Known for his comedic roles in projects like the hit film The Big Sick and the HBO series Silicon Valley, actor Kumail Nanjiani adds “thirst trap” to his already impressive resume.
Sharing that he never thought he’d be “one of those people” who post shirtless pics, Nanjiani told his 583,000+ Instagram followers he found out a year ago he was going to be cast in Marvel’s Eternals and “decided I wanted to transform how I looked.”
Admitting he’d have never been able to achieve his new fitness on his own, the 41-year-old actor gave full credit to “the best trainers and nutritionists paid for by the biggest studio in the world.”
“I’m glad I look like this, but I also understand why I never did before,” he shared candidly. “It would have been impossible without these resources and time.”
Nanjiani also made sure to thank his wife, writer Emily V. Gordon, “for putting up with me complaining and talking about only working out and dieting for the last year.”
“I promise I’ll be interesting again someday,” he joked.
Gordon chimed in on her own Instagram account sharing a shirtless snap of her buff super-hero hubby:
He even became PornHub’s cover guy for the ‘Muscular’ category:
We’re pretty sure this Twitter user nailed it:
Kumail Nanjiani won the ‘beginning of the decade vs. end of the decade’ challenge pic.twitter.com/bQ9JclOoYa
— crazy broke asian (@tribranchvo) December 16, 2019
Part of a new phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Eternals is currently scheduled for a November 2020 release.
The film will star Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden, and Salma Hayek, with Chloé Zhao taking on director duties.
In a funny bit of ‘internet oopsie,’ one Twitter user did not approve of the transformation, at least not initially.
Abigail Disney, the wealthy granddaughter of Walt Disney Company co-founder Roy Disney, clearly didn’t read Nanjiani’s post and seemed to body shame the actor pronouncing the situation “Just so wrong.”
Really? This is just so wrong. https://t.co/JQWjUYzbP2
— Abigail Disney (@abigaildisney) December 16, 2019
Disney went on to declare that Nanjiani-level fitness must require the mindset of an “obsessive, controlling and all-around obnoxious person,” adding that photos like these put undue pressure on kids who look to celebrities as role models.
“Conflating what Hollywood presents as ideal with health is a grave mistake,” she added.
Would this be a good time to point out that Marvel is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Walt Disney?
Finally, someone pointed out his caption which detailed the healthy, proper steps Nanjiani took alongside fitness and nutrition experts. The heiress recanted, at least a bit. Then she announced she wants to throw the soon-to-be action hero a parade.
I am so happy to hear this all, except for the bit about the superhero. Am I the only one who is sick to death of superheroes? https://t.co/6tIhVYxjzx
— Abigail Disney (@abigaildisney) December 16, 2019
Wow, I so wish I'd gone and looked at his caption before I posted! Now I want to throw him a parade! https://t.co/OM4uDwxXSJ
— Abigail Disney (@abigaildisney) December 16, 2019
You’re absolutely right. @kumailn I am deeply sorry for having judged you without fully understanding the context. My bad. https://t.co/VBIWYQyOV8
— Abigail Disney (@abigaildisney) December 18, 2019
