The six-pack syndrome

The actor talks about the pressure of staying in shape...

Lights camera action...should be the words motivating an actor, but nowadays, it’s no pain no gain, diets and innumerable crunches. Starving before a bare-body shot. All this, but for what? Where are those days when an actor relied on just talent and not abs to do a film — from Amitji to Al Pacino.

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Without having pumped up bodies, they looked convincing when they pulled an air-craft down with a rope or slammed the Columbian mafia. Then came along a generation, who changed their bodies to mould their personalities. It’s good to be healthy and fit. No doubt, a lot of awareness was created, but please don’t make it a qualification.

I love my food, and I would love to get fat for a part, or skinny, or ripped. Metamorphosis is an actor’s calling, not getting stereotyped — his challenge. If rules are meant to be broken, then this one has to go.