If you’ve been on actor and comedian Kumail Nanjiani’s Instagram at all in the past year, you’ve probably noticed he doesn’t look quite the same as he did when starring in Silicon Valley and the Oscar-nominated The Big Sick.
Thanks to a full-body transformation for an upcoming new superhero role, Nanjiani has instead spent the last year totally ripped and sometimes even glistening.
Check him out in a post from back in December 2019.
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As the post’s caption stated, Nanjiani—with some serious professional help—endured the transformation to prepare for his upcoming role in Marvel’s The Eternals, which is set for release in late 2021.
And while that post sent many people fawning over the star’s new look, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing for Nanjiani.
In response to his recent New Year’s post, the actor faced a barrage of unfounded accusations he was using steroids, according to the New York Post and the Daily Dot.
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“Yes, I am comedian and co-star of the HBO comedy Silicon Valley Kumail Nanjiani, how could you tell?” pic.twitter.com/ApajaLPxlZ
— Wemin O’Misechs (@GinzoBall) January 3, 2021
People took this post as body shaming but to be clear I don’t care what Kumail looks like and I think everyone who wants to do steroids should be given them for free by the government
— Wemin O’Misechs (@GinzoBall) January 3, 2021
But supporters of Nanjiani—who is Pakistani-American—stepped up to put all the haters in their place.
Agreed. He’s the south Asian fitspo I need in my life in 2021. People criticizing need to get a life
— Mindy Kaling (@mindykaling) January 4, 2021
They cited the distinct double standard behind people’s steroid accusations.
Body shaming Kumail Nanjiani for…being jacked? Is way weird. Especially since all the Chris’ have done the same super-soldier program and never got any flack for it. I wonder what the difference is? pic.twitter.com/NIeUf3DwAb
— Jake Low (@JacobYLow) January 3, 2021
Chris Evans gets jacked for Captain America: “😍🤩😍🤩”
Chris Hemsworth gets jacked for Thor: “😍🤩😍🤩”
Chris Pratt gets jacked for Star-Lord: “😍🤩😍🤩”
Kumail Nanjiani gets jacked for Eternals: “He’s clearly using steroids”
I can’t qwhite see what’s the difference.
— alias (@itsjustanx) January 3, 2021
When white men do it, it’s hard work.
When brown/black/Asian men do it, it’s fake and steroids.— Jeet Laha 🌈 (@laha_jeet) January 3, 2021
The weird projection and outright slander against a pic Kumail Nanjiani for… exercising a lot while seriously isolating to protect his immunocompromised wife is nasty, depressing stuff. Especially when there’s an awesome Pan’s Labyrinth poster behind him to comment on instead.
— Aaron Stewart-Ahn (@somebadideas) January 3, 2021
Same thing, lighter skin pic.twitter.com/n0SB2n1tjB
— Call Me Maggs Y'all (@MaggiePeterTX) January 4, 2021
It looks like Nanjiani, who clearly spends a good amount of time working out each day, can rely on plenty of fans and supporters to have his back while trolls abound across the internet at all hours.
