Rahul Bhatt doesn't deny or accept the charge that the actor acquired his Dangal physique that way
Subhash K Jha (DNA; December 9, 2016)

A fitness coach Ranveer Allahbadia has released a video on the internet which clearly insinuates that Aamir Khan has used steroids to get an incredible physique in Dangal.

Rahul Bhatt, Aamir’s fitness coach throughout the making of Dangal, refused to either deny or confirm the charge. Dismissing Allahbadia’s assumptions as inconsequential, he says, “It would amount to breach of confidentiality for me to talk about this. All I can say is, steroids are an occupational hazard in the entertainment industry. It would be naïve to believe that its consumption is nil, and to deny its existence.”

So is Rahul tacitly admitting to the use of steroids for Aamir’s miraculous makeover? He protests, “I am not admitting to anything. Just how my client got that physique, or how any entertainer gets into shape is a matter between the client and the coach. I am not at liberty to talk about this.”

He adds, “Let’s put it this way. If I had a son and he wanted to be an actor I’d never let him mess around with steroids. And only a qualified fitness coach can guide you through a proper regime where you don’t mess up your metabolism with mindless abuse.”

Aamir’s Dangal trainer Rahul (filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt’s son) deconstructs superstar’s fat to fit transition in just five months
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; December 8, 2016)

"This was plan A,” says Rahul Bhatt, as we scroll through his phone, scanning the diet chart that whipped a 97-kilo Aamir Khan into an athlete with a 9.6 per cent body fat, for his wrestler-biopic, Dangal. A list of healthy delicacies is generously sprinkled with what the average fitness enthusiast would refer to as ‘bad’ food – breads, poha and pulses. “We didn’t cut out carbohydrates, because then, he’d [Aamir] be thinking about food all the time. Besides, given his activity level, he needed the energy.”

Rahul also shows us a Plan B that would have been put into use, had the actor been unable to benefit from the first chart. “This would have been completely devoid of carbs. Fortunately, we never had to use it.” Bhatt helped Aamir shave off 30 kilos in a span of five months for the portrayal of Mahavir Singh Phogat in the Nitesh Tiwari-film. However, while the actor’s fans have applauded him for the transformation, others suspected that a transformation of this nature couldn’t have been executed without the use of steroids. “When we didn’t even need to use a stricter diet plan to produce the results, why would we need steroids?” questions Rahul. “Aamir’s transformation was a result of sheer perseverance and sweat. There is no substitute.”

Steroids, agrees Rahul, may be resorted to by those who want to look great, irrespective of the follies in their regimen. “Aamir was aspiring to look like an athlete, and so, trained like one. He put in close to five hours a day training,” he adds. Highlighting the actor’s daily routine, Rahul informs that Khan’s days would usually commence at 4.30 am, with an exercise routine that comprised compound movement and cardiovascular activities. “There was an AM workout and a PM workout. In addition, there was almost an hour of wrestling practice,” he says, adding the actor would also play squash and tennis.

Rahul also incorporated weight training with functional movement. “Aamir needed to build his body for aesthetic purpose. In order to enable his muscles to look bigger, we made him execute multiple sets of the exercises with six to 12 reps.”

After the mathematical analysis, the “ magic number” of 2,400 calories was arrived at for Khan. “We’d alter this number depending on his activity level each day. Also, Aamir took a keen interest in the science behind the training. Once he understood the process, he fully cooperated. He can squat twice his body weight, press one-and-a-half of it and lift thrice as much,” informs Bhatt, who is currently working on developing his own chain of fitness studios. “I want to bring the guru-shishya culture into fitness training. Applying scientific techniques to methods used by the pehlwans in the villages, I wish to revive old-school regimens in today’s time.”

Prod him for a name for the chain, he pauses for a moment, and as though having just arrived at one, announces, “Akhada!” It may be recalled Rahul met David Coleman Headley at a gym in Mumbai when the latter recced the city for terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba’s masterplan for 26/11 Mumbai attacks. Along with journalist Hussain Zaidi, Rahul penned a book named Headley and I, talking about him and his love for Indian women and Armani clothes.

Mahesh Bhatt’s son Rahul on the process of coaching Aamir Khan for Dangal
Subhash K Jha (DNA; December 3, 2016)

You’ve seen the pictures, no doubt. The ones showcasing how Aamir Khan gained 97 kilos for his role as Mahavir Phogat in Dangal and then dropped 20 kgs for parts of the same film, that is.

The man behind both looks is Mahesh Bhatt’s son, Rahul. “It was my responsibility to lay out the blueprint for his physical coaching. The year I spent coaching him through his weight changes was a learning experience for me, though. I’ve not seen such fierce dedication and passion in anyone.”

So did Aamir follow Rahul’s instructions blindly? “Not at all. Aamir has an encyclopaedic mind. He absorbs and filters facts according to his requirements. He listens carefully. He can differentiate between fact and conjecture.”

Training would begin early every morning. “Aamir would wake up at 4 am for the workouts. There were basically three steps to his training. The psychological aspect is the most important. Then the diet and finally the training. All he needed was to be convinced of the psychology of weight loss, the rest just followed naturally. It was ‘mind over fatter’ all the way.”

After a year together, Rahul still doesn’t think they’re friends. “Though I was his personal trainer, it was all very professional. I was invited deep into Aamir’s personal space. A confidentiality had to be maintained. I had to safeguard his privacy and mine. I had to safeguard his health and make sure he was injury-free. I’ve achieved that. His success is my success.”

Bhatt goes a step further and insists that many celebrity personal trainers are unqualified. “I am not a trainer. I am a coach. A lot of people are in it to make a quick buck. These trainers are sycophants, part of the stars’ entourage. Only an exceptional man like Aamir Khan can hire someone like me.”

Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 27, 2014)

Not so long ago, Rahul Bhatt had gone on record to say: “Mahesh Bhatt never treated me like his own child. It's the raw uncut truth about my relationship with my father. I was vulnerable. I had no father to guide me in my growing years.”

But the two seem to have put the frayed relationship behind and made a new beginning as Mahesh Bhatt is ready to launch his son in a co-production with daughter Pooja. The director has not yet been finalised but sources close to Rahul reveal that Pooja herself might wield the megaphone.

The film, titled Bad, will go on floors next year and Mahesh Bhatt says, “I am not in the business of launching my kith and kin in movies. But suddenly, everything fell into place and I found a script which fits Rahul like a glove.”

Insisting that “everything is fine between me and dad now”, Rahul says, “The past is history and the future is a mystery, the present is all that matters. Whatever I had to say, I wrote rather articulately in my book Headley & I. Now let’s let bygones be bygones.”

Mirror has it that Rahul’s character will have grey shades. The 32-year-old actor is unperturbed about debuting with a dark role and says, “I play a rather twisted character, those traits are in me too and hence I guess I won’t have to try too hard.”

Other than being bad, how is Rahul preparing for the debut? The fitness trainer already has a buff body and says that he has no plans to lose the muscle. “I have a big built, that’s how real men are. I plan to continue being a gym instructor as that is my passion and I do it for a price,” he asserts.

Rahul earlier made headlines for his alleged association with 26/11 Attacks accused David Headley and in 2002 he was arrested for allegedly assaulting Pooja’s then partner Ranvir Shorey. Then, came the tell-all book. A Bollywood career would require him to remain controversy free. How does he plan to do that?

“Was it wrong to stand up for my sister when someone beat her up? Have I got drunk and banged my car into a bakery? Have I gone hunting? Look, I am not insinuating anything. I just air my opinions and I shall never lead my life to please other people,” he rages.

Parting shot. What does he think of stepsister Alia Bhatt’s acting career? Pat comes the reply, “Exceptional! She has come up with an awesome performance in Highway. She is the Meryl Streep of India.”