Arjun Rampal: 'Ra.One role made me ill'

Arjun Rampal has revealed that he pushed his body to its limits when preparing for his role in Ra.One.

The actor plays the title role in the superhero science fiction film opposite Shah Rukh Khan.

Rampal told Mumbai Mirror: "I had only one and a half months to meet the deadline. I had a slip disc after completing Rajneeti.

"And here I was being told that I was supposed to look like a machine. I reduced my intake of carbohydrates and started consuming lots of protein. A stage came when I had to completely cut off carbohydrates from my diet.

"In the crazy regimen, which I followed, my body fat level went down to 0.8%, which is certainly not recommended. You need to have at least 3% body fat. And then, I had to shave my head."

In June, Rampal hinted that he would be basing his character in Madhur Bhandarkar's Heroine on actors he has observed "at close quarters".

His inspiration was reportedly Shah Rukh Khan, with whom he also starred in Om Shanti Om and Don.

Watch the trailer for Ra:One below: