Imran Khan, a former actor, has posted another Instagram update discussing his struggles with negative body image.
Since retiring from acting, Imran Khan has been reminiscing about his time in Bollywood. In his most recent entry, he said that he was fascinated with the muscular physiques of male celebrities and that he had endured frequent criticism for his little build.
Consistently low body mass
Imran said in his writing that he had always been a tiny guy, which disqualified him from being a Bollywood icon. He added, “I have a high metabolic rate. Therefore, my body efficiently processes the food I eat. What a horrible disease, oh no! In my late teens, the dudes I knew all started going to gyms. The sleeves of their t-shirts began to bulge as their biceps began to grow. He described his build as such: “I wore a size S, and the sleeves were still loose.”
As he explains, “I was convinced that I was too slender, which is why Jai typically wears two layers of clothing throughout Jaane Tu, even though I didn’t need to be vital to portray Jai Singh Rathore (his role in Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Naa). He said, “I started going to the gym for my next film, Kidnap, and that’s when I started my bodybuilding experience”.
Rude criticisms
His comments about the film he had just watched and the reactions from the audience were priceless. In the following years, I prioritised regular bodywork and upkeep. Although he worked out frequently, he still received comments such as “You look like a little boy, not a man,” “You’re looking weak,” and “The heroine looks bigger than you” (pain for both of us).
Used steroid-based drugs
Imran then recounted all the items he ate and used to build up his body, including steroids. Looking back, I realise my appearance was good, but I was self-conscious then. My goal was to have a robust and heroic body. That’s why I laboured more. A proper diet of six meals daily, totaling four thousand calories, is just as important as exercise. Even though I eat well (chicken breast, egg whites, sweet potato, oats, flax seeds), my biceps still don’t appear like the heroes I’ve seen on TV. Anabolic steroids, whey protein, creatine, glutamine, L-carnitine… and finally, even whey protein and whey protein powder,” he explained. The actor acknowledged that there would be “shock and horror” at the mere hint of steroid use. He said the illusion would be ruined if we admitted that portion aloud.
To thin pictures: a reaction
Imran said he endured online bullying and abuse when photos of him seeming thinner than usual went viral. “In the past several years, I grew skinnier than ever due to my sadness and lack of exercise. After I was photographed, my health and possible drug usage were discussed in the media. I was mortified at the thought of anyone seeing me in such a sorry state. So I backed off even more,” he explained.
He shared his current situation: “It’s been an uphill journey, but these days I’m doing better than ever; I exercise with my old friend @tokastraining, who puts my health first and only feeds me supplements like walnuts and turmeric… seriously.” And while I’m still a little envious of the guys that look like superheroes, I don’t beat myself up.
Imran has been away from acting for quite some time, but he recently offered his followers a reason to believe that he will return to the industry provided they liked enough of his Instagram photos.