Bharat: From 1998 to 2019, How Salman Khan Continues to Be the Poster Boy for Gym Freaks for Three Goddamn Decades!

Salman Khan will be seen in the upcoming film, Bharat, essaying a character through the ages 20 to 60. We have seen glimpses of all of his looks in the film and, wow, that man is so fit. The actor is 53 years old but doesn't look a day over 40 when he is at his best. He continues to work out and, thus, continues to be a fitness icon for his fans. The body transformation he had to go through for his role in the hit film Sultan is a testament of the actor's commitment to fitness. 5 Times the Hit Jodi of Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif Graced the Big Screen Before Bharat.

All the young fellows in the era of '90s who were looking to get ripped had at least one poster of a shirtless Salman Khan in their workout area. He is literally the poster boy of gymming in India. The actor turned taking off the shirt to flaunt a fit body into fashion. "He thinks he is Salman Khan," was a regular comment thrown at any guy who took his shirt off in front of friends. Bharat: This Nashik-Based Salman Khan Fan Books an Entire Theatre to Watch First Day First Show!

While he had been taking his shirt off long before Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya, the frenzy began when Salman did a whole song, Oo Oo Jaane Jaana, bare-chested. Hitting the gym was not very popular before that onscreen moment. But, men flocked to the gyms in their area after this song became a hit.

Here onwards, he has appeared shirtless in pretty much all of his movies, barring a select few. People whistled in theatres, every time, Salman appeared shirtless on the screen. It is almost like it has been in his contract to take his shirt off for a scene.

He didn't even mind doing so on stage while performing at live events:

With No Entry, he started to get really really buff

Over the years so many actors have looked up to Salman as inspiration. Hrithik Roshan, Varun Dhawan, Arjun Kapoor, Ayush Sharma have all credited their affinity towards getting a great bod to Salman Khan. He even made Bobby Deol get buff and remove his shirt for Race 3.  And we all know at least one person in real life who still looks up to the actor when it comes to getting in good shape. Salman Khan has truly been a generation's first fitness icon and continues to be it.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 04, 2019 09:48 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).