Ditching high-profile makeup and prosthetics, Rao committed to genuine bodily shifts. He ballooned by nearly 10 kilos, feasting on two pizzas a day, endless mithai, aloo parathas, and biryani. For that authentic older appearance, he persuaded his protesting hair stylist to thin his locks significantly.

On Instagram, the actor opened up about his process: ‘Transforming for Nikam was a physical challenge I embraced fully. I steer clear of prosthetics, preferring hard-earned changes like weight gain or balding effects – my stylist was dead against the hair bit.’

Rao’s history of immersion is legendary. During ‘Bosechand’ shoots, he ignored pleas not to bulk up or shave half his head. For ‘Srikanth,’ portraying blindness meant isolating in pitch-black rooms off-camera, honing his character’s essence.

No shortcuts for this performer – glamour takes a backseat to realism. Post-‘Nikam,’ Rao dives into Sourav Ganguly’s life story, trimming down strategically. His fans know this level of dedication translates to screen magic, setting high bars for biographical portrayals in Indian cinema.