Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; April 2, 2018)

There have been several ‘fat-to-fit’ examples in Bollywood, but Tanishaa Mukerji’s latest photo shoot has taken everyone by surprise. The actress, who recently posted several images online flaunting a new svelte figure, was also trolled for being skinny. However, she maintains, “I’ve just become more toned and gained muscles.”

When I catch up with her on a balmy evening at her Juhu office, I do a double take as she walks into the room. She not only looks her fittest best, but also exudes a sense of confidence. In a candid chat, Tanishaa opens up about her year-long metamorphosis and how she overcame her biggest weakness — chocolates. Excerpts…

WHY THE MAKEOVER?
It was a long process as it wasn’t just a physical transformation but a mental and spiritual one, too. After all, what you are inside reflects on the outside. It actually took me a few wake-up calls. It started with my best friends — Nikhila Palat and Vivan Bhathena — who wanted to give me a makeover. Vivaan would often tell me, ‘You work out so much, but why do you still have these tyres around your waist?’ That was because I was addicted to chocolate. Vivan is a fitness freak and he wanted me to be fit too. This was a little over a year ago, but I didn’t listen to him.

One day, while horse riding, I felt a jerk in my back. That’s when I realised that even if you have a little excess weight, it can cause injuries. I was out of action for a few months and started doing Pilates to heal myself.

The third wake up call was when my dresses stopped fitting me. Even though I was working out so much, my chest and butt were out of proportion. I was battling a lot of issues and started doing Buddhist chanting. When I saw my film Anna (2016) on screen, I thought that I appeared rotund. This wasn’t the image that I had of myself and finally decided to take matters in my own hands.

GIVING UP CHOCOLATES
I called up Vivan and signed up with Eefa Shroff (a fitness and lifestyle coach who specialises in the 21 Body Transformation practice). I quit sugar completely. While I was undergoing this transformation, she explained how our eating habits are connected to our emotions and why we lose discipline over a period of time. So, you need to work on your mind.

I couldn’t have given up chocolate if Eefa hadn’t explained to me what it was doing to my system. Chocolate is a drug, so I needed to find ways to love myself that would benefit me. Hence, I started scuba diving, as I needed adventure and a sense of accomplishment. Once you understand what that piece of chocolate is doing to you, you wouldn’t want it. Now, I don’t crave it anymore — you can keep a box in front of me and I would walk past it.

I started doing weights and a lot of Pilates which worked on my flexibility, core and abs. Eefa taught me yoga because weights make us stiff, so the asanas open up the body as flexibility is key.

A PROTEIN-RICH DIET
I eliminated potatoes, grains, rice, roti and bread. Instead, I started consuming more vegetables, eggs, fish and chicken. I took protein shakes, too, because my diet alone wasn’t sufficient to get this kind of a physique. I’ve always liked to have a toned figure, without an ounce of fat on my body. I did take other healthy supplements like aminos that would help in muscle growth. After all, I wanted to be able to do that 20-pound deadlift.

IT’S ABOUT INCHES, NOT KILOS
I learnt how to shed fat, not weight. Sometimes, when you’re knocking off the kilos, you could actually be losing muscle. That’s when your metabolism goes down. Check your inches — if you’re shedding them over a period of time, then you’re doing the right thing.

‘WE SHOULD TREAT OUR BODY LIKE IT’S OUR BEST FRIEND
It took me a little more than a year. But it was eight months of being super strict. We must always start early. Otherwise, we will be like, ‘Why didn’t I work those muscles and take care of myself when I had the time?’ We should treat our body like we’d treat our best friend. 

DEALING WITH TROLLS
I don’t want to set a wrong example. I feel a certain kind of connection with my fans, so if they ask me questions on Instagram and Twitter, I try to answer as many as I can. However, people can make their own assumptions. They feel I have become skinny, but I’ve gained muscles. Trolls don’t affect me. I’ve been through a lot of backlash right from the time I started. But I’ve dealt with life, so social media is a cakewalk.

WRITING A BOOK? NOT YET
A lot of people have done it, but I’m someone who believes that unless you have a lot of knowledge, you cannot preach. So, I don’t want to write a book just yet. This has worked for me, but I can’t become a nutritionist just because of this. I did it as a lifestyle choice.

Anushka Sharma on sports, fitness, eating habits, and why she loves Virat Kohli's personality
Karishma Loynmoon (TIMES LIFE; August 3, 2014)

The svelte Anushka Sharma can be often spotted playing badminton, basket ball, table tennis and a host of other sports. But don't you dare call her thin! She prefers slender and athletic. Here, the actress shares her fitness regimen.

FITNESS IS A HABIT
I wouldn't call myself a fitness freak. But if I don't work out, I don't feel good. Earlier, when I was modelling, I had no time for workouts or sports. But today it's a habit. I have a friend, who in my opinion, personifies being a 'fitness freak'. He works out for four hours a day and his life revolves around it. I'm not like that. For me it's a joy, not an obsession.

MORNING BLUES
I know it's better to exercise in the morning but I'm not a morning person at all. I exercise in the morning only if I'm shooting in the evening. I rarely miss my training session. Unless of course I'm unwell, because then working out is counter-productive.

FITNESS AT HOME
I prefer working out at home because I know I will do it for sure. In Mumbai, travelling for anything is pretty annoying. Also, my gym is in my building.

REVIVE, REJIG, RESTORE
Changing your workout routine is the key. My trainer insists on it. Sometimes, we box or do resistance bands. I like running too.

NO ENERGY BARS!
You are generating energy while working out. So what's the point of consuming nutritional bars and energy boosters, especially when you're in a bid to lose weight? After my workout, I have a protein shake. It's highly recommended because you've just broken down your muscles. And you have to nourish them so that they recover fast. Also, I sip on water between weight training sessions. Then I eat a complete meal.

QUITE A SPORT
In school, I was athletic and fond of sports. I was an avid badminton, basketball and table tennis player. I'm a good swimmer too.

YOGA MAGIC
I've started practising yoga with a teacher. I do it five times a week for an hour. I even do headstands against the wall. Yoga helps digestion. It also works as an instant mood elevator. I combine it with my workouts.

DAD KNOWS BEST
I often work out with my parents. I used to take them to the gym every day at one point. My dad has been a commander in the army. So he's done the real deal. He thinks whatever we do is all bull**** and childish. My father's particular about food habits. He's always telling us to eat right.

SPORTSMEN ARE COOL
I feel privileged to be born in a generation where gadgets aren't the only source of entertainment. Today's kids are hooked to gadgets. My kids will always be engaged in sports. Sports are best for personality development. See sportspersons like Saina Nehwal and Virat Kohli. Notice the way they talk. They're driven individuals. Every child needs to learn a sport. It inculcates character.

ANOREXIC?
Never! What do I say about being dubbed 'anorexic' by the media? It was such a rubbish PR activity. It got blown out of proportion. That incident stressed me out so much that I lost even more weight.

EAT SMART
It's easy to control your diet. Just don't order the wrong stuff. The foodie that I am, I let myself go if I like a particular dish. I stock healthy stuff at home. Junk food isn't my thing. I don't crave it.

MUSIC MIX
I choose beats that are fast and charge you to work out harder. I love cheesy songs but I also listen to Lady Gaga and Katy Perry. Prodigy and Eye Of The Tiger by Survivor are always on my playlist. My choice in music is random because I go by my mood.

FRANCIS MISQUITTA (weight trainer)
“Anushka is a strong-willed girl. And that's what keeps her fit. No matter how hard her day gets, she pushes her limits. She has fabulous mindbody coordination. Her form is immaculate. She's also a quick learner. As for her diet, we don't give her one because she dotes on homemade food. She can't do without it. Her taste buds don't crave unhealthy junk food. A strict diet makes no sense."

EEFA SHROFF (yoga instructor)
“Anushka does the basic hatha yoga. There are two styles to yoga, one is the freeflowing kind and the other is static but strength-based. She's more inclined towards the latter. She's spiritual and has a steady mindset. Even as a beginner, she does the headstand for six minutes, which is a huge deal."