Kumail Nanjiani's Arm Workout - Here's what happened

Take a look at Kumail Nanjiani's transformation from The Big Sick to Marvel's Eternals for workout inspiration.

[{"selector":"#anim-8e3b2d9d-c336-411e-b47f-bdb31b6939b8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-118.68852%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ea0fe429-d580-49b1-b0df-e1b0172c870f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6f628c95-b2b8-44d8-bb00-74c74327569f","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-af8c60f3-a433-44fe-aaae-13c95f08bc7d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(2.2749998866808276%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

During an Instagram caption that broke the internet in 2019, the actor wrote

[{"selector":"#anim-c838ea35-f549-4989-a3cb-fd32536bf854","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100.73711%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e6e2c72d-6691-4c18-98f9-383a66b8e0e8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e2a449cc-e0b1-4f1d-bb4f-14138e2fecf5","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3780bd00-d64d-45e8-ac80-61d30ab843d3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d1395fb0-c940-48b3-8362-065ab9bb2e38","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.73891%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e2d55135-bdec-4542-a77a-c93131aafb74","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d6e7ec0b-140c-400d-8c28-9d00e8f980d4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-118.0921%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4a0cb742-5149-4a08-ad4e-6b39d8bf8a5b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0.22222197950376904%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

“I learned a year ago that I would be in Marvel's Eternals, so I decided to change my appearance.

[{"selector":"#anim-017daee7-3aa9-4f28-b7c4-781f221bcc71","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.19746%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eb5cc051-a0e2-4bd5-9f48-af0ee353ddd4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c110ff92-e366-4c55-8ff7-685d5328cf6d","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8c8da204-8138-4801-a3ca-1d10e8edcf5e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.244184129366616%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

” Due to the cost of hiring nutritionists and trainers for an entire year, I could not do this for the biggest studio in the world.

[{"selector":"#anim-500d86a8-58ef-478b-8d67-1e77e06d60fb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.14196%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-38242a87-3a3d-4fd9-9b7a-7ecf911e0b5f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4a348f2e-b0fa-4a5f-b270-e4ed8416ec85","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

I’m glad I look this way, but I understand why I haven’t.

[{"selector":"#anim-278f4450-af46-4e4e-8d82-7c6231d599ee","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-97f69b42-2820-46d5-b77f-d517f9506b8c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.00000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-25c13a50-c6fe-45d7-be42-869825965c97","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.87301%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d8e02f-a905-4360-b151-80ff186482d4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3a4995e2-0cb9-4d76-91b3-1b36c6703f52","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f9b65499-856b-42de-8fbf-d1e8a5b551af","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2533fe62-a56e-4cab-aa90-3fd14443ba8f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-860e691a-3194-4c5d-b0e6-77e37e82f547","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

But how did he get those superhero-worthy arms? I set out to find out.

[{"selector":"#anim-0ed1c44c-bc91-42d3-9ca8-e1a43791d92f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.45741%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9ab32ec6-aac3-40d9-9aa6-799877f3fc3f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ef16931e-9450-49a1-80eb-16ace1ffcc53","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-643c963f-8d9d-4afc-bda8-bdb025416c84 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(8.762886347712941%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

A former Mr. World Canada bodybuilder, Grant Roberts, helped Najiani train at Granite Gym in Beverly Hills.

[{"selector":"#anim-68345007-7527-487f-bb0b-f2f5c2f2a99b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.45741%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b9e6fac2-8553-4441-b163-9ac88c373ba0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-266977a6-069a-4b78-b3e8-3eae6cf5d7f8","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c432f67d-010e-499f-b0bb-ab2be082f64b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(34.179687404002955%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

After filming began, Najiani worked with David Higgins, who is a London personal trainer and Pilates instructor.

[{"selector":"#anim-2033604a-c3ba-474b-aefd-1cc05d07120f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-69a393bd-4a97-4873-9393-0fab1ed3ef00","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(99.04307%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a453ec65-2938-434b-8644-5e144c5feaae","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-99.52267%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a9c2b4a4-bc65-47c5-a9bc-84e527457b2f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-893cc879-731b-472a-9a8f-a6c322700545","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-837b8282-fdc6-47d6-98c5-0ab64f1f2dbf","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.50618%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6a8c27b4-0eaf-4597-9df1-f7ed2087540b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fd9978a7-3c9d-43b7-9a51-4deec88f995d","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ff810e42-4cfd-4c22-995b-6039f15c1b61 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(17.09374980032615%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

I was able to try one of Najiani's superhero arm workouts because Grant shared information about them in interviews.

[{"selector":"#anim-328b5b7f-8b30-4cc5-aae2-8774097cc9d6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-414a7a3b-f94e-4ba8-b50e-985b570d3497","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(99.52039%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b76dd0bc-a291-4f1c-ade8-0287cd72a267","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-121.93548%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d1512373-b3df-4d9f-8f83-b8fa2153863c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c8737148-3c83-48a7-9351-bb9591332840","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5dd14af9-8887-4c64-afdf-03980058178c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-98.80096%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4a592fdd-4949-4b3a-8ef0-2ca52d8e86ce","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0be5e7a8-6f3a-4449-8387-c0f109134d7f","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8847488a-8959-4e0a-a06e-b03722b65737 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.240844612732676%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]