Zareen Khan on body-shaming trolls, finding support in Anushka Sharma and staying fit
Hiren Kotwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 4, 2019)

“Many people have double standards. On one hand, they criticize a celeby’s pictures on magazine covers and billboards, saying they are photoshopped. On the other hand, when someone posts a real picture, with all her imperfections, she is trolled,” Zareen Khan sums up the reactions to a picture she shared on the social media in which she is posing at Lake Pichola in Rajasthan, her crop top revealing the stretch marks on her stomach. The actress goes on to add that when she posted it, it wasn’t as an actress but as a person and it wasn’t about her but the beauty of her surroundings. “But many viewed it as a picture I’d posed for, be it for a magazine or a brand.”

The actress who was last seen in Vikram Bhatt’s horror film, 1921, points out that there are thousands of apps to edit pictures and make them perfect. “But I didn’t feel the need to use them because I don’t believe in hiding my imperfections. I believe everyone is imperfect in their own way. As a teenager, I weighed over 100 kg and when you lose 50 kilos, your skin tends to get loose and leave stretch marks. I’m proud of what I have achieved. It’s not about becoming picture-perfect for people but for myself. This fitness journey made me the person I am today, a part of the film industry, and I feel blessed. And before I could reply to the trolls, several fans stood by me,” she beams.

One of those who stood up for her was Anushka Sharma and Zareen applauds the actress, saying, “That was very sweet of her since Anushka and I are not even friends. We’ve met each other briefly at social gatherings. It takes a strong woman to recognise another. I’ve come a long way in the journey, but I would still require photoshopping. But I like to be the real me on the social media.”

Zareen isn’t the first actress to be body-shamed. From Malaika Arora to Sara Ali Khan, many have been trolled and shamed for their posts but they continue. “I don’t know if they are disturbed or frustrated looking for solace on the social media. I’d certainly like to see the kind of bodies people posting such comments have. Thank God it’s a small section and you shouldn’t take them seriously,” she says fervently, admitting that this platform that has given them direct access to celebs is both a boon and also a curse. She is however quick to reason that even in real life you meet some unpleasant people and her response to such trolls is with the Rajesh Khanna song from Amar Prem, “Kuch Toh Log Kahenge, Logon Ka Kaam Hai Kehna”.

Flashbacking to her teenage years, she admits she wasn’t a disciplined eater and wouldn’t even walk down to the end of the lane. But over the years, she’s learnt the importance of a balanced diet and doing some physical activity. “If you don’t take care of your body, you will collapse and end up in the hospital. You should do at least 30 minutes of exercise every day to keep fit,” she asserts.

Depending on her schedule, Zareen chooses her regimen. On easy days, she opts for weight-training, strength training, functional training, cardio and when her schedule is hectic, it’s yoga or pilates. “Exercise should be a way of life, not a punishment. My trainers keep changing my regimen, so I don’t get bored,” she points out. And to ensure that she doesn’t gain unwanted kilos while not starving, she’s opted for the Keto diet and intermittent fasting. “Keto is a fad now, but I took my time to research it and have been following it for over two years now. Intermittent fasting works wonders without making you feel you’re starving yourself,” she informs. And what happens when she succumbs to temptation? “I’m human, so the temptation to cheat will be there. But from the time I’ve been on Keto, I don’t have too many cravings.”