The Avengers: Age of Ultron Heroes

Can a demi-god be the sexiest man alive? Why is Hulk listed as a terrorist? Will Ironman come to India? FHM finds out...

Thor: God of Strength

Future king of Asgard talks about his relationship with Loki, Nick Fury and cheeseburgers!

Read FHM India in the digital libraryEvery issue, every shoot, on TCG Media.

There is not much you can ask the God of strength about power but when it comes to teamwork, how much is he capable of doing it? Has his daughter’s name anywhere related to India? Know the normal life of the onscreen God...

FHM: Hey Chris. How does it feel to play a demigod onscreen? It’s like you can tell your grandchildren that you were indeed God’s child.

Chris Hemsworth: (Laughs) I guess that’s true. It’s kind of funny – I was at an airport once and there were two kids running around playing. One looked at his buddy and said “hey that’s Thor.” His buddy looked at him and said “no it isn’t he doesn’t have a cape or hammer” and they both ran off. So it just shows when you take the cape and hammer away I am a regular guy!

FHM: You and Tom Hiddleston had both auditioned for the role of Thor. Why do you think you got selected?

Chris Hemsworth: That’s kind of hard for me to answer that, I am not really sure why I got selected, but obviously I am glad that I did. Tom is amazing as Loki, I couldn’t imagine anybody but him in the role. We clicked right away, and have become great friends.

FHM: We’ve learned that you gained 20 pounds for the role of the Thor. Is it true?

Chris Hemsworth: There is so much weight training that I have to do before I play Thor that yes I eat a lot more calories to gain the weight. It sounds really good, but sometimes you have to eat even when you are not hungry and that can be tough.

FHM: Why do you think Nick Fury gets Thor in the team of Avengers?

Chris Hemsworth: Ultimately Thor is always going to be on the side of the good guys, and I think Nick is more than aware of that. The only thing that is ever going to get him into any kind of trouble is his ego.

FHM: You have acted as Thor 4 times now, including the Age of Ultron. Which film you like the most yourself?

Chris Hemsworth: I think when we are all on screen together as The Avengers it is a lot of fun. We all bring sides of each other’s characters out, which perhaps you don’t see when we are on screen individually.

FHM: What is the threat on earth this time which will lead to the Avengers reuniting?

Chris Hemsworth: Obviously SHIELD is now destroyed, so Tony sets up Ultron a peacekeeping programme. Things don’t work out as he expects though, and soon it becomes a threat to humanity. And of course that is where we come in…

FHM: Tell us one secret each about the Avengers’ members?

Chris Hemsworth: One secret is true for all of us, we all love cheeseburgers, but we have to eat so clean while we are shooting.

FHM: Is there a sense of competition among the Avengers?

Chris Hemsworth: All of The Avengers have big egos, some more than others. They are all fighting for the same cause, but ultimately when you have that many egos together there is always going to be disagreements between them.

FHM: Which Avenger do you find as a competition to Thor? Hulk? Ironman?

Chris Hemsworth: I am not sure there is any competition because we are all on the same team fighting for the same cause, but I think the personality of Tony can get to the others. There is a great altercation between Ironman and The Hulk which is going to make really exciting viewing for fans.

FHM: You were People magazine’s 2014 Sexiest Man Alive. We find them true. What about you?

Chris Hemsworth: Of course it is always flattering to win these sorts of polls, but I would never consider myself the sexiest man alive, and find it a bit embarrassing to talk about!

FHM: One of your kids name is India Rose. Has it anything to do with India?

Chris Hemsworth: It doesn’t – I just think it’s a really beautiful name.

FHM: India is a big market for Hollywood films. Are you guys not planning to promote films in India more?

Chris Hemsworth: Where we market the movie is not a decision we make, but obviously India is a huge country so I am sure there will be stuff going on there. Of course they have their Bollywood scene which is really exciting, but it’s great that Hollywood is a big market there as well.

FHM: What other films will we see you in 2015?

Chris Hemsworth: They will both be late on in the year, but the first is “Vacation” which is a comedy adventure movie and the second is “In The Heart Of The Sea” which is a thriller. I am very proud of both.

Chris fact: Hemsworth has tried several casual jobs, including a construction man, a waiter and a barman before becoming Thor.

Thor fact: Thor’s character in the comic book had a chariot pulled by two goats to drive him around. Thankfully not in the film.

Hulk: From The Other Side

Sensitive, vulnerable and human, Mark Ruffalo talks about his roles and real life.

FHM: You are just about the most favourite superhero of most Indians. Why do you think that is?

Mark Ruffalo: Wow, is that true? I am not sure I can give you an answer into why, but if that really is the case then I am very honoured. Thank you India.

FHM: Which character do you relate with more, Bruce Banner or The Hulk?

Mark Ruffalo: When I was in my 20’s, I would say without a doubt Hulk. And I’m not kidding. If you came back to my apartment when I was younger you would have seen fist holes in the wall from me punching them. That’s all gone now; I am much more chilled out and relaxed these days.

FHM: Who has your favourite superhero been?

Mark Ruffalo: I know you are going to think that I am just saying this, but I really liked The Hulk. I wasn’t comic book crazy or anything as a kid, but I never missed the Hulk on TV... the TV show.

FHM: Eric Baan and Edward Norton have been your predecessors in playing the green angry monster. Who among the three, do you think, would win if put together in a fight? All guised as Hulk.

Mark Ruffalo: I have to say myself of course. What kind of Hulk would I be if I didn’t win? Seriously though Ed Norton is a really good friend of mine, so before I accepted the role I spoke with him and got his blessing which was really important for me.

FHM: You were a theatre guy. Then you moved to Hollywood. Struggled hard. Worked in some movies. Got disillusioned. Then made a powerful comeback. Tell us about the ups and downs in the journey.

Mark Ruffalo: You know at one point I gave up, I had completely lost faith. I went home and told my father I wanted to work for his construction firm which is the family business. My mother just said no, you are going to do this. I obviously will never be able to thank her enough.

FHM: Should The Kids Are All Right be regarded as a turning point?

Mark Ruffalo: It’s always difficult to say if anything is a turning point or not, but I have always used the rule go where the great roles are and you will be OK. That was obviously an amazing role, very close to my heart, and a movie I am very proud of.

FHM: How was the journey fighting a brain tumour and overcoming a paralysed face?

Mark Ruffalo: You guys used exactly the right word, it has been a Journey. There is no doubt that at times it seemed like a very long road, but at the end of the day I am doing a job I love that is able to support my wife and kids. I mean come on – how many people get to say that? (smiles)

FHM: You are very active off screen too. “Anti-fracking’s first famous face”, and much more. Most actors like to keep a low profile on political issues. Why not you?

Mark Ruffalo: Everybody has a part to play when it comes to politics, but obviously when you are in the public eye you want to use it for good and causes you believe will make the world a better place.

FHM: There were reports that your name was placed on a terror watch list by US officials. What?? For supporting a documentary about gas drilling?

Mark Ruffalo: I read those stories too, I mean everybody did. They are not true though, it is all pure fantasy. I hosted educational screenings of ‘Gasland’ and Pennsylvania’s Homeland Security got busted monitoring these screenings and feeding information to the gas industry.

FHM: Hulk’s secret is being angry all the time. What is your secret?

Mark Ruffalo: I turn my cell phone off at the weekend. Every weekend without fail!

FHM: Which character, among the ones you’ve played, is your favourite?

Mark Ruffalo: You know I really enjoy playing Hulk. I think The Hulk in The Avengers has a real sensitive side. I am not talking about Bruce, but about Hulk himself and I think that is a really interesting new dimension for the character. I’ve learnt new things about him as a character with each passing shot.

FHM: What do you prefer, being a motorcycle riding Paul or driving a car?

Mark Ruffalo: I would go for a motorbike, but it’s not just up to me... in movies, of course. (winks)

FHM: What comes next?

Mark Ruffalo: I in a movie called Spotlight which will be coming out later this year, and we are also filming the sequel to Now You See Me which is a lot of fun.

Ruffalo fact: Mark bar tended for nearly 9 years while trying to make it in the show business, and finally made it big after 8,000 auditions.

Hulk fact: One of the lesser known powers of Hulk is that he has a gland that allows him to breathe underwater by creating pressure in his lungs.

The charming man of iron

Robert Downey Jr. talks about his love for Iron Man, his phase of addiction and the desire to visit India.

FHM: We’ve heard that you are soon to be fighting The Hulk on the silver screen. What’s up?

Robert Downey Jr: (Laughs) Everybody seems to be talking about Ironman fighting Hulk in this movie! I can’t say much about it, or the reason for the fight, but I can tell you for sure that it does happen!

FHM: With Avengers out, what is the status of the next Iron Man film?

Robert Downey Jr: It’s all down to Disney. They know I love playing Ironman, but it is all in their hands.

FHM: Critics have called you one of the finest actors of our times. But suddenly Iron Man and Avengers seem to have overshadowed everything else you’ve done. How did the role of a comic book hero seem attractive?

Robert Downey Jr: The Marvel Universe is so big and so popular that it can seem to overshadow everything you do. I don’t mind at all though, I was born to play Ironman, I absolutely love it!

FHM: How has Tony Stark grown as a character?

Robert Downey Jr: Tony Stark decided to stand for something, to be a symbol for something that is better, something that people could look up to. Over the next movies Tony will start questioning what he has been standing for all these years. It will make some really interesting character development.

FHM: Your character in Tropic Thunder undergoes a pigment alteration surgery to darken his skin for the portrayal of a black man. Would you ever do something as radical as this in real life?

Robert Downey Jr: I am all up for doing all you can to prepare for a role, but I think that would be going a little far for me! (shudders and laughs)

FHM: You practice Wing Chun. Tell us more.

Robert Downey Jr: I make Wing Chun and mediation part of my daily work out. I have to train really hard before I play Ironman, and Wing Chun is a great tool for both mind and body.

FHM: You’ve had a prominent addiction phase and a final overcoming. Tell us about the two phases in contrast.

Robert Downey Jr: I have always said coming out of an addiction is like coming out of a coma, you are never really the same person again. You need to find positive things to fill your time with, and that is exactly what I have done. My work, my family, and meditation are what my focus is now.

FHM: Indian detective (fictional) Byomkesh Bakshi has apparently piqued your interest. This makes us both excited and curious.

Robert Downey Jr: We heard that some of the stories and inspirations originally came from The Sherlock Holmes novels, so of course that made us interested to check it out.

FHM: Do you like sports? What do you play?

Robert Downey Jr: I love to watch boxing, The effort, training, and lifestyle choices those guys have to make in the build up to a fight is incredible.

FHM: Who is/are your favourite actors that have co-starred with you?

Robert Downey Jr: Gwyneth Paltrow and I are great friends, so we always have a great time filming the Ironman movies.

FHM: What do you drive?

Robert Downey Jr: The hardest thing that I take these days is coffee, but cars are kind of an addiction of mine. I have a better car collection than Tony Stark. (wicked smile)

FHM: Does your list of holiday destinations have a slot for India?

Robert Downey Jr: Absolutely, it is a dream of mine to tour India one day with my family. I would love to spend at least a month though, and sample all the culture that the country has to offer.

FHM: One gadget from Iron Man that you wished really existed?

Robert Downey Jr: It would have to be the ability to fly without doubt. Anybody who has ever had to sit in rush hour traffic in LA will know why! (winks)

Ironman fact: The Ironman suit can lift upto 100 tonnes, which is exactly what the Hulk can lift. But Stark’s latest Hulkbuster can do more...

From the April 2015 issue of FHM India.