Arjun Varain Singh and Zoya Akhtar’s latest film, Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, featuring Siddhant Chaturvedi, Ananya Panday and Adarsh Gourav tries to capture the life of a 20-something-year-old navigating through life in Mumbai. It holds up a mirror to the audience, but not in a dystopian way like Black Mirror. Instead, it gently nudges viewers to reevaluate their relationship with screens and social media.
And while the film says a lot about friendship, love, ambition, heartbreak and and the pervasive influence of social media, we’d like to divert the attention towards Adarsh Gourav’s toned physique, that had everyone surprised and simping over. If his washboard abs are inspiring you to get off the coach and get fit in 2024, we’ve got his trainer to spill the yea on his fitness routine.
Robin Behl, co-founder of The Tribe and the fitness virtuoso behind Gourav’s stunning makeover, revealed the magic behind-the-scenes, which brought the actor’s character to life in Kho Gaye Hum Kahan.
From Lean To Chiselled: The Evolution Of Adarsh Gourav’s Physique
Adarsh Gourav is among that crop of actors who began their career as a young teenager, who was seen in projects ranging from Anurag Kashyap’s short antalogy to TVF’s Hostel Daze. However, he garnered fame for his standout performance in Priyanka Chopra’s White Tiger (2021). In Kho Gaye Hum Kaha, he embraced a 360-degree transformation for his role as a young callisthenics instructor.
Director Arjun Varain Singh envisioned Gourav mirroring Brad Pitt’s iconic physique from Fight Club, and he turned to Behl to sculpt this vision into reality. Behl’s training regimen for the actor comprised 80% callisthenics and skill work, focusing on bodyweight strength exercises like pull-ups, push-ups, parallel bar dips and planks. This was complemented by weight lifting to add finesse to the muscles, resulting in a look that epitomised both strength and aesthetics.
Reflecting on the collaboration, Behl shared, “Arjun wanted Adarsh to study me as a character. After spending the first couple of days on the shoot with them, I then realised that Adarsh was walking and talking like me, to the point of counting numbers like I do!”
The Benefits Of This Regimen
- Bodyweight Control: Callisthenics enhance body awareness and control, helping you develop a strong connection with your body, crucial for performing intricate movements and stunts.
- Aesthetic Appeal: The combination of bodyweight exercises and weight lifting contributes to a balanced and aesthetically pleasing physique, incorporating both muscle definition and fitness.
- Versatility: Calisthenic exercises can be performed anywhere without the need for specialised equipment, thus providing flexibility for training in diverse locations—especially relevant for people on the move.
- Improved Endurance: These exercises often involve higher repetitions, leading to increased muscular endurance, which is essential for sustaining energy during long and demanding film shoots or performances.
- Injury Prevention: The holistic approach of combining callisthenics with weight lifting helps in developing a well-rounded fitness foundation, reducing the risk of injuries during physically demanding roles.
- Efficiency: The regimen focuses on compound movements, maximising the efficiency of the workout by targeting multiple muscle groups simultaneously, saving time while achieving comprehensive fitness.
- Mind-Body Connection: The emphasis on skill work cultivates a strong mind-to-body connection, enabling actors to execute precise movements and actions with control and finesse.
Nutrition: The Fuel Behind The Transformation
Achieving the desired physique involved not only rigorous training but also meticulous nutritional planning. Renowned exercise nutritionist Mishti Khatri collaborated with Behl to tailor a diet that fueled Gourav’s transformation. Starting with 3400 calories, the actor even made the switch to a non-vegetarian diet to support the body’s demands during the transformation.
Behl emphasised the importance of harmony between nutrition and workouts, stating, “We would bulk him up and let him rest by keeping the nutrition and his workouts in absolute harmony.”
Sincerity And Determination: Adarsh’s Winning Formula
Beyond the sets and the gym, what set Gourav apart was his unwavering dedication to the goal. According to Behl, the rising star never missed a single day of training, showcasing an unparalleled commitment to the project and his character.
“We pushed his body fat percentage to eight to get him the desired look for his character,” the celebrity trainer revealed.
