/>For Aparna Sen's film Rahul Bose stopped working out. He has even ceased to play his favourite sport rugby...all this to look 45 for Aparna Sen's The Japanese Wife.

Says Rahul, "There were portions where I've to look 45 on Wednesday. I was preparing for it for a month.

Earlier I needed to look far fitter for Samar Khan's Shourya. But for The Japanese Wife there were many weight swings since we shot my character from his early 20s and now to 45."

To compound the physical complexities The Japanese Wife is the only film of Rahul that hasn't been shot at a stretch.

"So we're taking my character through the various physical phases piecemeal. It's been tough. But finally worth it. It was the biggest challenge of my acting career."