A 41-year-old Russian man, popular for his resemblance to Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio, has decided to join the army and fight in Ukraine after his career slumped due to the pandemic and weight gain.
Roman Burtsev, a Moscow-based techie, gained fame online after he registered on a dating site in 2013, but instead of finding love, the then 33-year-old attracted the attention of many advertising agencies interested in capitalising on his “modelling talent," South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported.
In 2016, the then 33-year-old Burtsev registered on a dating site hoping to find love and start a family, but he unexpectedly attracted the attention of many advertising agencies interested in capitalising on his “modelling talent”.
He said initially he was shocked to find people discussing how much he resembled DiCaprio, especially his striking blue eyes. At the time, Burtsev was eight years younger than the actor and more than 45 kg heavier. His photos were featured in tabloids across Europe and the US, and he was dubbed the “Russian fat version of Leonardo DiCaprio,” the publication reported.
Eventually, Burtsev embraced the opportunity and began to receive multiple offers for photoshoots and endorsements. In one of his notable performances, Burtsev -- dressed as DiCaprio's character Jack from Titanic -- re-enacted an iconic scene with women participants, as Celene Dion's My Heart Will Go On played in the background.
Soon, Burtsev quit his job to pursue a full-time career as an impersonator. But the Covid pandemic in 2020 was a massive setback for him. He stopped getting gigs and driven by the financial stress and living in a small 2BHK flat with his parents and a cat, Burtsev began to overeat and gained a lot of weight, losing his resemblance to DiCaprio.
Recently, he announced that he had enlisted in the Russian military. Military volunteers are entitled to a one-time payment of US$20,000 (about Rs 17 lakh) and an ongoing monthly salary of US$2,000 (about Rs 1.7 lakh) during their service. In the event of death, the family can receive compensation of up to US$130,000 (about Rs 1 crore).
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
