Make way for Mr Afghanistan

KABUL: Inside a small, dark and sweaty movie theatre in the heart of the Afghan capital, a packed audience of men chant and whistle as bronzed and muscular figures flex their biceps in the hope of being crowned Mr Afghanistan.

The walls of the run-down Park Cinema, in bustling Shar-e-Now district, are plastered with Bollywood film posters, some peeling at the edges in the heat.

"I used to exercise under the Taliban but there were very few clubs you could go to back then," said 33-year old Rahmatullah, clutching the gold cup he won in the heavyweight 90-kg class.