YANI Gellman stole hundreds of thousands of hearts the world over when he performed Paolo within the Lizzie McGuire Film.

However now, 22 years after the hit movie, the heartthrob appears to be like utterly completely different from his early Disney days.

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Born within the US, Yani was catapulted into the highlight because of his function because the good-looking Italian popstar who satisfied Lizzie, performed by Hilary Duff, to carry out with him.

Each Lizzie and the viewers fell in love wit Yani’s candy smile, swept hair and charming Italian accent – which is why when he turned out to be a faux on the finish of the film was notably surprising and heartbreaking.

The Disney hit film, which premiered in 2003, was an enormous staple in hundreds of thousands of childhoods, and regardless of the twist ending, it is protected to say that Paolo was a superstar crush for a lot of.

However what does he appear like now? Properly, Yani has most definitely grown up over the past 20 years.

Current Instagram photographs present that the actor, now 39, is rocking some stubble, and his hair is far shorter than when he appeared on TV screens.

Yani made his appearing debut again in 1998 in an episode of the present Animorphs. 

After that, he landed a bunch of small roles in reveals like Goosebumps, The Well-known Jett Jackson, Blue Homicide, and Mentors.

He additionally starred within the motion pictures City Legends: Closing Minimize, Jason X, Boss of Bosses, and The Matthew Shepard Story.

In 2002, he landed the lead function within the TV sequence Guinevere Jones.

Nonetheless, his massive break got here in 2003 when he was solid as Paolo in The Lizzie McGuire Film. 

Along with Hilary, now 37, it additionally starred Adam Lamberg, Robert Carradine, Haille Todd, and Jake Thomas.

The film grossed $55.5 million – £43million – on the field workplace and made him a world star. 

After the massive success of The Lizzie McGuire Film, Yani went on to behave within the present Wild Card, the Canadian sequence Monster Warriors, CBS’ The Younger and the Reckless, the favored drama sequence Fairly Little Liars, and CW’s 90210.

In more moderen years, the actor appeared within the horror movie 47 Meters Down, the TV film A Bestselling Form of Love, and Apple TV’s Departing Seniors.

Through the years, Yani has spoken positively of The Lizzie McGuire Film, which made him well-known.

Again in 2023 on the twentieth anniversary, he posted an emotional tribute to his Instagram, writing: ”This week marks the twentieth anniversary of the premiere of The Lizzie McGuire Film. 

”This movie has meant extra to me than phrases can say … [Here’s] to the very best neighborhood of followers and supporters wherever – thanks for a tremendous run. This really is what goals are product of.”

He additionally advised Too Fab in 2018 that he would like to reprise his function as Palo for a reboot in order that he may have a ”probability at redemption”.

”I believe a reboot can be enjoyable,”he stated.

”I believe a reboot with some type of like shout outs to the technology of actors beforehand can be enjoyable.

”However then I additionally assume that there is doubtlessly even a little bit of a narrative there about like what occurs to those characters after this journey.”

The actor added: ”I’ve at all times felt that Paolo had a coronary heart larger than what he type of confirmed in these moments.

”The character would love an opportunity at redemption. So you understand I might undoubtedly be open to contemplating that if it got here round. 

”However it doesn’t matter what, I believe the films and the TV present which might be nonetheless on the market type of actually enchantment and relate to love even at this time’s audiences, so whether or not they make one other factor or not, this world type of lives on and other people nonetheless take pleasure in it.”

One fan lately commented underneath Yani’s publish: ”You’re what my goals are product of (speak to me).”

”Hello there good-looking,” one other fan shot their shot.

”Sing to me Paolo,” another person chuckled.