Ram Charan and Janhvi Kapoor play the lead pair in the much-awaited film Peddi, directed by Buchi Babu Sana. The makers have already unveiled a few posters showcasing Ram Charan in strikingly different avatars. While he appears as a cricketer in one look, his rugged Peddi Pahalwan avatar stands in sharp contrast. With each new reveal, the film continues to build strong buzz, positioning itself as one of the most anticipated releases of 2026.
The actor’s physical transformation has received an overwhelmingly positive response, with fans praising his intense new looks. Adding to the excitement, celebrity fitness trainer Rakkesh R Uddiyar revealed that Ram Charan will be seen in three distinct transformations in the film, with the third being kept under wraps. “There will be three transformations, and the third one will be a surprise for the audience,” he said.
Rakkesh shared that director Buchi Babu Sana had a very clear vision for the character’s physique. “They wanted broad shoulders, a powerful chest, defined abs — not a full six-pack — and lean legs. The idea was to make him look like a desi pehalwan, not a Greek god,” he explained.
To achieve this, Rakkesh followed a structured training routine combining multiple styles. The weekly schedule included weight training with fasting cardio on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, while Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays were dedicated to functional training, kusthi exercises, and mobility work. Traditional methods like gada workouts, Surya Namaskar, rope pulling, and akhada drills were also incorporated. Recovery sessions included physiotherapy and regular massages.
Speaking about the diet, he revealed, “We followed a structured 1,800–2,500 calorie plan with carb cycling — some days low, some days high.” In the initial phase, Ram Charan had to maintain a lean look, as his character begins as a village youth. For this, he followed a calorie-deficit diet for nearly four to five months.
One of the toughest phases, according to Rakkesh, was during Ram Charan’s annual Ayyappa Mala fast, which required strict discipline. “He was already on a 50–60 percent vegetarian diet, but switching to a fully vegetarian plan during intense training made it even more challenging,” he said.
Despite the demanding routine, Rakkesh praised Ram Charan’s dedication. “There were ups and downs. On some days, he felt low, and I would increase his calorie intake. But when it came to training, he was exceptional,” he shared.
The actor maintained a highly disciplined schedule, often completing workouts before shoots and having meals on the way to the sets. A dedicated coordination system ensured he never missed a session, even during outdoor shoots where gym setups were arranged.
Talking about the kusthi training, Rakkesh said, “He’s an actor, not an athlete. To perform like one is very tough. But the way he executed every move surprised us.”
Reflecting on the transformation journey, he added, “This wasn’t a short-term process. I spent almost one year and four months working on his physique.” Having previously worked with Salman Khan on films like Sultan and Dangal, and earlier collaborating with Ram Charan on Dhruva, Rakkesh said the experience helped streamline the process this time.
Written and directed by Buchi Babu Sana, Peddi stars Ram Charan in the titular role, alongside Shiva Rajkumar, Janhvi Kapoor, Divyendu Sharma, and Jagapathi Babu. The film is produced by Venkata Satish Kilaru under Vriddhi Cinemas, in association with Mythri Movie Makers, and is slated for release this year.
