Inside Bollywood's Latest Fitness Obsession: Why Action Stars Are Switching to Combat Training

With Bollywood in the middle of an action-film boom, a noticeable shift is happening off-screen: leading men are increasingly training in combat sports rather than relying on traditional bodybuilding routines to prepare for roles.

The Shift Away from Bulk

Fitness trainers working with several of the industry’s top action stars say the emphasis has moved from pure muscle mass to functional strength and screen-ready agility. Boxing, Muay Thai, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu have all become staples of pre-production training camps for upcoming action releases.

Why It’s Catching On

Directors say the shift is driven by audience expectations. With hand-to-hand fight choreography becoming more prominent in recent hits, actors need training that translates directly into believable on-screen movement rather than just aesthetics.

The Training Camps

Several actors have reportedly spent weeks at dedicated training camps, some domestic and some abroad, working with combat sport specialists rather than conventional fitness trainers. The regimens reportedly include reduced bulk-focused lifting in favor of conditioning and technique work.

What This Means for Upcoming Films

With multiple major action releases in the pipeline over the next two years, expect this combat-first training approach to become the industry standard rather than the exception, as choreographers push for increasingly realistic fight sequences on screen.