📌 Key Points
- Mustafa Ahmed transitioned from gym trainer earning ₹10,000 to acting.
- A woman’s encouragement led him to quit his call center job.
- He trained celebrities like Ranveer Singh, Vicky Kaushal, and Hrithik Roshan.
- Mustafa plays Rizwan, a key character in ‘Dhurandhar The Revenge’.
Mustafa Ahmed, once a gym trainer, now shines as Rizwan in ‘Dhurandhar The Revenge.’ His journey from a ₹10,000 salary to training Bollywood stars like Ranveer Singh is truly inspiring. His career was ignited by a stranger’s impactful message.
From Gym Trainer to Actor: The Beginning
Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar The Revenge has become the talk of the town and appears unstoppable at the box office. Every character in the film is receiving recognition and love from the audience, and one of them is Rizwan, Hamza’s trusted right-hand man and another Indian spy in Pakistan. The character is played by celebrity trainer-turned-actor Mustafa Ahmed.
Mustafa’s journey started from earning just ₹ 10,000 as a gym trainer to working with A-list celebrities like Ranveer Singh , Vicky Kaushal and Hrithik Roshan.
The actor recalled that while working out at a gym in West Delhi, he saw a woman in her mid-40s being ignored by a trainer. He decided to help her with her workout and continued to monitor her progress. Two months later, the woman handed him an envelope at the gym and asked him to open it only after reaching home. He said, “I got very scared and worried. I went back home and found a letter which said that you are meant for this and born for this and this is your life’s calling and if you don’t do this, it will be criminal.”
He revealed that her words deeply affected him, and within a week, he quit his job at the call centre. Mustafa added that his mother did not speak to him for a week after he left a stable job, especially since he had studied only till Class 10 despite earning well.
The Pivotal Moment: A Life-Changing Encounter
He added, “I quit and I joined a gym in Janakpuri, where I was getting a salary of ₹ 10,000 and I had to wake up at 4 and open up the shutter of the gym by 5 ish and then shut it at 10:30. I had friends who had been very kind to me and they had joined Fitness First which had just came to India and they opened up a massive gym in CP. I went with them, and the assistant manager there asked me to join as a trainer. I told them I have no formal education about it, and he said just come down for an interview. After two days, I was hired, and the next thing, he told me that I am going to get a salary of ₹ 18000, and you are going to be a silver level trainer, and he said you are going to get 600 for one hour of personal training, and the gym would take 300.”
Mustafa further revealed that within a few months, he became the number one trainer at Fitness First in Asia, working nearly 400 hours a month.
When the trainer moved back to the UK, Mustafa’s wife encouraged him to reach out for an opportunity.
He revealed, “After six weeks of going back and forth, he (Hrithik’s ex trainer) sent me a number and asked me to message Hrithik. Next day Hrithik’s manager messaged me and I went there. Hrithik told me about his injuries. I trained him that day and after two days, he said I want you to work with me full time, and can you keep me as priority?”
Bollywood Connection: Training Top Celebrities
After this, there was no looking back. Mustafa went on to train A-listers like Vicky Kaushal, Ranveer Singh and Yami Gautam, among others.
In Dhurandhar The Revenge, he turns against Arshad Pappu and joins Ranveer Singh as his trusted right-hand man after rising through the ranks and becoming the kingpin of Lyari. His performance has been widely praised, with some fans even calling him the “next Sunny Deol of the industry”.
The film, which also stars Arjun Rampal, R. Madhavan and Sanjay Dutt in lead roles, has reportedly crossed ₹ 750 crore worldwide after its opening weekend.
Mustafa Ahmed’s story is a testament to following one’s calling. From humble beginnings as a gym trainer, his dedication and a pivotal encounter propelled him to success in both fitness and now, the world of acting.
