Aamir Khan underwent a staggering physical transformation for Nitesh Tiwari’s Dangal, shifting between the bulky physique of an aging wrestler and the chiseled form of his younger self. His dedication to the role was unmatched—waking up at 4:15 AM daily for grueling gym sessions under the guidance of fitness trainer Rahul Bhatt.
Reminding us of Aamir's work ethic, Bhatt spoke to Hindi Rush, saying, "Aamir is fantastically driven, ambitious, and a perceptive judge of character. He can spot the right person for the job and leave them to it."
But the Dangal shoot was not without controversy. While shooting in Ludhiana, Aamir landed himself in trouble after declaring that he "felt unsafe" in India because of increasing intolerance. Protesters marched outside his hotel, and locals even put out a ₹1 lakh reward for slapping him. But in the midst of the commotion, Aamir remained unfazed—adhering rigidly to his diet, not touching a drop of alcohol, and remaining laser-beam focused on his fitness regime.
"He was completely zen," Bhatt recalled. "He told me, ‘This will blow over in a day or two—I’ve seen it before.’ Even with BSF security around, he didn’t break discipline—no stress-eating, no indulgences. Just pure focus."
The 2015 controversy may have stirred the nation, but for Aamir Khan, it was just another test of his unwavering commitment—both to his craft and his health.
Rahul Bhatt mentioned that Aamir Khan reduced from 39 percent body fat to 9 percent body fat but he kept on training muscles throughout it all. "He reduced from 39 percent body dat to 9 percent body fat. There was no water restriction but there was strict diet. He used to have 2700 to 2200 calories daily.". Aamir had certain apprehensions about going on a high protein diet due to kidney problems. Aamir is a bit finicky but once you persuade him, he listens. He takes a lot of advice and then he makes up his own mind," he said.
