How did Sanju Sivaram transform into a 19-year-old for his web series? It's thanks to this trainer

Can you imagine the challenge of an actor convincingly portraying both a 40-year-old and a 19-year-old in the same project? Those who have witnessed Malayalam actor Sanju Sivaram’s body transformation, for his latest web series, are still left in awe. For many who struggle to bring about even minor changes in their own physique, his metamorphosis is both inspiring and, perhaps, a touch envy-inducing. In the web series Sambava Vivaranam Nalara Sangham, directed by Krishanth, Sanju portrays two distinct phases of his character’s life, each requiring a striking physical transformation.

Such a dramatic change is never achieved in isolation. It requires the guidance of a trainer who understands both the body and the demands of performance. For Sanju, the key figure behind this transformation was a trainer he happened to connect with during a flood season.

Trainer by passion
Habib A, a 28-year-old from Kayamkulam, does not see fitness training merely as a profession. For him, it is a passion. After completing his degree, he experimented with a few small business ventures along with friends, but the COVID lockdown brought everything to a standstill. That pause became a turning point, pushing him to reflect deeply on fitness and his future.

A regular at the gym since his Plus Two days, Habib did not hesitate for long. He moved to Bengaluru and enrolled in a Strength and Conditioning Certification course. Always drawn to unconventional training methods and movement-based systems, he immersed himself in callisthenics, Animal Flow and other functional training techniques. This commitment eventually led him into the professional fitness space.

“I came to Ernakulam four years ago. For about eight months, I took practical classes at a fitness academy, and during that time I realised freelancing was what I truly wanted to pursue,” Habib says. “I had trained Sanju earlier during Rorschach, but things changed when this new project came along. Director Krishanth told me Sanju needed to be trained almost like a schoolboy, someone who could jump, run and move with complete agility. That became the core goal while designing the training plan.”

More than muscle
When the training began, Sanju was dealing with a minor knee injury. Conditioning and rehabilitation came first, and only then did the workouts begin gradually. For several days, training sessions stretched close to three hours. “It wasn’t just about training him. We were essentially working out together,” Habib recalls. A strictly controlled diet was introduced as well, requiring Sanju, who had a fondness for sweets, to exercise restraint.

The routine followed a disciplined structure, five days of training and two days of rest each week. Along with conventional bodybuilding workouts, the focus was on bodyweight training, plyometric exercises and movement-based drills. With consistent adherence, visible and impressive results appeared within 2 to 3 months.

How training helped Sanju
Sanju says the training brought significant health benefits to his life. “Once I started workouts that combined callisthenics and Animal Flow, my endurance, stamina and overall body control improved tremendously. Initially, the focus was on building muscular strength and endurance. When the transformation phase began, introducing a disciplined diet made a huge difference. Within a month, noticeable changes appeared. Even when the workouts were intense, they never felt exhausting because the training was designed to be engaging. The confidence I gained helped me immensely while playing Arikkuttan.”

However, workouts rarely go exactly as planned during shooting schedules, as time is always limited. Sanju began working seriously on the transformation immediately after completing the shoot of Thousand Babies. While he maintained a regular routine, adjustments were inevitable on shoot days. Even on set, he managed to train three to four days a week.

Managing on busy days
It was only towards the end of December that he finally found uninterrupted time to focus fully on the transformation. The shoot of Nalara Sangham spanned nearly 100 days, leaving little room for workouts. At that stage, he was also required to gain some weight for the role. Later, during another shoot, he suffered an injury.

“Just like people experience withdrawal after quitting alcohol, stopping fitness after following it strictly can be extremely difficult,” Sanju explains. “So I never stopped entirely. On days when I couldn’t do much, I at least did a few pull-ups or push-ups. I never allowed myself to slip completely. That discipline came because of Habib.”

The sacrifices
The training followed a hybrid approach, combining basic callisthenics with weight training. “What really motivated me was watching Habib do all of this himself. I always had this inner determination that if Habib could do it, I should be able to too. It is a slow and demanding process. It may look simple on the surface, but it is far from easy. Some days, the plan would include as many as 16 workouts. Even though it took time, the process was incredibly enjoyable.”

At one point, Sanju completely stopped eating rice. During the three to four months of shooting Nalara Sangham, he consumed rice only three or four times. “Carbohydrates can come from other sources, too. It wasn’t that the rice was bad; time was extremely limited. I realised exercise alone wasn’t enough. Diet discipline was equally important. Projects like this don’t come often, and the role required me to portray a younger phase as well convincingly.”

“Even without losing much weight, costumes and makeup could have helped,” he adds. “But bringing real changes to my body gave me an incredible thrill. I focused on protein-rich food and never starved myself. When cravings hit, I allowed myself small indulgences, a bite of cake, a peanut candy or half a chocolate. Suppressing cravings entirely can be mentally exhausting, so I chose balance. Because of that, the process never felt like a struggle. I genuinely enjoyed it.”

Where it all began
Sanju first met Habib during the 2018 floods, when he had returned to his native place for relief work. “At that time, Habib hadn’t fully entered the fitness field. But he spoke about how proper training could bring significant transformation. I told him we could work together once he came to Ernakulam. That brief conversation, in many ways, marked the beginning of everything that followed.”