Toofaan director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra: We weren’t satisfied with prosthetics

Toofaan director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra on how Farhan Akhtar piled on 20 kilos, sported three distinct looks in the boxing drama

Before filming Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013), Farhan Akhtar had spent long hours at the gym, more than willing to go the extra mile to look the part of an athlete. Eight years on, the actor has again undergone a transformation in Amazon Prime Video’s Toofaan. In keeping with the narrative of the sports drama, Akhtar has sported three distinct looks, going from the lean street fighter to an unfit boxer who has given up on his dream, and finally, displaying the ripped physique of a professional pugilist. Where a boxer’s look was the result of a daily rigorous workout, he had to gain 20 kilos to attain the out-of-work unfit avatar.  

 Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra

“We tried prosthetics, and even considered VFX, but we weren’t satisfied. So, Farhan had to put on about 15 to 20 kilos,” says director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. The filmmaker shot the portions depicting his unfit look right before the lockdown in 2020, thus saving Akhtar the trouble of having to retain the physique during the stay-at-home period. “Farhan’s transformation in the film is incredible. Before the hard work comes the determination to make it happen. [On that count], I can always rely on Farhan,” adds the director.

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