Who is Roman Burtsev, Leonardo Di Caprio’s lookalike, forced to join the Russian army? – First post

Roman Burtsev, once celebrated as the “Russian Leonardo DiCaprio,” now faces a real-life plot twist that no one could have predicted.

The 41-year-old Russian lookalike, who became famous for his uncanny resemblance to the Hollywood star, was forced to swap the spotlight for military service, enlisting as a soldier in the war in Ukraine.

From posing as a celebrity lookalike to donning military gear, Burtsev’s life took a dramatic turn. So what led you to this moment? Why did he enlist in the Russian army? Here’s a closer look at their journey.

Reach fame

In 2016, Roman Burtsev, a Moscow-based computer programmer, joined a dating platform with the hopes of finding love and starting a family.

However, what he discovered was something much more unexpected: widespread attention from advertising agencies eager to exploit his unique “model talent,” according to The Morning Mail of South China.

With his piercing blue eyes and light brown hair, Burtsev, then 33, bore a striking resemblance to one of Hollywood’s most famous stars – Leonardo DiCaprio. Soon, it went viral.

And the timing couldn’t have been better. DiCaprio had just won the Oscar for Best Actor for his role in The Revenant, making it a prime moment to look like him.

Although Burtsev was eight years younger and 100 pounds heavier than the Hollywood star, he quickly earned the nickname “the fat Russian version of Leonardo DiCaprio.” His photos soon appeared in tabloids in Europe and America.

Seizing the opportunity, Burtsev embraced his newfound fame. Offers came in for photo shoots and commercials. One notable project had him venturing into the snowy desert to recreate iconic scenes from The Revenant, imitating DiCaprio’s performance.

As his popularity grew, so did his commitments. He went beyond commercials, participating in live performances. At an event at the mall, a “simulated ship” was built where Burtsev, dressed as DiCaprio from the film ‘Titanic’, re-enacted the famous scene from the film, with a female participant.

Burtsev found a way to make a decent living by leaning on his likeness, eventually leaving his programming career behind to work full-time as a DiCaprio impersonator.

A fall from grace
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic had affected not only the world, but also Burtsev’s career. As demand for his Leonardo DiCaprio-like work declined, he found himself struggling financially.

Living in a cramped two-bedroom apartment with his parents and a cat, he faced increasing stress. In response, Burtsev began overeating and gradually gained significant weight, losing much of his resemblance to the Hollywood star.

In 2021, Burtsev opened up about his situation to The mirrorsaying: “The problems started with the introduction of restrictions in April 2020 and now people have forgotten about me.

With the extra weight, Burtsev also missed out on several modeling opportunities. He explained that he had tried “many methods to lose weight” but to no avail. Soon, his career as a DiCaprio lookalike came to an unceremonious end, forcing him to take odd jobs just to survive.

Joining the Russian Army

With little hope of regaining his fame, Burtsev made a surprising decision to respond to the Russian government’s call to enlist in the army and serve on the front lines in Ukraine.

Part of his motivation came from a substantial financial incentive – a bonus of nearly $21,000 (Rs 17.65 lakh) for completing the training and a monthly salary of about $2,100 (Rs 1.76 lakh). That’s approximately 2.4 times the national average salary, according to Russian media outlet Gazette.

“I signed the contract on September 19th,” Burtsev told Gazeta. “It was a difficult decision. I thought about it for several months. I can’t tell you where I am or what I’m doing.”

Burtsev is among the many Russians attracted by financial incentives offered by the government to address the shortage of manpower in the ongoing war with Ukraine.

Earlier this year, Politico reported that authorities in Tatarstan offered money to residents who convinced friends or family to enlist in the army. These recruiters were eligible for a “finding fee” of 50,000 rubles (Rs. 43,272), which was later doubled.

In April, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that more than 100,000 people had enlisted since the beginning of the year.

While some criticized the government for conscripting citizens to fight in a war that brought widespread suffering, others expressed sympathy for Burtsev and, by extension, the hardships faced by ordinary Russians.

With contributions from agencies