Kabir Singh actor Nikita Dutta admits that prior to her exposure to nutrition science as part of her participation in the Miss India beauty pageant in 2012, her approach to designing a wellness routine was cursory.

“It was then that I learned how to structure a diet, and the importance of its various components. Because I was always struggling to stay in shape to look a certain way, I really got into it. Since then, I have been learning about wellness [intricately],” she reveals, acknowledging that while not entirely true, people’s perception of the exhaustive physical demands placed on models is not entirely misplaced either.

“There are people who take the short cut to achieve what they want. At the end of it, everybody tries to do what works for them. I remember being constantly told that I was the heaviest contestant. We [would be] made to stand in a line, and I was always told that my legs were looking big, and that I needed to exercise. At the age of 20, such comments [affected] me. I started working out way too much, and, believing that I was doing the right thing, forced my body to pull off far too much. Behind the ramp, there is a lot that [goes] on. To constantly go through this was a bit traumatic.”

While consuming “portions that were the bare minimum”, and adhering to a diet that was devoid of carbs and sugar, Dutta would execute cardiovascular bouts and focus on core exercises to “get that flat stomach and visible abs”. “But I knew I couldn’t continue this for long. That’s also why I never took to ramp [modelling]. I moved to acting, and anchoring since I realized this wasn’t meant for me. I cannot be the person who adopts bad habits to look a certain way.”

The muscle soreness that resulted from her cardio bouts drew her to calming activities like yoga, which redefined her fitness journey. “The flexibility that I have developed is only one part of it. I am able to deal with situations better, and have been able to address a nasal congestion I have had for several years. If I have to describe my fitness journey, I would say yoga and running are the two constants. I also weight-train, and love to cycle outdoors. Once in a way, I’ll head to a kick-boxing class, and ever since I did a dance-based film, I’ve developed a love for the art form.”

Having begun her running sessions with two-kilometre-long bouts, Dutta progressed to executing 10-kilometre runs. A spontaneous decision to participate in a half marathon (21 kilometres) opened new doors for her. Having been able to pull off the distance at the first attempt, Dutta began to make frequent appearances at similar events.

“I’ve realized that strength training and functional activities are responsible for shaping you in such a way that you can pull off long-distance running sessions. Endurance running is a mind game, but a lot has to do with your lifestyle as well. Small changes, when practiced for years, can help you pull off something like that. Also, in endurance running, it’s important to remember that if you try to compete with another runner, you won’t go too far. You have to approach it patiently, and follow your pace.”

No longer a fan of low-carb diets, Dutta has often spoken about the need to pick meals wisely. “Good carbs, like rice and chapati help you build strength and stamina. I’m not a fan of protein shakes, but ever-so-often if I get a call from my mom telling me I cannot consume non-vegetarian food on a given day for [religious] reasons, I will have it. Also, I used to make the mistake of not giving due attention to the consumption of good fats like oils and nuts. That’s something I’ll never do again.”