Akash Puri bulks up to play a slum-dweller in his next

Akash Puri was launched as a hero amid much fanfare by his filmmaker dad Puri Jagannadh with

Mehbooba

last year, but the action-thriller sank without a trace at the box-office. Akash, however, is not disheartened and says he’ll bounce back with his next film Romantic. “Mehbooba’s failure was a massive setback no doubt, but it made me realise that hard work doesn’t necessarily guarantee box-office success. However, I have full confidence in the story and dialogues my dad (Puri Jagannadh) has written for Romantic. It will definitely strike a chord with the audience,” shares the actor.

Speaking about his character, Akash reveals, “I play a slum-dweller who struggles to make ends meet. However, he’s cunning, flirtatious, romantic, funny and even a little bad at times. He falls for this innocent, sweet girl (Ketika Sharma) and does all he can to impress her. She doesn’t like him at first, but falls for him later.”

Anil Paduri, a debutant is directing the film which is currently being shot in Goa. Admittedly, Akash says he has undergone a massive physical transformation to look the part. “In Mehbooba, I looked like a skinny boy, but this role requires me to look like a man, a hero. So I needed to have a muscular body and I’ve been working out a lot. In addition to hitting the gym, I’ve also been doing kick boxing and weight lifting, and have been following a strict diet which includes proteins, carbs, etc. I need to look bigger than I did in my debut film,” Akash adds.