LEARNING THE ROPES

Behind every ripped celebrity is a coach that didn't give up. Meet the fitness trainers behind your favourite celebrity's biggest transformation

- Jigar Shah

It takes an army to make celebs look the way they do. One of the crucial components of their entourage is fitness trainers, who not only motivate them to get in shape but are also instrumental in pushing them to achieve the look their role demands. We speak to some of the best in the business.

SHIVOHAM BHATT

Trainer to: Ranbir Kapoor, Aamir Khan

CrossFit trainer and co-founder of ShivFit, Shivoham Bhatt got introduced to CrossFit training while working as a trainer in Australia. "We first set up our gym in Mumbai at Ayan Mukerji's terrace before receiving our actual box sometime in 2010," he reveals.

Bhatt is currently training Ranbir Kapoor. "With his new look (in Brahmastra) that will be revealed soon, everyone will realise this is the kind of body you can maintain. It is not difficult if you eat and train the right way. His is the type of body where no one will notice anything with a T-shirt on, but abs will be spotted once it's off. If he has to look ripped or lose body fat, my training for him before a shoot would include workouts with some form of CrossFit style training. But the movement will be a little less complex, not including too many deadlifts and snatches, but incorporating a few muscle-ups, pull-ups, rowing, kettlebell swings."

Bhatt has trained Aamir Khan for his upcoming film, Laal Singh Chaddha. "When we started for Laal, he was around 92 kilos. He had to lose approximately 20 kilos. We did that over nine months with swimming, CrossFit, cardio, and weight training. Between Talaash [for which Khan had trained with Bhatt] and now, there has been a huge gap. The intensity was lesser, but we did a lot of movements he loved. He is disciplined, eats correctly, knows his body, and knows how much he can push."

RAJIV MEHRA

Trainer to: Ranveer Singh