"Terminator to Governator"
Post on: November 30, 2018
“I wasn’t there to compete. I was there to win”, a quote from the guy with the Midas Touch. Bodybuilding, real estate investment, acting and politics– whatever he laid his hands on, turned to gold. Yes, I am talking about Arnold Schwarzenegger. The last name may be unpronounceable but it unmistakably points to Mr Universe, Mr Olympia, Action Hero, Governor, Philanthropist – accolades befitting Mr Schwarzenegger.
He won the Mr Universe title when he was 20 years old – an age where most aspirants would still be honing their physique or competing at the constituency level. He went on to win the most coveted “Mr Olympia” title six times (1970-1975). Subsequently, he announced his retirement in 1975. However, he astounded the bodybuilding fraternity when he came out of retirement in 1980 to win the Mr Olympia title once more – as a late entrant. It was a feat which was unfathomable and unmatched even to this day. He is widely considered as one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time.
He then made forays into Hollywood; however, his muscular frame and “strange” accent did not bode well. He was relegated to acting in minor roles despite his phenomenal stature in the bodybuilding world. Undeterred, he took up acting classes, improved on his accents and shed some excessive weight. He soon came to the fore and got lead roles albeit mediocre ones.
In 1982, the movie “Conan the Barbarian” catapulted him with much fame. While the critics were sceptical, the theatres were brimming with viewers – he was bestowed with adulation. He proved he was a force to be reckoned with and cemented his status as an action-film icon with the subsequent release of “Terminator”, “Commando” and “Predator”.
The catchphrase “I’ll be back” made famous by Arnold was chosen as one of the top 100 movie quotes by the American Film Institute. What is more remarkable was that Arnold had bargained with the director, James Cameron if he could say “I Will be back” instead since he could not pronounce the word — I’ll. The astute director did not relent and the rest is history!
Arnold had come a long way for a guy who had difficulties pronouncing in English to a politician who had to give speeches and communicate effectively in the language as part of his everyday job. He served as the governor of California from 2003 to 2011. He had his “trailblazer” moment when he championed an extensive “climate change” law which was sanctioned – giving major polluters incentives to cut greenhouse gas emissions. It was a great achievement for the environmentalist.
In 2012 he resumed his acting career after he had completed his political tenure. He teamed up with his buddy, Sylvester Stallone and other big names to thrust the movie ‘The Expendables 2” to stardom. It was a great decision returning to Hollywood as the movie propelled to No. 1 spot with stupendous success at the box office.
Growing up in my own Redhill estate in the 70s and 80s, the kids adored Arnold Schwarzenegger and religiously watched his movies. We inadvertently posted his picture on the walls of the community gym to psych ourselves up — we learnt much later that such a method of emulating sportsmen or influential leaders is a great motivational tool.
Although none in our clique made it big in the bodybuilding fraternity nor mirrored Arnold’s immense accomplishments, we turned out well as decent individuals with our own success stories. And we have to thank Arnold for being a role model.
However, in his autobiography, “Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story”, Arnold stated that he always wanted to be an inspiration but never set out to be a role model when he had flaws of his own. He adroitly narrated the contradictions of his life albeit tongue in cheek – a good read indeed. Moreover, his memoirs is inspiring and well received amongst his fans and as a motivational text.
Arnold Schwarzenegger has excelled in diverse fields – who would have ever imagined that a small- time bodybuilder from an obscure village in Austria would one day become Mr Olympia, one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, amassed a fortune with a sound investment acumen and being elected as the governor of California?
Arnold Schwarzenegger has defied the odds and reached for the stars. “Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible,” Audrey Hepburn.
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