Actor Russell Crowe, who piled on weight for his film "The Nice Guys", has now lost around 23 kg for his next role.

"I was (121.5 kg) the first week of August last year. I did a movie called 'The Nice Guys', so I wanted to be the physical juxtaposition of Ryan Gosling," Crowe said on a radio show on Thursday, reports aceshowbiz.com. 

"I'm clawing my way back from that, so I'm about (98 kg) at the moment," he added. 

Back in 2000, the Oscar-winning actor showed off a ripped physique for his role in "Gladiator". He had to eat six to eight protein-heavy meals a day to bulk up at that time. Just a year before, he was required to lose weight fast to prepare for the role of Big Tobacco exec Jeffrey Wigand in 1999's "The Insider". 

In "The Nice Guys", Crowe is playing private eye Jackson Healy who lives in the 1970s.

Directed by Shane Black, "The Nice Guys" will release in US on May 20 this year.