The laughs on screen may suggest otherwise, but 'Mimi' — which sees Kriti Sanon play a surrogate mother — wasn’t an easy film to make. The Laxman Utekar directorial venture was particularly hard on the lead actor, who had the task of piling on almost 15 kilos to look convincing as an expectant mother. Though they used prosthetics for the baby bump, the director felt the various stages of pregnancy would look authentic on screen if Sanon naturally attained a heavy frame. 

As part of the first schedule that was conducted in Rajasthan in October 2019, the leading lady shot the portions that showcased her svelte avatar. Post that, the director called for two months’ break to allow her to pile on the pounds. “I’m blessed with a great metabolism. Owing to this, it wasn’t easy for me to put on the kilos,” begins Sanon, who gave up her daily fitness regimen.

She remembers how over eight weeks, she feasted to her heart’s content. What initially started out as a foodie’s dream soon became “nauseating”. “From devouring the oiliest possible breakfast, to bingeing on sugary sweets, I had to stuff myself with food. Every two hours, I had to snack on something, even when I was not hungry. After a while, gorging on junk food was nauseating. I wasn’t allowed to do any kind of workout, not even yoga, which made me feel unfit.”

Utekar, who previously directed her in Luka Chuppi (2019), laughs about how he deliberately sent her goodies, week on week. “I sent across hampers loaded with delicious items that were sure to shock the weighing scale,” he quips.

In an industry where vanity reigns supreme, the director is proud that Sanon took a leap of faith for her character. “Few actors place the sanctity of their craft above their stardom. Kriti is an artiste first. She knew she could burn off those calories later, but immersing herself into the character was the need of the hour.”