We started training in January 2020. I made him put on a lot of muscle mass for which we had to feed him a lot of chicken and rice. In the morning, he would eat oats and brown bread with peanut butter. We also gave him 10-15 eggs. We used to give him sweet potatoes if he would get bored of the usual meals. And then of course he consumed protein shake as we needed to up his calories and muscle mass. In the middle of January, we went to Bangkok where he trained in martial arts. I also travelled with him and continued his training. When we returned in February is when the makers shot one of the fight scenes in Mumbai. It was the first schedule of Liger. Then in March 2020, the lockdown happened. Things came to a standstill for a few months. Gyms were the last ones to open up. It was a difficult time as we could not do the workout that we intended to do. We did not know how the schedule was going to be. 2020 was a big mess. We’d do a few workout sessions at home. 2021 was a little better though that year too, we had a lockdown and things went haywire for sometime.

So if I exclude the lockdown period, I’d say that the total time taken to transform him has been around 6 months. During the training period, a lot of people in the gym would tell me that ‘He’s transforming so well’. In the last three months, we would see significant changes in him every week. This is when I had the idea of coming up with a 12-week transformation Liger programme. Once a person signs up for it, they’ll get access to information on how I trained him, what his nutrition was, etc.

 

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Vijay Deverakonda also did a nude photoshoot for Liger. Did it take any special effort on his part for it, since this is where he was supposed to show his entire body?
When it comes to the photoshoot, you can play around with the nutrition better rather than on a video. When he was shooting for the fight scenes, he was taking a good amount of carbs as he needed the energy to do the fights. If you see, you’ll realize that he won’t look drained anywhere in the film, and the same goes for the photoshoot. His face looks fresh and his eyes seem sparkling. That was the power of nutrition and moreover, I also micromanaged what he was eating, what his sodium and vitamin intake were etc. A week before the photoshoot, I cut down his carbs completely. He was getting very minimal carbs, that too only from vegetables. We were able to thankfully pull it off and get that intense look which was required.

Were you aware that the makers were going to do a nude photoshoot with Vijay Deverakonda when you came on board?
We knew that we wanted the best physique. I was the one who told Vijay that I am going to give him the physique that will be the best in India, not just in the South. Most of the films here will have the target of achieving the best physique among actors in the South. But since this is a pan-India film, we thought that we should aim for the best physique in India. And the nude photoshoot was not planned when I came on board. It happened because Puri sir saw that Vijay was in the best physique. This is how they thought of the photoshoot to take maximum benefit out of his physique.

EXCLUSIVE: “A week before the NUDE photoshoot, I cut down Vijay Deverakonda’s carbs completely” – Kuldeep Sethi

Vijay Deverakonda has had shoulder injuries, as per reports. How did you work on this aspect while training him?
His rotator cuffs are very weak. That’s his body type. Some people naturally have it. Before he started with me and before he became a prominent actor, he had an injury to his shoulder. So we had to be careful as we can’t put a direct load on his muscles. We had to strengthen the shoulder muscles all round. Before he came to me, his exhibitions and training were wrong. The imbalances of the muscles were too extreme. We worked on all these aspects and made it perfect. As the Liger programme also progressed, his muscle mass increased and once that happened, we had to be careful about his range. Or else, you’d become muscle-bound like a bodybuilder. I didn’t want that. I wanted him to be agile and with the best range in his body.

For his shoulder, we used to do a lot of thera band exercises before his workout and also warm up well. I used to press trigger points that would relax the muscles in certain areas. And then we’ll resume the training.

Mike Tyson has a cameo in Liger. Did Vijay Deverakonda go through a special training regime before facing off against the legend?
For that one particular scene, we did not really do anything special. He is not removing his shirt and he has not shown his physique in the sequence. By then, we had shot the fight scenes, which was the major chunk of the movie, where he’s only in a trunk. For those scenes, he was in the best shape of his life. And immediately after filming these scenes, we shot the Mike Tyson sequence, and also the nude photoshoot. So, he was already in his best shape and also confident. Imagine how much confidence he must be having that he was ready to go fully naked!

Vijay Deverakonda has got great feedback for his look in Liger. Has he spoken about it to you and has he thanked you?
He’s very happy about it and is always thanking me. When the poster came out, he had put out a story in which he had tagged me and thanked me. Closer to the release of the film, Vijay is going to launch my 12-week transformation Liger programme too.

Could you tell us about your beginnings and your association with Ram Charan, who I believe was the first celeb whom you trained?
I have been a national athlete since I was in school. In 2004, I started my journey as a professional trainer. In 2005, I started training Ram Charan. He used to visit this one particular gym where I used to work. When I started training, I didn’t know who he was. One of his friends recommended me to him. After training him for a week, this friend asked me if I know who Ram Charan is. When I replied in the negative it was when he told me that he’s Chiranjeevi’s son! This was a time when he had not entered movies. The same year, 2005, when his debut film Chirutha (2007) went on floors. Puri sir was the director and I have known him since then. I trained Ram Charan till Magadheera (2009).

You have also trained Anuskha Shetty, Raashii Khanna and Rashmika Mandanna. How was your experience working with them?
The one word I have for them is dedicated. I look at them and get inspired by them. I tell them sometimes that I wonder how they pull it off. They get up at 5 am. They report for a shoot usually in the mornings at 6 am. And for girls, they have to give a little more time due to their make-up. They finish the shoot by 6-6:30 pm after which they slog in the gym despite being tired. They get done by 8:00 pm. That’s like 14 hours of brutal hard work. On top of that, they have to look good and maintain their nutrition. It’s not easy.

You have acted in iSmart Shankar (2019). Would you like to act more? 
Yes, iSmart Shankar was directed by Puri Jagannadh sir and he gave me my first break as an actor. I went for an audition and was selected for it. Puri sir was surprised and said, ‘You never told me that you want to become an actor!’. I replied that I wanted to see what my capabilities are. He was kind enough to give me a very good role. Later, I also did a role in A1 Express (2021). A few days ago, Sita Ramam (2022), starring Dulquer Salmaan, was released in cinemas. I play a sardar army guy in this film. I am also a part of an upcoming Telugu film, Tees Maar Khan, starring Aadi Sai Kumar. I am trying to get more roles. God willing, if all goes well, I’d like to become a full-time actor. As a trainer, it’s been 18 years and I have trained almost every single actor in the South. And I always wanted to act. Hence, I felt that before I become too old and people remember only for father roles, I thought it’s better to give it a shot now! I look good at the present and this is the right time that I can pull off action and other such roles. Nevertheless, I am going to retain and continue my gym, no matter what.

 

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Also Read: Liger: Vijay Deverakonda, Ananya Panday starrer gets U/A certificate

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SamBahadur: Vicky Kaushal, Sanya Malhotra, Fatima Sana Shaikh commence shoot for Meghna Gulzar’s next directorial

SamBahadur is the story on India’s greatest war hero and first Field Marshall, Sam Manekshaw featuring Vicky Kaushal in the titular role, Sanya Malhotra and Fatima Sana Shaikh has gone on floors today. The film is directed by Meghna Gulzar and produced by Ronnie Screwvala. Sam Manekshaw’s Army career spanned over four decades and five wars. He was the first Indian Army officer to be promoted to the rank of Field Marshal and his military victory in the 1971 Indo-Pak war led to the creation of Bangladesh.

SamBahadur: Vicky Kaushal, Sanya Malhotra, Fatima Sana Shaikh commence shoot for Meghna Gulzar's next directorial

Marching on to day one of shoot, the makers, RSVP have launched an exclusive video featuring glimpses of Vicky Kaushal as SamBahadur along with his co-stars, Sanya and Fatima. This video highlights the dedication to bring the character alive, from Vicky’s amazing transformation as Sam Bahadur and their table read sessions, to Meghna Gulzar and her team enthusiastically reimagining the realistic portrayal of characters through their reading sessions and preparation for shoot. This video gives us a glimpse of the journey they are about to embark on and the value they are bringing to present the life of the honourable Sam Manekshaw.

Excited to embark on this journey, director Meghna Gulzar says, “Finally, after years of extensive research, writing, brainstorming and rigorous preparation, ‘SamBahadur’ has finally gone on floors. It is tremendously fulfilling to be on set and have the opportunity to tell the story of Sam Manekshaw’s inspiring life. A life of bravery, courage, determination and righteousness. They don’t make men like him anymore!”

Vicky Kaushal adds, “I am fortunate to portray the role of a real life hero and patriot who is still remembered and loved for his contributions to our country. There is a lot to learn and take back as an actor. With the amount of prep and hard work the whole team has put in. I am sure the audiences will be thrilled to watch Sam’s mesmerising journey to making India what it is today.”

Fatima Sana Shaikh says, “It’s a huge honour to be a part of such an inspiring story of one of the greatest war heroes of our nation. I hope those who haven’t heard of Sam Manekshaw will remember him forever once they watch Sam Bahadur”.

Sanya Malhotra says, “Playing the part of Silloo, who has been Sam’s support system right through his journey is an absolute Honour. This is the first time I am sharing the screen with Vicky and being directed by Meghna Gulzar, my best endeavour would be to do justice to my part and to the film”

Adds Ronnie Screwvala, “The world is looking to be inspired and there is no greater inspirational story and legacy than of FM Sam Manekshaw – A War hero, a leader, a great communicator, and a master strategist who lived his life with the highest level of self conviction and on his own terms – its an honor to bring to screen his life story which in many ways is India’s formative story”

Directed by Meghna Gulzar, starring Vicky Kaushal, Sanya Malhotra and Fatima Sana Shaikh and produced by Ronnie Screwvala, the film has commenced shoot and will hit theatres in 2023.

ALSO READ: Vicky Kaushal twins in white with Katrina Kaif on her birthday trip in Maldives, see photo

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Priyanka Chopra shares ‘sundazed’ picture as she relaxes by the pool in black bikini top and shorts at her Los Angeles home

Priyanka Chopra Jonas has been for about two decades in the entertainment business. Every step of the way, from acting to business ownership to leadership, she has been an example to women everywhere and has brought honour to our nation. Priyanka lives in her Los Angeles home, where she resides with her singer husband Nick Jonas and their young daughter Malti Marie Jonas. Even though she has a busy schedule, the actress makes sure to take breaks. She also has a sizable fan base, which she occasionally updates on social media with details of her everyday activities. Priyanka recently  uploaded a stunning photo of herself on Sunday herself relaxing by a pool in chic swimsuit at her Los Angeles residence on Sunday, giving off huge weekend vibes.

Priyanka Chopra shares 'sundazed’ picture as she relaxes by the pool in black bikini top and shorts at her Los Angeles home

For the pool day, Priyanka chose a black bikini top with spaghetti straps, a plunging V neckline, a white band in contrast on the hem, and a bare back detail. Priyanka paired the top with a pair of cycling shorts in the same shade of black that had a white waistband and a fitted design to show off her midriff. Finally, Priyanka added a white cover-up with open front, horizontal transparent panelling, and a flowy shape to finish off the look. The outfit was made pool-ready with the addition of a baseball cap, black-tinted sunglasses, layered necklace, elegant anklet, tiny bracelet, and silver hoops earrings.

Last but not least, Priyanka styled her hair in a chic updo and topped it with a black and white scarf. As for her makeup, she went with a touch of lip colour to match the star’s sun-kissed skin.

On the work front, Priyanka is now engaged in a number of projects for work. The next movie starring the actress is titled Ending Things, It’s All Coming Back To Me. She also has the Bollywood film Jee Le Zaraa, starring Katrina Kaif and Alia Bhatt, directed by Farhan Akhtar.

 

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Also Read: Nick Jonas shares an adorable unseen pic with wife Priyanka Chopra from her 40th birthday

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Malavika Mohanan rings in her birthday with Vijay Sethupathi, Kartik Aaryan, Anurag Kashyap, Badshah, see photos

Indian actress Malavika Mohanan, who works in several industries, celebrated her birthday this past weekend with some very famous people from the film industry. The actress took to social media on Sunday to share photos from the party which included Kartik Aaryan, Badshah, Vijay Sethupathi, and Anurag Kashyap.

Malavika Mohanan rings in her birthday with Vijay Sethupathi, Kartik Aaryan, Anurag Kashyap, Badshah, see photos

The actress took to Instagram to share a series of pictures from the celebrations and wrote, “It was a happy birthday. Only love to everyone who made it so special and made me feel so loved.”

 

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On the work front, Malavika Mohanan will next star in Hero with Vijay Deverakonda and Yudhra with Siddhant Chaturvedi.

ALSO READ: EXCLUSIVE: “Just don’t react; I think it’s only in words and it’s only in air,” says Kartik Aaryan on people spreading negativity

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25 Years Of Pardes EXCLUSIVE: When Shah Rukh Khan and Atal Bihari Vajpayee shared the stage at the film’s audio launch in Delhi

Pardes was the fourth-biggest hit of 1997 and is remembered fondly even today. Starring Shah Rukh Khan, Mahima Chaudhry and Apurva Agnihotri, the film worked thanks to its plot, performances, execution and of course, the super-hit music. As the film completes 25 years today, Bollywood Hungama throws light on its memorable music launch event that was held in Delhi. We also stumbled upon an interesting and exclusive picture of Shah Rukh Khan along with the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who was the special invitee, at the grand event.

25 Years Of Pardes EXCLUSIVE: When Shah Rukh Khan and Atal Bihari Vajpayee shared the stage at the film’s audio launch in Delhi

The music launch was held on July 6, 1997, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Delhi. In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama, Subhash Ghai explained why he had called the ex-Prime Minister of India for the music release. He said, “Since Pardes was about Indian culture, I had approached the late Arun Jaitley ji to invite Vajpayee ji to launch our music in Delhi and Shah Rukh Khan also joined us happily. It was very gracious of such a great leader like Vajpayee ji with his artistic taste to grace our event. I felt so happy.”

Subhash Ghai was also kind enough to share these exclusive snaps from the music event with Bollywood Hungama. The first image, as mentioned above, shows Shah Rukh Khan along with Atal Bihari Vajpayee with the former all smiles and holding the cassette box. The second image is of Subhash Ghai with Atal Bihari Vajpayee while the third picture is of music director Shravan Rathod, Shah Rukh Khan, Subhash Ghai, Amrish Puri and Jackie Shroff together. While Jackie was a regular in Subhash’s films but was not able to make it to the cast of Pardes. However, he was kind enough to grace the audio release.

25 Years Of Pardes EXCLUSIVE: When Shah Rukh Khan and Atal Bihari Vajpayee shared the stage at the film’s audio launch in Delhi

According to Komal Nahta’s Film Information magazine’s July 12, 1997, issue, Atal Bihari Vajpayee was asked to speak ‘do shabd’ by Subhash Ghai at this event. Vajpayee replied that he’ll speak ‘teen shabd’ and then went on to say exactly three words, which were, “Bahut bahut dhanyavaad”!

The issue also revealed that the playback singers entertained audiences by singing the songs of Pardes. While Sonu Nigam sang ‘Yeh Dil Deewana’, Kumar Sanu crooned ‘Do Dil Mil Rahe Hai’. Kavita Krishnamurti made the atmosphere patriotic by performing ‘I Love My India’. Lastly, Hema Sardesai sang ‘My First Day In USA’.

The then-Congress Vice President Jitendra Prasad was also one of the special guests along with Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

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Tridev remake with Salman is not happening, reveals director Rajiv Rai

Gupt director Rajiv Rai has revealed that Tridev – the 1989 blockbuster featuring Sunny Deol, Jackie Shroff , Naseeruddin Shah – is not being remade.

Tridev remake with Salman is not happening, reveals director Rajiv Rai

According to a recent report an entertainment portal, “A well-placed entertainment news source within the industry has exclusively apprised BollywoodLife that Salman Khan is in talks to star in the remake of Tridev. Apparently, original director Rajiv Rai approached Salman with the idea and he loved it. As the Tridev remake is expected to have a completely contemporary touch, a new director is being sought along with the rest of the cast. An announcement about Salman doing the film and other details is expected in the near future.”

Rajiv Rai revealed that the said source of the portal did not give the right information. “I’m not inclined towards doing remakes whether mine or outside films. That’s not my scene. So I am reluctant to even consider remakes. I’ve had offers, though.”

Rajiv admitted that Salman Khan had approached  him — but NOT for Tridev. “Two years ago Salman had discussed this with me. It was never never about him acting in Tridev. When Salman suggested that he  and I  co-produce Tridev – this  was  during pre-pandemic days, I didn’t want to disregard the proposal simply because he’s a very close and an old friend of mine. When the pandemic happened, the project took a backseat and I continued with what I was doing. “

Rajiv has no plans whatsoever  of  remaking Tridev. “I don’t think Tridev will happen, and I have many stories lined up. Tridev was merely at a discussion stage. And it was about me and Salman co-producing. Right now I’m shooting my own small budget film with newcomers in Jaipur.”

Also Read: 28 Years of Mohra EXCLUSIVE: “It was a risky film with new faces; I thought Suniel Shetty and Akshay Kumar fit the part” – Rajiv Rai

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Annu Kapoor on being asked about Aamir Khan starrer Laal Singh Chaddha: ‘What’s that? I don’t watch movies’  

Bollywood actor Aamir Khan is busy with the promotions of Laal Singh Chaddha. Starring Kareena Kapoor, Naga Chaitanya and Mona Singh, the film has been the talk of the town since it is Hindi adaptation of Hollywood movie, Forrest Gump. Ahead of the film’s release, it has been facing criticism, and many are calling for a boycott with the hashtags trending on Twitter. Now, veteran actor Annu Kapoor, who has been promoting web series Crash Course, was asked about the film but he said he doesn’t know anything about it.

Annu Kapoor on being asked about Aamir Khan starrer Laal Singh Chaddha: ‘What’s that? I don’t watch movies’  

Speaking to paparazzi, when he was asked about Aamir Khan starrer Laal Singh Chaddha, he said, “What is that? I don’t watch movies. I don’t know.”

Annu Kapoor’s manager said ‘no comments’ but Annu Kapoor responded again, “No comments nahi. Movie he nahi dekhta mein na apni na parayo ki. Mujhe pata bhi nahi hain yeh kaun hai sach much. Toh mein kya bata paunga ki kaun hain woh. I have no idea (It’s not about ‘no comments’. I don’t watch films, be it mine or of others. I honestly don’t even know who he is, then how can I tell you anything about him).”

 

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Laal Singh Chaddha, produced by Aamir Khan Productions, Kiran Rao, and Viacom18 Studios, also stars Kareena Kapoor Khan, Mona Singh, and Chaitanya Akkineni. It is an official remake of Forrest Gump. The film will be released on 11th August 2022.

ALSO READ: Nagarjuna Akkineni reviews Aamir Khan and Naga Chaitanya starrer Laal Singh Chaddha: ‘A film that goes more than surface deep’

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