Mithun Chakraborty inspired by Salman Khan

Mithun Chakraborty might be hitting the golden age of sixty next year but the veteran actor is bitten by the fitness bug, thanks to Salman Khan.

Sources from the sets of Veer informed that Salman and Mithun used to have extended discussions on fitness and it was during the course of these discussions that Mithun decided to turn to fitness training with a vengeance — something that he had started just before shooting for the film.

“I have always been into fitness but thanks to Salman, I have realised that there cannot be any age to start your fitness regimen again,” Mithun declared on the sets. Veer will see Mithun play Salman Khan’s father.

It was also a fact that the film’s script required Mithun to be extremely fit since it is set in the era of 1880 and it requires stuff like riding horses on a high speed. So, Mithun took up a rigorous fitness regime for three months to get back into shape.

Reveals an inside source, “When Mithun Chakroborty was first approached for the film he refused as it required him to work out rigorously for the tough look of his character. However, he then agreed to do the film as there was three months time at hand and enough time to up his fitness.

“People who exercise know how muscle memory works...when you start working out again after years it all comes back. We needed someone who could look young, middle-aged and old in the film and he was the only one who could do it,” adds the source.

Mithunda then started enjoying his work outs so much that he even stopped eating his oil-rich Bengali food for more effective results. Continues the source, “Not only has Mithunda restricted his Bengali food which is very rich but also invested Rs 25 lakhs and set up a new gym at his Madh Island farm house,” he says.