Who is Roman Burtsev, Leonardo Di Caprio’s lookalike, forced to join the Russian Army?

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

The 41-year-old Russian lookalike, who rose to fame for his uncanny resemblance with the Hollywood star, has been forced to trade the limelight for military duty, enlisting as a soldier in the war in Ukraine.

From posing as a celebrity doppelganger to donning military gear, Burtsev’s life has taken a dramatic turn. So, what led him to this moment? Why has he joined the Russian Army? Here’s a closer look at his journey.

Rise to fame

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

However, what he found instead was something far more unexpected: widespread attention from advertising agencies eager to tap into his unique “modelling talent,” according to The South China Morning Post.

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With his piercing blue eyes and light brown hair, the then-33-year-old Burtsev bore a remarkable resemblance to one of Hollywood’s most famous stars—Leonardo DiCaprio. Soon, he went viral.

And the timing couldn’t have been better. DiCaprio had just won the Academy Award 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 over 45 kg heavier than the Hollywood star, he quickly earned the nickname “the Russian fat version of Leonardo DiCaprio.” His photos soon graced tabloids across Europe and America.

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Seizing the opportunity, Burtsev embraced his newfound fame. Offers poured in for photoshoots and commercials. One notable project had him venture into the snowy wilderness to recreate iconic scenes from The Revenant, mimicking DiCaprio’s performance.

As his popularity grew, so did his engagements. He expanded beyond commercials, taking part in live performances. At one mall event, a “mock ship” was built where Burtsev, dressed as DiCaprio from the movie ‘Titanic’, reenacted the famous scene from the film, with female participant.

Burtsev found a way to earn a decent living by leaning into his resemblance, eventually leaving his programming career behind to pursue full-time work as DiCaprio’s impersonator.

A fall from grace
By 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic had taken a toll not only on the world but also on Burtsev’s career. As demand for his Leonardo DiCaprio lookalike work dwindled, he found himself struggling financially.

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

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

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

Joining the Russian Army

With little hope of regaining fame, Burtsev made a startling decision by responding to the Russian government’s call to enlist in the military and serve on the front lines in Ukraine.

Part of his motivation came from a substantial financial incentive—a nearly $21,000 (Rs 17.65 lakh) bonus for completing training and a monthly salary of around $2,100 (Rs 1.76 lakh). This is approximately 2.4 times the national average salary, according to Russian news outlet Gazeta.

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

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

Earlier this year, Politico reported that authorities in Tatarstan offered money to residents who convinced friends or relatives to join the military. These recruiters were eligible for a “finder’s fee” of 50,000 roubles (Rs. 43,272), which was later doubled.

In April, the Russian Defence Ministry announced that over 100,000 people had enlisted since the beginning of the year.

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

With input from agencies