Most people know Kumail Nanjiani as the funny guy in movies like The Big Sick and Stuber or shows like Silicon Valley. But in the upcoming Marvel film The Eternals, you might not even recognize him: After a year of intense training in the gym, he’s bulked up significantly, and posted on Instagram to show off the results.
“I never thought I’d be one of those people who would post a thirsty shirtless,” he wrote, “but I’ve worked way too hard for way too long so here we are.”
His fitness transformation started a year ago, when he first found out that he’d been cast in The Eternals.
“I wanted to transform how I looked,” he wrote.
So he partnered with professional trainer Grant Roberts and hit the gym. It wasn’t his first time working with a trainer, though: He previously workout out under the guidance of Lance Callahan in L.A. Naturally, getting a sculpted chest, six-pack, and massive arms wasn’t easy, and it involved months of “physical pain,” Nanjiani wrote. Once shooting started, he began working with trainer and nutritionist David Higgins “almost every day” throughout the filming process.
View this post on InstagramI never thought I’d be one of those people who would post a thirsty shirtless, but I’ve worked way too hard for way too long so here we are. You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain. I found out a year ago I was going to be in Marvel’s Eternals and decided I wanted to transform how I looked. I would not have been able to do this if I didn’t have a full year with the best trainers and nutritionists paid for by the biggest studio in the world. I’m glad I look like this, but I also understand why I never did before. It would have been impossible without these resources and time. So big thanks to @grantrobertsfit who started working with me at the beginning of the year and made me understand true physical pain for months and months. Then, once we started shooting, a massive thanks to @davidhigginslondon and his team (@ellispartridge, @thebeardypt, @tomcheesemanfitness) for training me almost every day and making me strong, limber and injury free. I can almost touch my toes now. (And thank you for forcing me to do cheat meals David.) Matthews Street Catering for their delicious and healthy meals. And finally, the biggest thanks goes to @emilyvgordon for putting up with me complaining and talking about only working out and dieting for the last year. I promise I’ll be interesting again some day. #thirstyshirtless (Photo by @markupson.) (edit: I left off one very important person: @lancecallahan who trained me for 6 years and helped me build the foundation I could use to do this. Thank you!)
In The Eternals, Nanjiani will play Kingo, a genetically engineered being who’s also a master swordsman, the Los Angeles Times reports. He stars in the film alongside a high-wattage cast including Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek, Richard Madden, Kit Harington, and Brian Tyree Henry.
He may be bulked up, but don’t worry—Nanjiani hasn’t lost his sense of humor.
“I can almost touch my toes now,” he wrote.
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