Comedian turned actor Kumail Nanjiani is looking more like an action hero in more recent times.
The Pakistan-born star, 43, endured grueling workouts in preparation to play the first South Asian superhero in Marvel’s upcoming movie in The Eternals. With that shoot in the can, it appears he’s maintaining his shredded physique for his new role in the upcoming Star Wars miniseries focused on Obi-Wan Kenobi.
And on Sunday the Silicon Valley star put his toned body on display during a trip to his regular gym in Los Angeles.
Pumped! Kumail Nanjiani, 43, looked like an action hero when he stepped out of a gym in Los Angeles on Sunday with his bulging biceps on display in a tank top
Having put in the time on another intense workout, Nanjiani left the gym with his biceps bulging in a white tank top.
On this day, he likely put in some weightlifting reps geared at building muscle in his upper body, including the arms, from the looks his bulging veins.
The Big Sick co-writer and star rounded out his sporty ensemble with black sweatpants and grey sneakers.
Withe COVID-19 and its variants still a danger, he made sure to wear a protective mask over his mouth and nose whenever he was out in the public in the vicinity of people.
Committed for role: The comedian turned actor started his body transformation in the spring of 2019 in preparation for the upcoming Marvel film, The Eternals
In early 2019, Nanjiani signed on to play Kingo, an ego-swollen, muscle-packed alien among men, who can project cosmic energy projectiles from his hands.
He then wasted little time in diving in to the first phase of his body transformation that would prepare him to be able to play in a world of superheroes.
And it turns out playing the first South Asian superhero in a Marvel movie was enough motivation for him take on brutal workouts at a so-called mega gym in Beverly Hills.
‘I don’t want to be the schlubby brown guy—I want to look like someone who can hang with Thor and Captain America,’ he found himself repeating in his head, as reported by Men’s Health.
Stepping out: Withe COVID-19 and its variants still a danger, he made sure to wear a protective mask over his mouth and nose whenever he was out in the public in the vicinity of people
The early workouts were so tough he tried the ‘leave your body’ philosophy in order to cope with the training. But after months of coming close to vomiting, he eventually realized he had to embrace the complete opposite philosophy: ‘Chase the pain.’
‘I had to change my relationship to pain,’ he said of his new approach to his exercise routines.
‘You’re so designed to avoid it, but in that situation you really have to be okay with it. You have to want it. It’s almost trying to rewire your brain.’
The film, directed by Chloé Zhao, follows a group of immortal aliens living in disguise among humans on Earth who have secretly protected them throughout the ages, but have since been forced to return to the job when another alien species threatens humanity.
On a mission: The Pakistan-born star endured grueling workouts in preparation to play the first South Asian superhero in Marvel’s upcoming movie in The Eternals
Along with Nanjiani, the ensemble cast also includes Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden, Lauren Ridloff, Salma Hayek, Brian Tyree Henry, Kit Harrington, Don Lee, Lia McHugh, Gemma Chan and Barry Keoghan.
Originally slated for a November 2020 premiere, the debut was delayed two times due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns in the entertainment industry as a whole.
The Eternals is now scheduled to be released in the United States on November 5, 2021.
For the new Stars Wars series, which began production in April, Nanjiani stars alongside Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christensen, Joel Edgerton, Bonnie Piesse, Rupert Friend, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Sung Kang, Simone Kessell and Moses Ingram.
Pumped up for new role: Nanjiani is part of the ensemble cast for the upcoming Star Wars series focused on Obi-Wan Kenobi