Rajkummar Rao revealed he gained weight for his upcoming film Nikam, portraying renowned Indian special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam. The actor will now undergo a major fitness transformation for his next biopic, which is based on former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly and his inspiring journey.
Bollywood actor Rajkummar Rao, who has stayed away from public appearances after welcoming his daughter, recently made a rare outing in Mumbai. He attended the Bolti Khidkiyaan Short Film Festival organised by well-known casting director Mukesh Chhabra. The Stree 2 actor surprised many with his noticeably mature appearance.
Dressed in a simple black shirt, along with stubble and spectacles, he appeared quite different from his usual look. His apparent weight gain soon sparked conversations online, with several fans expressing concern about his well-being. Responding to the speculation, the actor has now come forward to address and clarify the rumours surrounding his health.
Rajkummar Rao Responds to Trolling Over ‘Looking Old’
Reacting to trolls who mocked his weight gain and aging appearance, he clarified that the physical change was intentional for his role in Nikam. The film is a biographical drama based on renowned Indian special public prosecutor and politician Ujjwal Nikam, who was nominated to the Rajya Sabha last year. Committed to realism, the actor chose not to rely on prosthetics and instead gained several kilos to portray Nikam convincingly on screen. He further revealed that he is now preparing for a major fitness transformation for his upcoming project, a biopic on former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly.
He penned: “My being is through my art. Just finished shooting for my next biopic #NIKAM and yes, it has demanded me to change physically, which I love doing. I’m not a believer in prosthetics as long as I can achieve the look through my hardwork which I’ve achieved in Nikam be it gaining weight or looking old (to play a certain age) or to make my hair thin, which my hairstylist was very much against…”
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The actor revealed he was warned against shaving half his head for Bose: Dead/Alive, dramatically gaining weight and starving himself for Trapped, and even living like a visually impaired man off-camera while preparing for Srikanth despite strong industry resistance repeatedly.
Rajkummar Rao Gears Up for His Upcoming Projects
For Nikam, Rajkummar gained nearly 9–10 kg for the role. He indulged in two pizzas, lots of sweets, and his favourite foods like aloo parathas and biryani. He said he hopes viewers recognise his dedication and the effort he put in when the film hits theatres soon.
“And now it’s the transition phase and time to lose these extra kgs and get ready to slip into Ganguly mode. Our very own Dada. Will always work the hardest to engage you, entertain you through my work. Much Love,” penned Rao.
The Ganguly biopic is among his most anticipated films and is scheduled to go on floors next month, marking the beginning of production on the much-awaited project.