Russian ‘lookalike’ who found fame for ‘similarity’ to Leo DiCaprio says weight gain killed career

A tubby Leonardo DiCaprio lookalike who found worldwide fame for his apparent similarity to the Hollywood actor has revealed putting on weight during lockdown has killed his career.  

Leonardo DiCaprio clone and Russian Roman Burtsev, 39, has been capitalising on his newfound fame ever since his resemblance to the 46-year-old star was blasted over the internet.

But Burtsev, who now lives in a two-room council flat with his parents and cats, has admitted that the coronavirus pandemic has thwarted his plans for life-long international fame.

He said: ‘The problems began with the introduction of restrictions in April 2020 and now people have forgotten about me.’  

A tubby Leonardo DiCaprio lookalike who found worldwide fame for his apparent similarity to the Hollywood actor has revealed putting on weight during lockdown has killed his career. Pictured: Roman Burtsev with an Angelina Jolie lookalike

Leonardo DiCaprio clone and Russian IT technician Roman Burtsev, 39, has been capitalising on his newfound fame ever since his apparent resemblance to the 46-year-old star was blasted over the internet

But Burtsev, who now lives in a two-room council flat with his parents and cats, has admitted that the coronavirus pandemic has thwarted his plans for life-long international fame

Burtsev found fame after fans commented that he resembled actor Leonardo DiCaprio (pictured)

While before, people in big cities would ask to pose for selfies with the lookalike, he said that the pandemic had put an end to that.  

Burtsev’s time away from the spotlight during the pandemic led him to put on weight. 

He had signed contracts with advertisers but they pulled out after he proved unable to lose the weight. 

But Burtsev is determined to lose weight and reach his target so he will be ‘on top’ by ‘New Year 2022’. 

Burtsev, who is single, said: ‘I tried many methods for weight loss before finding my own and am now in the process of losing weight. 

He added that his plans for the future are simple and can be summed up as ‘family, children, home.’

While before, people in big cities would ask to pose for selfies with the lookalike, he said that the pandemic had put an end to that. Burtsev’s time away from the spotlight during the pandemic led him to put on weight.

Burtsev, known for being DiCaprio’s Russian doppelganger, poses at a Great Gatsby themed event

Previously, Burtsev had achieved a degree of fame by starring in various adverts, including one for Five Lakes vodka, where he appeared alongside a string of counterfeit products like an iPhone with a pear logo and a fake Adidas tracksuit, saying the only thing real in life is the spirit.

Before the ad, Burtsev had announced to his fans and followers that he was taking acting classes, not in a bid to get himself into Hollywood, but in an effort to find a girlfriend.     

The pandemic cut short his plans of international fame and he has had to change industry and start working in cryptocurrencies. 

But he also quit his crypto job because his boss was unhappy with his requests for time off so he could go on photoshoots and advert shoots.

Burtsev said he earns 50,000 Russian Ruble (£513) a month and now lives in a two-room flat with his parents in Podolsk, an industrial city on the outskirts of the capital Moscow.

His family sold a three-room apartment they once owned in the Tula region in western Russia before moving to the council flat.  

Burtsev lives in one of the rooms, while his parents live in the other room, but he would like to afford a house in Crimea now that his sister has started university.