Arjun Rampal, known for his roles as formidable villains, felt a unique kind of pressure while preparing for his role as Rauf in the second season of Netflix's "Rana Naidu." Stepping into the gritty and violent world of the Naidus, Rampal found himself concerned about his physique, particularly when standing next to Rana Daggubati, the lead actor.

Rampal plays Rauf, a character described as unpredictable yet charming, and also ruthless, in "Rana Naidu 2." According to Rampal, Rauf is the most ruthless character he has ever played. He is a man without empathy, driven by chaos and capable of brutal violence. Yet, within all that destruction, lies something deeply human: vulnerability, especially in how he loves his niece, the only person he protects without question. Balancing Rauf's moments of tenderness with his descent into darkness was especially challenging for Rampal.

Despite being one of the fittest actors around, Rampal felt he needed to match Daggubati's imposing presence. Daggubati, who stands tall at 6'3", has an undeniable screen presence. Rampal felt "small" next to him and decided to bulk up to bridge the gap.

To convincingly portray Rauf as a worthy adversary, Rampal gained 14 kg in two months. "I decided to gain weight because that's the only way it would appear like two guys, equals, at each other," Rampal explained. "If I go at this weight, which I have now, I would really look small next to him. So, it was important for me to put on this mass and have Rauf appear big."

However, gaining weight was only half the battle. After completing the shoot, Rampal faced the daunting task of shedding the extra kilos. At 52, he acknowledged that losing weight is more challenging than it was in his younger years. Nevertheless, he managed to lose 12 kg in just six weeks through a combination of diet, intermittent fasting, and a "tremendous amount of cardio."

Rampal's grueling regimen involved running 45 km every week, including four 10k runs and three 5k runs. He also incorporated swimming, cycling, paddle, and tennis into his routine, along with regular weight training. In addition to losing weight, Rampal focused on regaining his mobility, which had been affected by the weight gain.

Rampal expressed his gratitude to the "Rana Naidu" team, recalling how they spent nine hours at his home two years ago, leaving him deeply moved and eager to join the cast. He thanked the producer, creator, directors, and his co-stars, including Daggubati and Venkatesh Daggubati, for their support and collaboration.

"Rana Naidu 2" is now streaming on Netflix. While the series delves deeper into family turmoil and personal conflicts, some critics have noted inconsistencies in the writing and an underwhelming character arc for Rampal's character, Rauf. Despite this, Rampal's dedication to the role, including his physical transformation, is evident.