Avika Gor sits before us for this interview sans makeup, and in a sleeveless top. Both, she says, are “accomplishments” that make her proud. Not too long ago, she would wake up each morning with “a frown on my face” owing to her poor fitness levels — a constant reminder of the fact that her body was no longer capable of doing the things that it could.

Gor had been a dancer since the age of four. But Indian television’s blue-eyed girl, caught in the daily rigmarole of filming a series, found her fitness routine taking a back seat. “[Being overweight] didn’t affect the work that came my way. I got [the series] Laado when I was at my heaviest, that is 74 kilos. I was also working in south Indian films, where I usually bagged the part of a chubby girl,” says the actor, asserting that while she did not want to take her success for granted, she had delayed addressing her fitness needs.

“I would often cry, and was unhappy with how I treated food. I was consuming only junk food. That I was getting roles that were all too similar also affected me. I wanted to do exciting roles, and I wanted people to know that there was more to me than they thought.” The revelation of her physical shortcomings following her participation in a stunt-based reality show served as the final jolt.  

Over 90 to 120-minute routines, Gor addressed her physical fitness. “I did weight-training, cardio and pilates. I’d mix it up with bouts of dancing, and boxing.” Gor never faltered on her 15,000-steps-a-day deal. On set, while wearing makeup, and in her character’s attire, she’d strut around to clock in the number on her smart-watch. “People really underestimate walking”. 

Unwilling to negotiate with her eating habits at 22, Gor chose to train harder instead. “It was a slow process. Often, I would lose patience. When I’d hit a plateau, I’d make small tweaks, like eat millets instead of rice, or exercise harder.”

Adding fruits to her diet not only fixed her skin concerns, but also helped alleviate gastric issues linked with weight-loss. In stark contrast with the kind of roles that were offered to her, Gor is now approached for parts related to action and dance. “These roles are more glam; ones that need me to be in western-wear or swimsuits. I was offered such parts in the past as well, but I am confident about pulling them off, only now. Perhaps, because people can see that I am open to doing them, they are approaching me more often.” 

Gor has successfully negotiated her weight-loss journey, but it is easy to see that she hasn’t come out unscathed. She counts Indian viewers among those who have contributed to the need to rope in glamorous actors. She expresses gratitude to Yami Gautam for shattering beauty perceptions. “She is supposed to be the icon of beauty, and when she talks of her skin issue [Keratosis Pilaris] with such confidence, then a person like me, who also battles the same condition, is inspired.” 

She also believes that the body-positivity movement needs to be better comprehended. “Many people can’t lose weight due to medical conditions. It is not easy. But, those who can, should address their weight concerns. We can’t tell [overweight] people to accept their bodies in the name of body positivity. [Had I taken their advice] I would not have been able to achieve what I have. I wouldn’t have taken care of my health. You need to see what you can make [of yourself]. I was so proud to be in fitness magazines. I never knew I could be there.”