Planet of the abs

When the Asiad hurdles champ Joseph Abraham did a Salman Khan at Guangzhou, we got a peek at his six-pack. Here's a look at what it took the real and reel stars to get fab abs — even if many didn't last beyond one season.

Joseph Abraham
Ab showcase: He took off his shirt after winning the Asian Games gold medal for the 400 metre hurdles in Guangzhou.

Fitness Funda: To maintain a steady stride pattern strengthening of core group of muscles is must, says Abraham.

"I've been passionate about building my abdominal muscles since my childhood. I began by doing 600 sit-ups. Now I do 100 to 150 sit-ups on a regular basis. Apart from a track work-out, I spend considerable amount of time in the gym to strengthen the muscles around the abdomen and lower back. I also spend time building strength in legs and arms. I generally devote two to three hours in the gym three times a week."

Diet: I am a non-vegetarian. I avoid oily food. I eat a lot of fruits and ensure a healthy intake of carbohydrates.

Shah Rukh Khan
Ab showcase: Dard-e-Disco

Fitness funda: "Six-packs are more to do with diet than exercise," says Khan, who worked out for four days a week before the release of Om Shanti Om. Do exercises that makes you sweat for 30 minutes, he recommends.

Diet: High on protein, low on carbs.

Hrithik Roshan
Ab Showcase: Dhoom 2

Fitness Funda: Cardio-vascular exercise for 40 minutes every day, following up with 90 minutes of training for the chest and the back.

Diet: Six meals a day, with two meals of protein shakes.

Shahid Kapoor
Ab showcase: Chance pe Dance

Fitness Funda: "Six packs are hard to maintain. I would rather eat right and stay fit," he says.

Diet: A vegetarian, I had brown rice, sweet potato and oats. The plan included six meals a day every two and a half hours.

Salman Khan
Ab showcase: Veer

Fitness Funda: Doesn't employ a coach, instead charts his own course. Cycles to his shoots, works out at the gym for two hours, does 1,000 push-ups or 2,000 sit-ups a day. The gruelling regimen also includes 500 crunches, pull-ups and chin-ups.

Diet: Never diets, believes in "eating right". Avoids junk food completely.

Aamir Khan
Ab showcase: Ghajini

Fitness Funda: Exercised for more than a year at his in-house gym, that cost him a whopping Rs 55 lakh. Worked out for four hours every day.

Diet: Lived on egg whites for 13 months. Khan's trainer Satya says, "All through, I made him follow a balanced diet and he stuck to it."