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 There's a growing tribe of Kannada film stars who take pride in their health and fitness routines. They hit the gym every single day and visit their favourite spa every single weekend. While Darshan, Vijay and Surya follow a punishing routine that involves plenty of weight training, glamour girls like Pooja Gandhi swear by yoga.
Yoga as a stress buster
Pooja Gandhi, who shot to fame after Mungaaru Male, is a yoga fan. She says she practices yoga every day and attends weekend fitness camps at KSCA stadium. "I devote at least an hour in the mornings to yoga. I start with pranayama and graduate to some really complex asanas. I have noticed a great change in the way I cope with stress, thanks to yoga," she explains.
Mr Muscle
Vijay, the star of hits such as Duniya and Avva, is another actor who takes his fitness routine seriously. That's because he was a fitness trainer before he entered the film industry. A black belt in karate and a body builder, Vijay takes pride in doing his film stunts without using a duplicate artiste. He recently tore a ligament when jumping off a moving lorry on the sets of Junglee and is recovering (HiTLiST, 27th Oct). "Vijay was required to put on a lot of weight for Junglee. He gained over 12 kilos. He is trying to lose the extra weight and reduce the pressure on his leg. But he can't overdo the exercises because his leg is yet to heal," says a close friend of the actor.
Fun first, fitness later, Kiran, Actor
"I'm not a big fan of gyms. I prefer to visit a fitness centre thrice a week. My father insists that I go to the gym every day as I am a little laidback when it comes to setting a routine for myself and following it. I usually go to the gym to catch up with my friends."
Boys and their toys
Since time is always in short supply for a busy star like Darshan, his personal trainer and childhood friend Naveen had suggested that he set up a home gym. It's been a year since Darshan built his plush gym and fitted it with the best equipment money can buy. "I spend at least two hours every day in my gym. I try to finish my exercises in the morning, but when I have an early morning shoot, then I hit the gym in the evening," he says.
Darshan reveals that he was inspired to exercise and get fit for the film Gaja, where he had to show off his biceps. According to Naveen, "Darshan is like a man possessed when it comes to fitness. There was a time when we thought he was developing a small paunch; he did not rest until he lost it through vigorous exercises."
The industry is abuzz with how toned and sculpted the star looks in his next film, Boss. "He has many scenes in Boss where he will show off his chiselled body," says Naveen, proudly.
Network while you workout, Raghu Ramappa, Actor
"I spend a minimum of four hours in the gym every day. Having a good physique is always an asset in the film industry. Going to the gym has become a way of life. In fact, I meet many senior actors in the gym. It's a good place to network."
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