Photo: Allen Berezovsky/GettyAfter bulking up for his role in the Marvel filmEternals,Kumail Nanjianisays he feels “uncomfortable” with the attention surrounding his body transformation.The actor, 43, discussed his physique in a profile withGQ,telling the magazine he’s less open to talking about his body since heshocked the internetwith his dramatic transformation in 2019.“I’ve found out over the last year and a half, since I did that picture, that I am very uncomfortable talking about my body — and it’s become less and less and less comfortable,” Nanjiani said.TheSilicon Valleycomedian first bulked up to play Kingo inEternals, a superhero who blends into the world as a Bollywood star. Nanjiani, who toldGQhe grew up watching Indian cinema, wanted to look like a true Bollywood leading man for the part.Marvel Studios"If I’m playing the first South Asian superhero, I want to look like someone who can take on Thor or Captain America, or any of those people," Nanjiani said, adding, “I was like, I want this to be believable. I want to feel that kind of powerful in this role.“His newly buff appearance caughtEternalsdirectorChloé Zhaooff guard, he recalled.“Chloé got a little upset at me for getting in shape — I shouldn’t say ‘getting in shape,’ " he said. “For changing my body to look a certain way.“Zhao explained toGQthat she thought Nanjiani was a great fit for Kingo regardless of his appearance and that she “wanted to make sure he didn’t feel like he had to [bulk up] for me.“While he’s received plenty of praise for his new look, Nanjiani has admitted he’s struggled with the attention, and also experienced body dysmorphia from the drastic change.“I don’t want to discount people who genuinely have debilitating body issues. I don’t have that. But I did start getting some body dysmorphia,“he toldMen’s Healthfor the magazine’s April 2020 cover. “I’d look in the mirror and I’d see my abs — and when I looked again, they would fade. I would just see the flaws.“He added that sharing his progress on social media was helpful because of the positive reinforcement he received.“When I saw that reaction was when I was like, ‘Okay, I clearly don’t see what’s actually there,’ " Nanjiani explained. “It’s something I’m trying to be aware of and be better at, because that’s not a good way to be. You want to be easy on yourself.”
Photo: Allen Berezovsky/Getty
After bulking up for his role in the Marvel filmEternals,Kumail Nanjianisays he feels “uncomfortable” with the attention surrounding his body transformation.The actor, 43, discussed his physique in a profile withGQ,telling the magazine he’s less open to talking about his body since heshocked the internetwith his dramatic transformation in 2019.“I’ve found out over the last year and a half, since I did that picture, that I am very uncomfortable talking about my body — and it’s become less and less and less comfortable,” Nanjiani said.TheSilicon Valleycomedian first bulked up to play Kingo inEternals, a superhero who blends into the world as a Bollywood star. Nanjiani, who toldGQhe grew up watching Indian cinema, wanted to look like a true Bollywood leading man for the part.Marvel Studios"If I’m playing the first South Asian superhero, I want to look like someone who can take on Thor or Captain America, or any of those people,” Nanjiani said, adding, “I was like, I want this to be believable. I want to feel that kind of powerful in this role.“His newly buff appearance caughtEternalsdirectorChloé Zhaooff guard, he recalled.“Chloé got a little upset at me for getting in shape — I shouldn’t say ‘getting in shape,’ " he said. “For changing my body to look a certain way.“Zhao explained toGQthat she thought Nanjiani was a great fit for Kingo regardless of his appearance and that she “wanted to make sure he didn’t feel like he had to [bulk up] for me.“While he’s received plenty of praise for his new look, Nanjiani has admitted he’s struggled with the attention, and also experienced body dysmorphia from the drastic change.“I don’t want to discount people who genuinely have debilitating body issues. I don’t have that. But I did start getting some body dysmorphia,“he toldMen’s Healthfor the magazine’s April 2020 cover. “I’d look in the mirror and I’d see my abs — and when I looked again, they would fade. I would just see the flaws.“He added that sharing his progress on social media was helpful because of the positive reinforcement he received.“When I saw that reaction was when I was like, ‘Okay, I clearly don’t see what’s actually there,’ " Nanjiani explained. “It’s something I’m trying to be aware of and be better at, because that’s not a good way to be. You want to be easy on yourself.”
After bulking up for his role in the Marvel filmEternals,Kumail Nanjianisays he feels “uncomfortable” with the attention surrounding his body transformation.
The actor, 43, discussed his physique in a profile withGQ,telling the magazine he’s less open to talking about his body since heshocked the internetwith his dramatic transformation in 2019.
“I’ve found out over the last year and a half, since I did that picture, that I am very uncomfortable talking about my body — and it’s become less and less and less comfortable,” Nanjiani said.
TheSilicon Valleycomedian first bulked up to play Kingo inEternals, a superhero who blends into the world as a Bollywood star. Nanjiani, who toldGQhe grew up watching Indian cinema, wanted to look like a true Bollywood leading man for the part.
Marvel Studios
“If I’m playing the first South Asian superhero, I want to look like someone who can take on Thor or Captain America, or any of those people,” Nanjiani said, adding, “I was like, I want this to be believable. I want to feel that kind of powerful in this role.”
His newly buff appearance caughtEternalsdirectorChloé Zhaooff guard, he recalled.
“Chloé got a little upset at me for getting in shape — I shouldn’t say ‘getting in shape,’ " he said. “For changing my body to look a certain way.”
Zhao explained toGQthat she thought Nanjiani was a great fit for Kingo regardless of his appearance and that she “wanted to make sure he didn’t feel like he had to [bulk up] for me.”
While he’s received plenty of praise for his new look, Nanjiani has admitted he’s struggled with the attention, and also experienced body dysmorphia from the drastic change.
“I don’t want to discount people who genuinely have debilitating body issues. I don’t have that. But I did start getting some body dysmorphia,“he toldMen’s Healthfor the magazine’s April 2020 cover. “I’d look in the mirror and I’d see my abs — and when I looked again, they would fade. I would just see the flaws.”
He added that sharing his progress on social media was helpful because of the positive reinforcement he received.
“When I saw that reaction was when I was like, ‘Okay, I clearly don’t see what’s actually there,’ " Nanjiani explained. “It’s something I’m trying to be aware of and be better at, because that’s not a good way to be. You want to be easy on yourself.”
source: people.com
