Ali Fazal recounts his journey from beefy to lean that involved a lot of running and a ketogenic diet for Tigmanshu Dhulia’s next
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 16, 2018)

After Fukrey Returns and the Oscar-nominated period-drama Victoria & Abdul alongside Judi Dench, Ali Fazal kicked off shooting for Tigmanshu Dhulia’s romantic-drama, Milan Talkies, last month with his leading lady Shraddha Srinath. While the 31-year-old actor had revealed earlier that he’d have to lose muscle to play a college student, Mirror has managed to get hold of pictures that show the startling transformation.

“I had bulked up for a project and had just two months to lose all the muscle for Milan Talkies, which is the story of a boy from Allahabad. I went on a strict diet, ran a lot and have lost around 10 kg of muscle and three-four kg of fat,” informs Ali, adding that even during his recent Los Angeles trip before the shoot, he was focussed on his training and losing weight. “And while it was a lot of fun, I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. I just went overboard with the running.”

Ali replaced carbs with oats and coffee for breakfast, which was followed by a 45-minute run. “I was on a ketogenic diet, so my lunch would usually include some dairy products, but no carbs and absolutely no sugar. Running and cycling helped me cut down on the muscle. And I didn’t eat anything after 7 pm during the prep. But I’m back to eating to my heart’s content now on the set as we are filming in Lucknow, Mathura and Allahabad — places that are known for their food,” the Lucknow boy smiles.

The actor proudly reveals that Tigmanshu was mighty impressed with his dedication to prep. “When I met him, I had short hair and a beefed up body. But I assured him that I would acquire the physique that the Milan Talkies character required. The process is still on, though,” asserts Ali who has completed 20 days of the shooting since.

The actor is to shortly leave for Bangkok to shoot with Diana Penty for Aanand L Rai’s upcoming romcom Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi. “It will be a quick trip as I have to return and resume working on Milan Talkies,” he signs off.