Sonil Dedhia (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 7, 2020)

Anil Kapoor refuses to age. At 63, the actor remains a fitness inspiration for many. Even during the Coronavirus lockdown, he is maintaining a strict diet and workout routine to remain in good shape.

“I still follow my daily routine. My trainer Marc Mead is staying with me, so I can’t escape my workout. I am trying to be productive around the house. I make it a point that I workout twice a day and keep myself motivated. In fact, I have been keeping a keen eye on my diet. I feel staying fit is really important,” shares the ageless actor.

Kapoor is also making most of his lockdown time by creating memories with family members, talking of which, he says, “We’re just enjoying spending quality time with each other. It is something we don’t get to do a lot in the course of our normal lives, so this time is really precious. We even celebrated Sunita’s (his wife) birthday. It was an intimate family celebration and was really special and memorable in its own way.”

Kapoor, who has been a part of Bollywood for over four decades, hopes that everyone comes out safe from the pandemic. “I have always tried to stay positive and that’s what I am doing now. I do miss being on the sets, but I’m hopeful that soon we will all come out of this, stronger and healthier, and can get to doing what we love with even more passion and dedication.”

Anil Kapoor on the secret to his youthful look and his relationship with his son based on new workout regimes
Titas Choowdhury (HINDUSTAN TIMES; January 20, 2020)

Only wine and Anil Kapoor get better with age. His fans agree and his social media account and photoshoots are proof. For the actor, the secret to his youthful look is a “healthy and happy mind”. He says that he bonds with son — Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor, another fitness enthusiast in the family — over new diet plans and workout regimes. Excerpts:

What’s the secret behind looking so young and fit even at 63?
Lots and lots of hard work. I don’t believe in taking short cuts. I put in the hours towards my fitness and I’m mindful of what I eat, and I spend as much time with my family as possible, so that I’m mentally at peace. Happiness is the key to looking and feeling young.

So, you do agree that staying positive and happy is the ultimate way to stay fit?
Yes, a healthy and happy mind is important for one’s well-being, be it in the personal or professional space. Mental health is perhaps one of the most underrated aspects of our lives. The fact is that happiness is the best energy booster there is. When you’re at peace with yourself and with the world around you, you’ll immediately notice your body reacting to that positivity.

What does your fitness regime entail?
It’s a combination of cardiovascular and muscle-training using a variety of exercises. I vary my workout often, so that my body doesn’t get too comfortable with any one style, but the key is consistency. I follow my routine quite diligently. Other than that, I also strictly follow a balanced diet.

Which is your all-time favourite workout?
Running is something that I truly enjoy and keep coming back to.

You recently took to social media to upload a picture where we can see you doing a plank workout challenge. How effective do you think it is for the body?
I really believe it’s a great exercise if executed well. It’s a little difficult as it requires serious core strength but with practice and focus, you can get it right.

Which is that one film that required you to undergo a very taxing physical training?
Malang has been one of the most challenging projects from a physical transformation point of view. My role in it required a lot of physical training because my character is that of a policeman. To do just justice to the role, I had to train accordingly.

In today’s time of intense stress and unhealthy food habits, what would be your tip to stay fit?
Start small, but stay true. When people try to make big changes using drastic measures, they often fail because it’s not sustainable. Make small changes to your daily life and commit to a long-term goal. Fitness is a lifelong journey. The sooner you embark on it, the longer you’ll reap the benefits.

Do you discuss your fitness regime with your son, Harsh Varrdhan, who’s also a fitness freak?
Yes, we discuss everything. In fact, Harsh keeps introducing me to new diets or workouts that he comes across, and he also keeps a check on the variations I try.

Hiren Kotwani (DNA; June 25, 2019)

The first thing that comes to mind when you think about Anil Kapoor is the fact that his looks belie his age. Moreover, the 62-year-old doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon either when it comes to fitness, especially with the new challenge he has taken up for his next film, Malang. Interestingly, he essays an intense character with grey shades in it. The two-time National Award winner made everyone sit up and take notice of him when the Mohit Suri directorial was announced with a picture of the cast, in which the Total Dhamaal star looked younger and fitter than his colleagues. We hear the secret behind the superstar’s youthful look and energy is his new fitness regime and diet to look leaner for his part in the movie, which also stars Aditya Roy Kapur and Disha Patani.

The prolific actor, who has always been determined with gusto throughout his 40-year-long innings, continues to persevere and use his strengths to his benefit this time around too.

“Anil has always been a sport when it comes to taking up challenges for his roles. So, when he was asked to look leaner, he took it upon himself and has started going for brisk walks and jogging in the morning,” says our source, adding, “Since he understands that he won’t get time during the day to work out, he wakes up earlier than usual to exercise with his trainer.” He has even started following an intermittent fasting diet in order to lose weight in a shorter time frame.

Confirming the news, the superstar says, “After my shoulder injury, I’ve now resumed the upper body weight training and muscle building. I’ve also added regular sprints and spinning to my workout regime. The 16-hour intermittent fasting has become a part of my diet schedule. I’m giving my 100 per cent to this and I’m sure that everyone’s hard work in this endeavour will reflect soon.”

The actor has not shied away from taking risks in the past either. Usually known for his trademark macho look, Anil surprised the audiences and critics alike when he opted for a salt-and-pepper look in movies like Dil Dhadakne Do (2015), Fanney Khan (2018) and Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga (2019).

Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; September 12, 2017)

Besides having an appetite for experimental roles, Anil Kapoor doesn't shy away from experimenting with his looks either. The actor recently unveiled his look from his next, Fanney Khan. While the first look showed the actor sporting salt-and-pepper hair, those in the know say that he is sporting a lean look in the Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra film.

The physique didn't come easy for the 60-year-old actor. A unit hand informs that ahead of the film going on floors a week ago, Kapoor had to adopt a special diet to step into the role of a struggling musician. "Anil was required to achieve a haggard look for the musical. To perfect the look, he completely went off salt and sugar for 20 days," reveals the source.

Considering the actor suffers from bursitis (inflammation of the tendon near his ankle) — a condition that aggravated during the shoot of Mubarakan in April this year, it was difficult for him to hit the gym with a vengeance. "Anil had to adopt methods other than a regular gym routine to lose weight, as he was nursing an ankle injury at the time. So it was suggested that he go off salt and sugar. He did light workouts twice a day."

Many drew parallels between this look and the one he sported in Dil Dhadakne Do (2015). Kapoor says, "Fanney Khan's similarity with Kamal Mehra [his character in Dil Dhadakne Do] ends with the salt-and-pepper hair. The difference in their personalities and circumstances, makes these two characters poles apart."