In our series of features on people that matter to telly stars, this week we speak to someone who makes sure the stars have their spines erect; even after hours of shooting in diverse climates!

His sleek body may camouflage his muscularity but what is evident is the energy and glow on his face. Behind his thin body lies something that makes most actors walk upto him and say, "Will you train me?"

Deepak Das performing the art

This 28 year old He-man to telly stars is known as Deepak Das, and he shoulders the responsibility of the physical fitness of telly stars like Anuj Saxena, Pooja Bedi, Shruti Seth, Hussain, Kabir Sadanand and Manoj Vora including many others from the film industry.

He is not only a physical trainer but also a karate master. He holds a double black belt second degree in Karate and has participated in karate, wushu and kick-boxing at the international level. He is the authorised examiner and instructor appointed by the Karate Association of India.

"Actors approach me not just to be physically fit but to learn the art of karate and Wushu. Anuj learns karate from me. Sai Deodhar too wants to learn karate for her self defence," Deepak reveals.

Deepak says, "Actors are health conscious. They are very serious about their fitness and looks. Because this acts as a complement in getting them work."

"No kind of cosmetic surgery will give you the kind of glow and freshness that karate exercises would give you," he asserts.

His first encounter with some actors has been very interesting. "I was with my wife in a garden when we saw Anuj Saxena taking a stroll. My wife is a fan of Anuj and wished to speak to him. I walked up to him and introduced myself. Anuj immediately expressed his wish too be trained by me," he recounts.

'Practice,' says Deepak to Anuj Saxena

"Anuj left for abroad after that meeting. When he flew back, he contacted me and we started our sessions," he continues.

"It was word of mouth publicity. Word spread and actors started approaching me," he says.

So what is his secret that makes him so popular with the actors? "I guess it's the way I train them. I chart out different set of exercises for different actors according to their stamina and capacity. They see good results in people who under go training with me. That's probably the secret," he smiles.

This young man who spent his time toying with martial arts at his hometown at Nagaland, came to Mumbai in 1999 to be a fight choreographer in the film industry. When he was let down by most people who he came across in the film industry, he started as an assistant cameraman in films to learn how fight scenes were shot. "I learnt to use a special camera that helps to shoot different types of scenes, be it risky or the stylish ones," he says.

His first assignment on television was a scene, he choreographed for Contiloe's Majooba Ka Ajooba telecast on Hungama channel. "That was my first assignment on TV. And fortunately for me the TRP of that episode shot up to 9," he says proudly. Incidentally the Contiloe bahus, i.e. wives of Aditya Singh and film star Chandrachur Singh also seek training from him in Taichi, a branch of Wushu.

He has been instrumental in keeping the telly stars energetic and full of vigour, fresh enough to face the camera again the next day and wants to do so as long as he can. Deepak still aspires to be a fight choreographer. "I will make it on my own," he insists. He also intends to start an institute in marital arts.

This is the third of a series of features on people who are the support system of the telly industry.

Das' pic with Anuj by Vicky Ahuja