You are looking fab in your recent outings...
Thank you. I am receiving many compliments on my weight loss and am feeling very happy. I feel more confident when I dress up and in my photo-shoots.
How did you go about losing weight?
I had some time to understand my body. Why was I piling on weight despite the fact that I am a health-conscious person? Why was I not losing weight at all? So, I consulted a doctor.
What did he diagnose?
I was told that I should strike off eggs and milk from my diet chart because I was allergic to them. I used to have a lot of eggs and I had a weakness for both, milk and milk products.
How long has it taken you to reach this shape?
5 months. Mind you, I haven't reached my desired weight yet.
Weren't you counted as a bindaas girl who didn't care how much the weighing scale read?
I used to tell people that I was working towards shedding weight, but nobody believed me. People mistook me to be a carefree person. I used to tell everybody that I don't want to remain fat. I was obese when I returned from London; I was 86 kg. It was just that certain right steps had to be taken, which I am doing now.
Was it necessary to lose weight?
A certain level of fitness is very important if you're an actor. You feel better, you don better clothes, you look better.
Your excess weight was getting you typecast...
Physical appearance doesn't get you typecast, but a role does. Everybody goes through a phase where an impression is conveyed that he/she is getting typecast, but that's not always true. Not in my case at least.
But people started saying that very loudly in your case...
Those people are not filmmakers. So, does it matter? (laughs)
Your exercise regime now?
I started doing Kalaripayattu, a form of martial arts from Kerala. I do it everyday for an hour. It has made me more flexible, stronger and has also helped build my stamina.
Why Kalaripayattu?
I needed something which is not boring. I can't do the usual cardio and treadmill stuff. I had done a small session of it before Ishaqzaade and quite enjoyed it. So I returned to Kalaripayattu and it's showing results. But I am not even 50 per cent of what I have set out to be. Give me five more months, and I shall surprise you further.
How has the industry reacted to your new avatar? And what do your parents say?
My body language has changed. They are loving it. It's easy to say after a certain point 'F#@* it. I am going to return to eating everything'. But I promise that I shall maintain myself from now. Snacking in the night is also ruled out. I shall not let my hard work go down the drain.
Buzz is, you are doing Sultan opposite Salman Khan...
I'm hearing that I have signed Namastey England too. There's too much speculation on my next project. Trust me, nothing has been finalised. I am so glad that I got a break from work. It has given me a chance to look at not only my body and fitness but also my new house. I could have entrusted its designing to a professional decor, but I have taken care to see that I do almost everything myself.
Why shift from Andheri to Bandra?
Bandra is amazing. Nobody gets the kind of life that Bandra offers. Besides, I wanted a sea-view apartment.
Back to your body weight. Is the weighing scale under you every day?
(Laughs) Not really, but once in four days, yes. Dekhti rehti hoon if everything is under control.
Yesteryears' heroines were never so conscious of their weight...
Times are different now. I feel the way you are supposed to look now is very different, the costumes you are supposed to wear are not the same.
Weren't you tempted to undergo a surgery to lose weight?
No, I am scared to go under the knife. But I may have considered it if my body hadn't shown results and I was still desperate to shed the excesses.