Anil Kapoor calls the film industry his forever home, and is glad to be back to work
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 8, 2020)

Actor Anil Kapoor has been entertaining audiences for four decades now. Born to producer Surinder Kapoor, he has literally grown up in the film industry, and witnessed all the changes. The one thing he is sure about is that of all the factors involved in making it big in showbiz, talent is indeed a “big part of it”. “However, without hard work and focus, talent can become directionless, says Kapoor, adding, “If you want to make it in this business, you have to be ready to give it your all, to not let setbacks keep you down and to persist in the face of all odds. You need guts and grit to survive and level-headedness to thrive.”

How was it growing up for him here, and what kind of a place does he feel Bollywood is? The 63-year-old gets emotional and says, “I don’t think I ever saw the film industry as anything other than home – the place I was always meant to be. I was born into it, I belong to it and I will take my last breath here.”

With Unlock guidelines in place and permission for shoots to resume across India, Kapoor is back to work, though with standard operating procedures in place. “I have resumed shooting, so that has been keeping me busy. It feels great to be back and doing what I love. There’s no denying that the way we do things has changed now, but change is exciting. We have started work with careful planning and stringent precautionary measures in place. I have been working on a couple of projects in these past weeks. Slowly and gradually, we all are getting back to work,” the actor shares.

What Kapoor’s fans also didn’t miss is the kind of fitness frenzy he is undergoing ever since the lockdown started. At his age, he looks set to give the younger stars a run for their money. He laughs and says, “I have been toying with the idea of changing my workout routine for a while now, but it takes several months to really commit to a new regime and my schedule hadn’t allowed for that until recently. The Coronavirus lockdown gave me the perfect opportunity for that and so I poured myself into it. I still have a long way to go, but it has been fun and seeing the results inspires me to push myself even more.”

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).

Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 13, 2018)

Anil Kapoor and his actress-daughter Sonam Kapoor may be tucked away in Patiala, filming their on-screen debut as father and daughter, but the duo never train or prep together on set. “Anil’s training time is his ‘me’ time when he concentrates solely on himself, no distractions, no compromise,” says his Australia-based trainer, Marc Mead, who has been working closely with the actor since 2011.

Marc had first come on board as the actor’s yoga instructor and, over the years, has trained the 61-year-old actor with multi-functional workouts. Now, he is travelling with the actor for the first schedule of his next, Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga.

The film which kicked off on January 24, also features Anil’s Andaaz and Deewana Mastana co-star Juhi Chawla who will join the schedule in February, and Rajkummar Rao as Sonam’s love interest. TV actress Madhu Malti has stepped in as Anil’s wife. “Anil is like a kid, extremely excited. His character sports a look that hasn’t been seen in a long time — with a grey beard. We are shooting at a family house in Patiala which is the perfect setting for the film,” director Shelly Dhar reveals, adding that the film is being shot entirely at real locations.

Meanwhile, Marc’s focus has been to make Anil looking suave for the part. The actor will be undertaking a new routine every month so he stays energised. “We brought in a tyre-training technique to help him improve his compound moves. On location, there is no gym. Anil likes adapting to a new training environment while my aim is to find new ways to shock his muscle system. He trains with at least one or two intensive workouts, six days a week, and never has a slack period,” informs Marc.