Look who’s changing!

We love it when an actor gets into the skin of the character. And there have been a number of examples of actors in Bollywood who have undergone major transformations in order to suit their roles. Whether it involves putting on or shedding kilos, experimenting with hairstyles or changing their image entirely for a role, these actors show that they can go the whole hog. We list down the actors who have gone through noteworthy makeovers for their art.

Aamir Khan

Known for being a perfectionist when it comes to his craft, Aamir has never left a stone unturned when preparing for a part. He grew out his hair and mustache and changed his look for Mangal Pandey: The Rising in 2005. After which, he amazed us all when he developed eight-pack abs for Ghajini, along with sporting a buzz cut. More recently, Aamir is now on a strict diet and exercise plan for his next, Dangal, where he plays a wrestler. After gain 22 kilos, he now weights 90 kilos. We can’t wait to see his complete look in the film!

Shah Rukh Khan

The King Khan, always known for his romantic hero image, made us all go ‘wow’ when he chose to sculpt his body to and sported a six-pack in Om Shanti Om. The sight of the shirtless Khan in the song Dard-E-Disco was enough to make us go weak in the knees. He upped the game again last year and developed eight-pack abs for Happy New Year.

Vidya Balan

This powerhouse actress won all the praise for her transformation for her role in The Dirty Picture. In her effort to play the siren Silk Smitha to the tee, she put on more than 10 kilos for her role. Needless to say, the film and the change of look were a runaway hit.

John Abraham

Already a fitness enthusiast and gifted with a gorgeous body, John Abraham went all out for his look in Force. He was required to bulk up for the high-octane action film, for which he followed a strict diet and a rigorous workout plan. His entire change of look took a total of eight months to complete! This was a polar opposite to his change of look for his film Aashayein in 2010, where he lost more than 16 kilos to play an obsessed gambler who goes through a rough patch.

Kareena Kapoor Khan

Hailing from the Kapoor khandaan, Kareena is a self-confessed foodie. So when she attained a size zero figure for her role in Tashan, she left everyone spellbound. The actress looked sexy and stylish in a bikini and her slim-trim avatar made her even more of a style queen. Though she didn’t make any dramatic changes to her diet, a balanced regime helped her lose kilos and win hearts all around.

Abhishek Bachchan

The actor was lauded for his performance in Mani Ratnam’s Guru not just for his acting skills but also for his dedication to the role. In an age when actors were showing off their well-sculpted bodies, Abhishek Bachchan chose to put on a lot of weight to look the part of a Gujarati businessman.

Hrithik Roshan

A perfectionist to the core, Hrithik chose to abandon the hot bod for his look in Guzaarish. The actor put on a whopping 15 kilos in order to suit the part of a quadriplegic magician. He also grew out his hair and maintained a beard. What’s more, after the film, he went back to his fab shape in no time and looked great in his next, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara.

Farhan Akhtar

A director turned actor, Farhan’s metamorphosis to play Milkha Singh in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag was nothing short of amazing. He sported two looks in the film – the soldier and the athlete. He gained weight and bulked up to play the army man, only to lose the kilos, attain a leaner frame and train extensively to execute the athlete look. Intensive training, a super strict diet plan and a look change as he grew out his beard and hair, we couldn’t tell the difference between Farhan Akhtar and the legendary Milkha Singh.

Anushka Sharma

Anushka recently went all-out for her role in her soon to release film, Bombay Velvet. To get the look of a 60s and 70s Jazz singer, the actress decided to use temporary lip enhancement tools. Although she faced much flak and speculation for her almost overnight transformation, she clarified her actions in an open statement on Twitter. Kudos to her!

Ranveer Singh

Known to experiment with his look, the actor dramatically changed his entire look for his next project, Bajirao Mastani. Ranveer shaved off his locks to play the Peshwa ruler in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s directorial venture.

Shabana Azmi

Known for her stellar performances over the years, Shabana Azmi decided to go bald for Deepa Mehta’s Water. Though the film was shelved and then remade with a different cast, her dedication to the character she set out to play is commendable.

Saif Ali Khan

The chhote Nawab shed his chocolate boy image and his tresses for his landmark performance in Omkara. The actor not only sported a buzz cut for his role as the conniving Langda Tyagi, he also lost some weight to look the part.

Sanjay Dutt

Sanjay Dutt’s transformation for his negative role in Agneepath is praiseworthy. Bringing back his love for fitness, the actor beefed up for the role and even shaved his head. Following an extensive fitness routine, Sanjay Dutt surely came back with a bang as the menacing Kancha Cheena.