Arjun Kapoor has been working hard for the last 15 months to acquire a well-defined physique. The actor recently shared a jaw-dropping transformation picture that got the internet talking. “When the first lockdown happened, I wondered what I could do to get out of the rut of not being able to cope, physically. I realized that I was running a rat race without taking care of myself,” says Kapoor, who is now a decade old in the industry, as Ishaqzaade (2012) turns 10.

In fact, before his debut, too, Kapoor worked hard to shed some kilos. This time, the pandemic-induced lockdown gave him time to reinvent. “Before I started out, I lost around 50 kg. I was in my 20s then. From 143 kg, I reached 93 kg. But 10 years later, my body has changed. I’ve had injuries, health issues, workload, etc. But it’s not like I’m not mentally capable. It just takes longer to do it, which is why it took me 15 months to get into shape,” says the 36-year-old.

So what motivated him to sweat it out? “I realized that the motivation comes from my work. I want to get respect and love from the audience and I’ll do anything for that,” says Kapoor, who is currently shooting for his next project in Manali (Himachal Pradesh).

He adds that people become judgemental if you are not able to work on your physique. “When you are not able to physically transform, a lot gets misconstrued. People think that he is not working hard. And that’s not true in my case. I’m very focused, otherwise you wouldn’t survive 10 years in an industry that is cut throat,” he says, adding that he is still a “work in progress”.

Motivated about continuing his fitness journey, the actor shares, “Just like most people in our country who work hard for a living, trying to find time to stay healthy and fit amid the busy schedule is not easy. You can never feel that your job is done.”