Shilpi Sampad (MID-DAY; May 19, 2016)

Last month, Zareen Khan took to Instagram to address the issue of body shaming in a powerful post and subsequently, took up a 100-day fitness challenge. That apparently drew the attention of a brand manufacturing weight loss pills as they approached her to endorse their product. We hear, it was a lucrative deal — she was offered close to Rs 1 crore, claim sources, adding that the actress turned it down right away.

“Zareen works out everyday in the gym with Shahid Kapoor’s trainer, Abbas Ali, guiding her in her weight loss journey. She does not wish to associate herself with something she does not believe in and mislead people struggling with their weight,” says the source.

After debuting with Veer (2010) opposite Salman Khan, she faced criticism for her chubby looks, some even referring to her as Fatrina (she is regarded as Katrina Kaif’s lookalike). However, in her recent outings — Housefull 2 and Hate Story 3 — she looked visibly slimmer. The actress has done an item number in Ram Gopal Varma’s upcoming film Veerappan and will next be seen with Irrfan for Sai Kabir’s Divine Lovers.

Zareen confirms that she has indeed turned down the endorsement offer and says, “I work hard in the gym everyday and believe there are no shortcuts to weight loss.”