Kareena Kapoor with Namrata Purohit at the pilates studio

Always in the limelight for her frame, hot momma Kareena Kapoor Khan on how accepting different phases of life enables her to stay fit
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; August 8, 2018)

It's a bridge she crossed twice -- shedding 20 kilos the first time around; then again dropping 32 after giving birth to Taimur. But while a journey like hers can rattle even the most determined, Kareena Kapoor Khan doesn't mind doing it again, should her career as an actor demand for it. "I mean, if I was in a Bridget Jones Diary, I'd gain weight again for it, and then go back to losing it. The script has to be amazing," she says of roles that have demanded such transformations from male artistes before.

It's not cumbersome to decipher why Kapoor is uninhibited when braving the fluctuations of the weighing scale. She has been able to get a grip of an essential that most women constantly battling the kilos, struggle with – the ability to sit back, analyse and understand their body. Also, she willing to accept -- even celebrate -- the fact that life happens. Talking about turning up at Namrata Purohit's pilates studio post-pregnancy as a "90-kilo girl" years after being in the limelight for her 'size-zero' image, she says, "I was bearing a child. It was obvious that I would put on weight. But I wasn't [rattled]. I enjoyed my pregnancy. I absolutely loved it. Losing the weight after that was another journey. I remember, sometimes, I'd wear tight pants, and people would tell me, 'You've put on so much weight. You're thighs are so big.' And I was like, 'I don't care because I'm working on losing it'. Honestly, I'm comfortable in any shape and size."

The toil was hers, but Kapoor is unrestricted when showering love on those who helped her reach here. It's hard to get past a few sentences without her crediting Purohit, or acknowledging the role that "food doctor" Rujuta Diwekar plays in her life. Her publicised weight-loss journey for Tashan (2008) had first brought attention to Kapoor's association with Diwekar. "The size zero phase was a result of a combination of yoga and Rujuta's meal plan. I was 68 kilos, and she brought me to down 48, which is when gave that bikini shot for Tashan. I took up that project as a challenge. Adi [producer Aditya Chopra] told me, 'You need to be super fit to be in this movie. Will you be able to do it?' And I said, 'Of course." To which he said, 'You're quite a heavy girl.' But I was determined. I was ready to challenge my genes, stand there in a bikini and show him that I can have amazing abs," she says, quick to add that the thought of delivering the "bikini shot", continued to be her motivation during the entire journey.

Convenient as it is to discredit toil, naysayers were quick to dismiss her effort, attributing her svelte frame to starvation instead. Kapoor too was rendered amused when news of her surviving on orange juice hit headlines soon after. "I'd love to make this fact clear that I lost weight the right way. I'm a Kapoor with a Punjabi built. I can't live without wholesome food and would not have been able to conceive, had I not eaten the way I did. Rujuta always had things sorted out for me, balancing the right amount of fat in my diet. I trusted her blindly, even when I was told to consume Parathas with ghee," says Kapoor, adding that even today, the nutritionist is only a call away to solve her woes. "Sometimes, I call her and tell her if I feel acidic after a string of late night commitments, or when travelling. Instead of prescribing medication, she'll recommend I have a glass of chilled milk with gulkand in it. On other occasions, she'll ask me to have water with kesar to flushes out toxins. Her methods work well for me."

Kapoor had a lot working in her favour when she underwent the physical makeover for the film, which paired her with now-husband, Saif Ali Khan. However, replicating the feat again after giving birth was never going to be the same. "Not only had I had a child, it had also been 10 years since Tashan released. Namrata made me repeat that journey even though [I had aged]. I had child-bearing hips and gained a lot of weight. But, she merely asked me to believe in her. She was set to change my body."

When chronicling her love for pilates, Kapoor makes it evident that going from strength-to-strength is turning out to be a cherishable experience. "We started our journey with me executing a mere eight repetitions in each exercise, because I had a weak back post delivery. Today, Namrata and I trained together, and executed a high-intensity class that involved 20-30 reps, one after another."

Kapoor admires the fact that Purohit doesn't keep her in the studio for more than 55 minutes "on the clock". "She always tells me, three-hour workouts are not needed. Even on the days that I'm not up to exercising, she'll ask me take a two-day break. I'm not the kind who'll train at 10 pm after a shoot. I'd rather go home, eat, and sleep. When you're body is exhausted, it's also the sleep that will help you lose weight. Maybe I won't have six-pack abs, but as long as I have a smashing body, I don't need to be in the gym for three hours." Prod her on suggestions she's partaken in 10-hour exercise sessions in the past and she says, "Even a robot can't train for 10 hours. For the past 15 years, I've trained in the gym for no more than one hour. I have a life outside of it."

It's evident that she had a string of professional help to guide her in her fitness journey, yet, a bout of childlike enthusiasm envelopes her voice when she talks about her army of girls who are also responsible for her success. "Best friend" Amrita Arora Ladak is credit repeatedly for holding her hand throughout this journey. "A special chapter in a book [on my life would] need to be dedicated to her. Without her push, and her constant care, this would not have been possible. She'd remind me to eat healthy, urge me to train, and even offer to do so together. She was always there while I was putting on my sneakers and fitting into my tights, telling me, 'C'mon, we have to do this."

As for her other besties, sis Karisma and Malaika Arora, Kapoor has some part of the blame to take for their fitness journey going awry. "Through my pregnancy, we would go to restaurants to eat. I'd eat two entire pizzas, and then the desserts, and eventually they would be tempted. They started putting on weight because of me. Every morning, I'd wake up and say, 'I want to eat samosas with motichur laddo'. And they'd be like, 'Oh God, we can't do that.' I'd urge them to eat, and eventually, they'd relent. So they've done that with me, and even brought me back to shape. Having a good friend is so important in this journey."

Kapoor confesses that, unlike Karisma, she has a heavy Punjabi built and must work on her frame. From being the person who cared little for fitness, to now barely going a day without working out, it's been a journey she's enjoyed. But her Punjabi upbringing is reiterated before she says, "Food is my biggest love." It's tough competition, she says, to pick one between "Saif, Taimur and food". "I'm passionate about my meals. Even at home, although we have three different types of meals made – vegetarian for me, non-vegetarian for Saif, and baby food for Taimur – it's all healthy. My meals are as basic as doodhi sabzi, karela subzi, one roti and bowl of rice. Dinner can be different versions of soups. But that doesn't mean I will deprive myself of things I love."

Pizzas and pastas, it is evident, seamlessly melt her heart. "Because we work, we don't have dedicated weekends to cheat. But, if we have a few days off, we call friends over, boil spaghetti, throw in some tomato, crack a bottle of wine, and unwind." And unlike it does to many weight watchers, a cheat meal doesn't have her scrambling to schedule her next workout session. "I'm at peace after cheat meals. I'm the kind of girl who says that if you eat what you want, and you're happy about it, there's no guilt and no calories. You have to nurture your body, and have fun."

Kareena Kapoor Khan is burning up our social media screens thanks to her hot mommy avatar and she says it's all because she loves eating karela
Aastha Atray Banan (MID-DAY; May 20, 2018)

In the last few months, we have been a bit awestruck by how hot Kareena Kapoor Khan has been looking — be in stills and videos from her new movie, Veere Di Wedding, which releases in June, or in behind-the-scenes-clips, or basically all her public appearances. The hip and sexy styling, the lustrous hair, the impeccable make-up, and the undeniable, and oh-so-Bebo swag, has helped us see the new mother in a new light, yet again. When we meet her at a suburban hotel, wearing an off-white pant suit, her hair pulled back, and her green eyes set on us with a smile, we are slightly flustered. And we ask, how are you giving 30 somethings, even the one with kids, such hotness #goals.

"No please! Honestly, I have always been very fitness conscious. Everyone is saying I have lost weight so fast, but I have taken a year and a half. It has happened over time. It's not for the movies, but just for me. Like I always say, feed me karela for lunch and dinner and I am happy," she tells us nonchalantly. There is no blueprint plan for the evolution in her style as well, says the 37-year-old. Instead, she says that the movie, where she has been styled differently from previous avatars is responsible for turning up the heat. "That's one of the reasons I did the movie. It's young and fresh. I could have come back in an author-backed role, playing a titular character. But I chose not to. I just had a baby, and I wanted to do something that's young and the language for which is different," she says.

She laughs when she recalls Veere Di Wedding producer Rhea Kapoor being wary of bringing the movie to her, because she is a mainstream actress who has been a part of the Khan movies, making Rs 100 crores and more. "There is no hero. I have never worked with four girls. No one expected me to do this. When I read the film, I wanted to do it. A mainstream actress would ask 'but what am I doing?' But with Veere, it's about the language of the film that's about four friends. No one has the bigger part." This is where she says, that it's her choices that have always set her apart. And we agree. "I did Chameli when I was 21. I also did Ki & Ka, even though Arjun is younger to me. I did Udta Punjab, even though mine is just a parallel track," she says, and when we point out that she dies in the middle of the movie, she says "Ya! I had to make sure something happened with my character so that people remembered me. I needed that moment. I want to do something different. My attitude towards movies has changed — I may say no to a big-budget films. My headspace is not that." We steer things back to her drop-dead vibe these days. We all can diet and work out, but what is she doing every day that makes her glow?

And the answer is simple. "Happiness," she smiles, "You have to make yourself happy. You have to find joy in smaller things in life, not just success. I am happiest when I am having coffee or a glass of wine with a friend and chatting. Or when I am reading a book, not a script, trying to prove that I have 30 scripts lined up." When we ask her what is she reading these days, we find common ground. "I love reading crime thrillers, especially Jo Nesbo and Agatha Christie. I keep watching the Poirot series again as well. Saif and I are hooked." Seeing her love for Christie, we recommend Japanese author Keigo Higashino to her, and she says, "Please write down the name for me!" We come back to us telling her how we have all been obsessing over her swag on social media, even though she doesn't have an account. "I may not be there but I am there na! And my friends and family keep putting stuff up. I am very much there. Anyway, I don't think anyone wants to hear my opinions — there are so many opinions out there. Wasn't it better that you and I had a chat instead of you already knowing everything about my life?"

Kareena Kapoor's Pilates instructor Namrata Purohit on how the star shed 16 kilos to return to her svelte frame
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; March 31, 2018)

Kareena Kapoor Khan wowed viewers by flaunting her svelte frame at a Singapore fashion event recently. However, walking the ramp for Manish Malhotra, the actor found herself battling criticism for having shed far too much weight than could have been appropriate. But the actor's fitness trainer, Namrata Purohit, dismisses the suggestion that the actor has turned frail.

"The day we met, Kareena said she wants to be the fittest she has ever been," Purohit tells mid-day. "She came to me 45 days after her son, Taimur, was born. She did not have a particular body size that she wanted to achieve. Kareena only wanted to be fit and flexible again. She has lost 16 kilos since we first started working out," says Purohit, adding that the actor trained with her four times a week for an hour each day.

Kareena Kapoor has confessed her love for the fitness form, Pilates, with her graphic tees. Purohit says that the routine was essential since, after pregnancy, women can often lose control over their core muscles. "In Pilates, movement of the arms and legs are performed while keeping the core engaged. It was initially challenging for her to learn that, but she picked it up fast."

Kapoor's earnestness even earned her a special Pilates tee from Purohit. "I'm a tough one to please. The day she could co-ordinate every movement perfectly, I gave it to her." Purohit adds that given that Kapoor had to shed her pregnancy weight, her routine focused on cardiovascular training. As for her diet, the new mommy followed a nutritious meal plan, but was permitted cheat days too. "I don't believe in stringent dieting. Kareena is allowed to cheat whenever she wants."

Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 2, 2017)

Within months of giving birth to Taimur Ali Khan Pataudi, Kareena Kapoor Khan had already shed her post-pregnancy weight and was back to her svelte shape — just in time before her next, Veere Di Wedding, went on floors in September in Delhi. Now, mid-day has learnt that Kapoor is sporting two distinct looks in the Shashanka Ghosh-directed film — while certain portions see her in a voluptuous avatar, the first half will have her sporting a lean frame. The actor, we hear, is currently following a high-intensity workout regimen to drop a few more kilos to achieve the lean look. A unit hand reveals, "Kareena has been working out for nearly 10 hours a day over the last one week. A special Pilates machine has been set up for her in the Delhi hotel where the cast is put up, on which she works out for an hour every day."

Kapoor has taken it upon herself to whip into shape before they start shooting the portions in question next week. The source adds, "There have been days when she has been on set for almost 14 hours and followed it up with a few hours of intense workout in the night. Even on her day off, she sweats it out at the gym."  While she has changed her workout regimen, the actor has been following the same low-calorie, high-nutrition diet that has been specially designed by her nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar.

A source close to the actor says, "Bebo has been sticking to the diet and the results are showing. At the recent Ambanis' bash, she received many compliments for her toned body."

Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 16, 2017)

Kareena Kapoor who set fashion trends through nine months of pregnancy, is now in a hurry to lose the extra kilos before she kicks off Rhea Kapoor’s coming-of-age girl gang film, Veere Di Wedding, also featuring Sonam Kapoor and Swara Bhaskar. Five months since she delivered Taimur, the 36-year-old actress has already dropped 12 kg and wants to lose eight more before she faces the camera.

Her yoga instructor, Anshuka Parwani, whose clientele boasts of Jacqueline Fernandez, Malaika Arora, Parineeti Chopra and Huma Qureshi, is however quick to point out that Kareena is not counting kilos, rather she is focussed on strengthening her core muscles. Anshuka, who has been training Kareena since 2009, admits she does not know how much she weighs and what her goal weight is.

Anshuka was a commercial pilot till a fatal bike accident left her with multiple fractures and a head injury. She had to quit but physiotherapy, yoga and a strong mind had her walking again. She dug deeper to understand ashtanga yoga and started her own company with Kareena as her first student. She has put the actress on a new routine called ‘Flying Fit’ which includes 60 to 75 minutes of aerial twists, along with a high intensity yoga and pilates workout, apart from the usual mix of pranayam, meditation and surya namaskars. “It’s not about jumping but holding postures. Kareena can hold position for up to two minutes which is an achievement,” exults the proud teacher.

She goes on to reveal that Kareena was doing yoga until a week before she delivered and started again three weeks after. “Her workout is tailor-made and we keep changing the routines. Post pregnancy, it’s been a lot more about balancing out hormones and the endocrine system. She practices the ‘Aerial Silk Yoga’ which uses a low-hanging hammock to aid traditional postures by supporting your entire body weight mid-air. Kareena and I are always working towards achieving more aligned postures through relaxation and breathing. I usually travel with her so we don’t miss a session and when I can’t she does cardio,” Anshuka signs off.

Worried about how you'll get fit after the birth of your baby? Follow Kareena Kapoor's footsteps to 
get in even better shape than you were before
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 16, 2017)

After powering through her pregnancy without a maternity break, actor Kareena Kapoor is back about town looking as radiant as ever. The 36-year-old-actress who turned first-time-mum on December 20 is already back in her yoga and pilates class and, she's even confident that she'll be back in picture-perfect shape in seven months. Kareena aims to drop the 18 kilos she gained during her pregnancy in this time.

But, she does admit, this has been the most challenging journey of her life. "After you've delivered a baby, even getting onto a treadmill takes a lot of strength. It's impossible at first," she points out between sips of her large cup of coffee. "Rujuta has allowed me two cups a day. But, she'll lose her cool if I have a third. And, the rule is that coffee can never be the first thing I have in the morning. I have to begin the day with a fruit," she tells us.

Her dietician-nutritionist of 10 years and celebrated author, Rujuta Diwekar, seems delighted to see how well Kareena remembers the rules she's laid down. "Everyone's talking about Kareena's looks because she's already started dropping the weight," Rujuta beams. "A lot of women wait too long to start working on weight-loss; then, it takes longer and requires a lot more effort. Don't put off exercising for after the birth of your child. Healthy eating and exercising should be a part of your lifestyle before you get pregnant. For instance, Kareena has been eating right for the last 10 years. When you've always maintained a fit regimen, your body goes into auto-pilot when it comes to recovering post-pregnancy too. It just makes it that much easier." She adds with a smile, "I am proud to be Kareena's dietician, she's an inspiration. I take complete credit for her slim waist. Often, I take credit for her glowing skin and good looks too — it's all related to what she eats, of course."

Don't expect holidays when you're expecting
Rujuta says that you cannot take a holiday from walking (20-30 minutes a day, she assumes, is a fair amount that everyone does engage in) just because you're pregnant. Neither should you start running for an hour on the treadmill at this time — that would simply not be sustainable. "But, in a healthy pregnancy you can easily exercise right up to a week before your delivery," she highlights, "Kareena was up-and-about right until even two days before she delivered," Rujuta says.

Expecting mums need support
While Rujuta's focus has been on Kareena's meal plans and on devising her long-term goals with a view to sustaining a fit bod, Kareena says that it's also critical for expecting mothers to have a strong support system — she's grateful that she does with her large Kapoor khandaan and bunch of girlfriends. It helps the anxiety and resultant nausea, she explains. "I enjoyed my pregnancy and it was out there for the world to see. I was flaunting my double chin, knowing that I was being photographed from every possible angle. Now, Taimur is a very good looking baby and, of course, he has the Pathan genes, but I feel some of that also had to do with his mother enjoying a lot of ghee and parathas," she smiles.

"We all want to see supersonic results but you have to give your body time to recover after the birth of a child. You have to be disciplined — two slices means two slices," Kareena says.

No cake-walk
Shortly after she delivered, Kareena took to walking, even if it meant just walking around the house for 20 minutes with her son cradled in her arms. This is a mandatory part of her daily routine. "Walking is the best exercise, and it gives me time with my baby too," she says.

The actress recalls her sister, Karisma Kapoor's pregnancy in 2009, during and after which, she ate healthy. "Karisma had gained 26 kilos and it took her one year to lose the weight. But because she did it right, it has stayed off," Kareena observes. "What's best is that she looks better now than she did before — her hair's got a lot more volume, and her skin is always glowing."

Eating through pregnancy
Throughout her pregnancy Kareena had a tall glass of milk at night and her diet consisted of vegetarian meals, including dals, khichdi and fresh fruits. "Portion control is crucial. During my pregnancy, sometimes I had hunger pangs or was tired and my blood pressure dropped. I'm sure it happens to many expecting mothers. Rujuta gave me a list of home remedies that energized instantly. I'd have these and feel much better right away. What really worked for me, I found, was gud with ghee," Kareena shares.

Rujuta emphasises that the plan was never to stop Kareena from eating anything. She's eager to bust the myth that the intake of dairy products or even caffeine needs to be stopped in order to lose belly fat. Rujuta explains, "Women complain about not being able to get rid of stubborn fat from areas like their stomach, hips or thighs. But, dairy is not to blame — in fact, it helps you burn fat from those very parts. You have to eat fat to burn fat."

Nothing drastic
Crash diets are a common practice post-pregnancy, but Rujuta cautions against these, saying diets like those are one of the major causes for the thyroid problems that many newmums in India develop. "You are forcing your body to slow down its metabolism because you are reducing calorie intake by unnatural eating habits. In the long term this leads to hair-fall and you'll gain the weight back in three months anyway," Rujuta says.

Eating right is the exact opposite of counting calories. "Women often gets confused with conflicting information on what to eat and how many calories to consume. The safest and most sensible thing to do is to focus on eating wholesome food - fresh, local and home cooked. This is what the latest nutrition science is talking about. Making food-based guidelines and not nutrient or calorie-based guidelines. This is the path Kareena followed too - eating home cooked regular khana," Rujuta says, "I even ate pizzas when I craved them once in a while," adds Kareena. Both, Kareena and Rujuta urge women who are grappling with their post-pregnancy weight, to not avoid ghee. "The body needs those calories. I learnt that in one pregnancy, a woman loses five years worth of calcium from her body. So don't give up on the milk either. I love milk, and would often enjoy a spoon of ghee with bajra rotis too," Kareena beams.

Three steps to fitness
Rujuta chalks out a "mental meal plan" to follow after the birth. "This achieves weight-loss in general, in just three steps," she says. "Visualise how much food you want to eat on a plate. But, only take half of the three helpings you visualised onto your plate when it's mealtime. Take additional helpings only if you're still hungry." Rujuta adds, "Eat every three hours, and eat right. Diet rules are stricter post-pregnancy."

Kareena urges that it is important to know your body and encourages expecting mothers to reach out and seek professional help in order to look and feel good. Kareena says that the award-winning nutritionist counsels her on more than just how to get back in shape. "The word 'dietician' doesn't give you a true picture of the extent of her knowledge or the role she plays. I have the same problems that all women do and often telephone her at odd hours with questions about everything from dark circles around my eyes to irregular periods. She generally prescribes natural fats," Kareena says.

"We've laid the ground work and I am now working to strengthen my stomach muscles and get back into great shape," Kareena says, adding with a laugh, "But don't let anybody tell you that you shouldn't be wearing those leggings because your thighs are still fat. Enjoy it!"