It was Duniya Vijay, who started the six pack buzz in the Kannada film industry, which ultimately became a rage in Sandalwood. Most of the reigning stars like Puneeth Rajkumar, Upendra, Darshan, Prem and Chetan have joined the club. Actor Chetan Chandra made it even bigger with eight packs. Today, we see almost every hero shaping for a perfect body and seem to hit the gym as often as they can to keep their six pack intact.
Nowadays, it has become necessary for heroes to look their best on screen and the current stars have a close watch on what they eat and work out only to maintain a lean frame. Some hire trainers who put them on a rigorous fitness regimen that helps them to maintain a healthy life style. Puneeth Rajkumar, Prem and Upendra have developed six packs for their film, Anna Bond, Shatru and Topiwala respectively. While a few stars in Kannada are also getting ready to make it big on screen.
Duniya Vijay : The actor basically who hails from a gymnastic background showed off his six pack with his film Kari Chiruthe and has maintained it till today. There was a reason for this star to develop a six pack, he says, “When I did off-beat films like Slum Bala and Avva, there was a talk in Gandhinagar that I can’t get further than doing such kind of films. That irked me and I wanted to show them something different and that’s how I developed six packs which has been followed by other stars today.
His fitness routine is two kilometres of jogging, stretching and abdominal work out. Being an action hero, he often works out stunts mixed with gymnastics and martial arts. “Not that we have to shell out much to keep the body in shape, I eat less and my intake is good proteins and a little of vitamins to live healthy.” he says.
Vijay being a good sports person doesn’t mind working out the whole day. “Sometimes, I feel it is madness but I devote myself to exercises everyday. Getting injured while shooting has become a routine. That itself becomes a daily exercise for me while I am on the sets. But I make sure, I go to the nearest gym for a 2-4 hour work out.” Paani Puri Kitty is Vijay’s trainer. “He is a professional body builder and participates in various competition at international level. Kitty had been to the United States recently to participate in an International Body Building Competition and stood in the fourth place. He is a very good teacher and good friend, who has helped me to maintain this lean frame throughout,” says Vijay, who has a small place for workout at home which he had set up initially when he wanted to build his huge muscles. “But less carbohydrates and high protein is very necessary to maintain the mid-section,” says Vijay.
Upendra: Real Star Upendra, who was latest to develop a six pack body for his upcoming flick 'Topiwala' works out for two hours followed by aerobics and spends an hour in the gym and then sits for meditation. With no intake of cholesterol food items, he drinks milk with protein powder and a light breakfast in the morning. Uppi’s afternoon meal is basically wheat and rice. greens and fresh vegetables are a must. The star has 6-7 egg whites every day and once in a week, he eats chicken with only pepper powder and salt. His dinner includes two chapatis with a little bit of rice.
Chetan: Actor Chetan who will be sporting six pack abs for his latest film, Mynaa showed off his lean frame in his last film, Suryakanthi. According to the actor, staying healthy is indubitably a holistic exercise. “It’s essential to concentrate on keeping the mind, body, and metaphysical in strong shape concurrently. To accomplish this, one must concentrate on elements like cardio and aerobic exercises, eating right, sleeping well, engaging socially, reading books, art & theater, meditation, etc.,.” he says. In order to conserve time, when he is shooting,sometimes he curtails these activities. To get the body in shape, intensity is key, says Chetan. “A daily hour of cardio (running, cycling, etc.) and an hour of weight training (muscle-toning, yoga, etc.) is what I do. Even a rigorous half an hour of both can do the trick for those that want to maintain good health rather than display the physique.
Obviously, a proper diet and the right amount of sleep help considerably in keeping the body healthy,” he says.
Unlike working out which takes 2+ hours a day, eating right is a 24+ hour job, he feels. Even late dinners are consistently avoided by Chetan. "On a daily basis, I eat raagi balls," he adds. He opines that one must eat according to what one is trying to accomplish. "Since I concentrate on toning, my calorie intake isn’t all that high comparatively. Yet, I try not to let my stomach go hungry. Fruits with less natural sugars & vegetables of all sorts help in this regard,” he says.
When he is on the sets, he tries to do whatever he does normally but in half the time length. “Many a times, sleep pays a price and I can’t get more than 4 to 5 hours max, but I try to make up for that on off days.” says Chetan.
If he ever does require help in the gym, he asks a trainer for a spot. “I prefer to handle things on my own. It helps me focus better. Yet, an informed trainer can do wonders, and I highly recommend it,” he explains. When he can’t make it out to the gym, home is an ideal work out place. “My home not as stacked (machines wise) as a good job, but it helps me ‘adjust,”he laughs.
Prem: Lovely Prem is now a six-pack addict, who wanted to buff up for his film, Shatru. The actor’s fitness routine is 8 hours work out on a daily basis, says Prem, whose six pack actually cost a bomb.
“My target is for six months and my budget for the same is around `8 lakh, which includes major proteins and diet food, 1 kg chicken, 25 eggs. I spent almost ` 25000 for the protein food. Gym doesn’t cost much as it is paid on a monthly basis,” he explains. Even if Prem is at a shooting spot, he makes sure, he works out four hours before he goes on the sets. “I try to hit the nearest gym wherever I am,” he says.
Prem’s personal trainer is Paani Puri Kitty, who gave Vijay his ripped look. “He is the best for me,” says Prem, who has a small gym at his house. “How you exercise is important, a strict diet is equally important. For that matter, we have to forget spicy biriyani and anything delicious,” he adds.According to Prem, diet for a six pack will remain only for four days. “We usually showcase our six pack for a song or a fight sequence. Once we stop our fitness regimen and don’t follow our diet, our body will start bloating. Maintaining a six pack is not very easy,” he says. Stars who have not bent their joints till today are Yogi, Kitty, Ajay Rao, Yash, Ganesh and Jogi Prem but still doing well at the box office. But if not six pack, almost every star, who enter the industry have maintained a good shape, otherwise, they will end up playing supporting roles. As for Kannada heroines, the present lot hit the gym to maintain their physique. Ragini, Andrita Ray, Ramya, Pooja Gandhi, Rishika Singh, Sanjjanna, you name the actress, everybody is there to sweat it out and maintain their svelte figures. But heroines who do not exercise are out of the industry very fast.