Maheep Kapoor and Seema Kiran Sajdeh. Pics/Instagram

Maheep Kapoor speaks passionately about adopting healthy habits to serve as a role model for her kids. Pointing out that her actor-husband Sanjay Kapoor has been “eating the same meals for years”, she says as parents, they attempt to help their kids learn healthy habits. “I never wanted them to fear food. Considering the environment that we live in, the pollution, and the viruses we now encounter, it is more important now, than ever, to stay fit. At home, we look at food as medicine on the table. We always think about whether or not we are getting the required amount of protein and carbs,” says Kapoor, adding that her parents played a vital role in encouraging her to adopt healthy habits.

Certain that her wealth of knowledge on the subject will benefit women across ages, Kapoor says she’s eager to launch a YouTube channel dedicated to the subject. “Women need to know that the foods that growing kids need is different from what they need in their 20s, and subsequently, a woman in her 40s needs to completely change her [diet chart]. At a time when you are in pre-menopause, [metabolism] slows down. I am learning to minimize sugar, because it is poison, and am also learning to eat in the correct manner — greens first, and then protein.”

Pointing out that Sanjay and she have had a “love affair with food”, Kapoor says she owes her good health to the fact that she ate wholesome meals while growing up. Physical fitness, she says, has played an integral role in her journey.

“All of us at home exercise. In the lockdown, I bought a cycle, and would use it to [channel] my energy. Any routine doesn’t have to be strenuous. I love pilates, and walking. It also boosts my mental health. I enjoy the time I get to push my body.”

 

Her circle of friends, she admits, keeps her motivated. “My friends are healthy and conscious about the need to stay active. We are all in our mid-40s and early-50s. [We have] great skin, and it’s all due to good nutrition.”

1. Water is vital. Hydrate yourself as soon as you wake up.

2. Focus on eating fruits and vegetables. There’s a reason behind certain fruits and vegetables being available at certain times. It is nature’s way of telling you that you need it. 

3. Stay away from sugar.  As a challenge for yourself, eliminate sugar for a month and see the benefits. 

4. Do a blood test to learn about your vitamin deficiencies. Indians are deficient in vitamin D, and it’s a very important vitamin. I realised I was allergic to chicken, and I eliminated it. If you tend to react to something, it can show up in simple ways, like lethargy.

5. Do not touch anything processed, or anything that comes in a package.

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An overweight child, Seema Kiran Sajdeh was rather bribed by her father when she expressed her desire to bring home a puppy — he told her he’d gift her the dog when she managed to lose weight. Sajdeh, whose fashion and fitness choices have won praise from watchers of an ongoing web show featuring her, recalls that her first tryst with physical fitness happened at the behest of her aunt.

“I’d spend my holidays with her, and she was the one who encouraged me to exercise and eat correctly, and helped me shave off 20 kilos,” she recalls.

It was after the pandemic — and the subsequent weight gain that followed — that she began to truly turn her attention to nutrition. “The extra weight wouldn’t budge. I went to a nutritionist and began to understand my body, and what was and wasn’t suiting me. For example, I do always watch what is on my plate, but I am also a binge-eater. I especially cannot do portion control — things like having only two biscuits or one bowl of something, I can’t do that. I had to find what was making me happy because I cannot eat things that don’t taste good. If you tell me to eat 90 per cent dark chocolate, I feel that’s like eating cardboard. So, I was encouraged to eat the chocolate with almonds, which satiates my [sweet tooth], and provides protein too. The longest that I have gone without sugar is 22 hours. It is always about the connection you can build with what you put in the mouth. At the same time, you have to think about the value that each food that you put into your mouth, provides. It affects your health, skin, and mood.”

At 44, Sajdeh’s fitness routine is not for the faint-hearted. Her social media posts are brimming with snapshots of her routine that comprise a mix of plyometric and strength training exercises. Admitting that she harbours a love-hate relationship with her fitness routine, she says she is often uncomfortable when she hasn’t packed in her sweat session.

“If I miss my routine, I don’t feel energetic. Initially, it was all about cardio. When you are young, you easily see results with cardio. But as you grow older, you need to develop strength too. I am a strong chick. While travelling, lifting bags and handling luggage, I can see the difference between me and someone else my age, and I owe it all to my strength training routine. People who exercise, can combat a lot. Also, rest is important. If you feel like you’re exercising a lot but aren’t losing weight, I’d say give your body rest, and you’ll see the results.”

Prod her on how she adheres to her routine when she’s on social visits or on holiday, and she encourages women by stating, “While travelling, walk a lot. Don’t take the cab or tube, and enjoy the time in the city by walking. I may go for a class, if there is one. I also have a yoga app that I may use. Also, I don’t have carbs at night.”

1.  Don’t underestimate the need to hydrate yourself.

2. Women need protein. When you are ageing, less protein can lead to skin laxity. 

3. Find alternatives for sugar. Sugar is poison. Opt for dark chocolates, which have anti-oxidants as well. 

4. Load up on vitamins, especially vitamin D3. If you can’t knock off your weight, do check this level.

Her introduction on the show Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives might have been as the relative of some famous film people, but Maheep Kapoor could very well have been an actor herself. But she decided to instead focus on building a life with husband Sanjay Kapoor and being a jewellery designer.

“I wasn’t acting at all, otherwise I wouldn’t have signed (the show). I’m glad the film I was supposed to do and even shot halfway, never released. I’m a bad actor, it would’ve never worked,” she admits.

On the show, Maheep talked freely about a lot of things. She even mentioned that she knows how it feels to be the “supposedly unsuccessful” part of a big family. Anil Kapoor and Boney Kapoor are her brothers-in-law, while the late Sridevi was her sister-in-law.

The candidness with which she said it, took many by surprise. “Sanjay has had good times, he’s had bad times. But he never brought it back home to us. Yes, it’s not been easy but success is relative, everyone cannot be a Shah Rukh Khan,” she says. Instead, Maheep adds, “I got what I wanted. I had the best of friends, my children (Shanaya and Jahaan) have got the best of everything...God blessed us a lot.”

She is all praise for the film industry too, which she’s been associated with for over 30 years. “It’s not easy to put yourself out there, with the trolling. There’s no other place like the industry,” ends Maheep.

Along with an attack on our health, this year saw an assault of another kind, equally discussed. The attack on Bollywood royalty. Superstars were "shown their place", say critics, especially on social media, as the aam junta questioned their entitlement, the power of privilege that comes with being someone important's someone.

Ironically, a new digital show that's been at the centre of much chatter, discusses and celebrates this very privilege, as it puts four wives of Bollywood stars—Neelam Kothari (married to Samir Soni), Seema Khan (Sohail Khan), Maheep Kapoor (Sanjay Kapoor) and Bhavana Pandey (Chunky Pandey; is mother to Ananya Panday)—in the spotlight. The Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives promises to offer entry into filmi families, which have been at the vortex of the nepotism debate recently. "People will finally know that our lives aren't glamorous 24/7. And, that we are not perfect!" says Khan, wife to Sohail Khan, brother to Bollywood's biggest superstar Salman Khan and daughter-in-law to veteran scriptwriter Salim Khan. Kothari argues that they may look perfect, but that doesn't mean, "they don't have their insecurities".

Whatever the protagonists may say, the audiences are going to watch for a glimpse of the perfection and glamour that defines, even if erroneously, Bollywood. What is going to come as a surprise though, is the candidness with which the show is presented. Khan confesses that she is obsessed with the Kardashians, while actor Samir Soni discusses Neelam's fear of facing audience judgment with a return to screen after years. And Pandey laughs about her love of "water bras". And they all have real jobs. Kothari and Kapoor are jewellery designers; Pandey runs a fashion brand called Love Gen; Khan is a fashion designer. But as Kapoor says, their kids come before career. Pandey adds, "We will be in super important meetings, but when your child calls, it means you have to put them before anything and everything."

The show, produced by Karan Johar, is full of real, and some hilarious moments. Some of it is over the top, yes, but all of it, entertaining.

When we get on a Zoom call with the four, they seem to be a bunch not too concerned about challenging any odd perceptions you may have. Pandey, who comes across as the most grounded, says, "Honestly, this show was not intended to challenge misconceptions. We are not trying to prove anything. We are behaving the way we would ordinarily—we are women who multitask, like every woman out there." Kapoor says they are an emotional bunch. They've known each other for 20-odd years, and that's what people will see. "That's close to 25 years of relationships and friendship. I am hoping women will connect with us."

Interestingly, the four weren't very keen to put themselves out there when the idea was presented to them. Kothari says different triggers set each of them off, and all of them lost their cool at some point while shooting. But it was the kids who got them to see its relevance in perspective. As Kapoor says, "It was very nerve-racking to put ourselves out there. But our kids made us see the light—life is short, who says no to Dharmatic [Johar's Dharma Productions] and Netflix! Tell your stories. And suddenly, we all said, 'why not, we must!'"

Kothari: That's the misconception in any field. You have to work hard to get where you are. You will never see success if you don't work hard.

Pandey: We are privileged, and we are blessed. But, there is everything else that comes with it. We experience the emotions you do—we are happy and sad. Ours is like any other family.

Kapoor: Very! Neelam was like 'hell, no!' Seema said yes, and Bhavna was thinking about it. Did we want people to judge us, and give so much access? No.

Pandey: I had been planning—okay, I will be controlled, and I will say this, and do that. But after a while, we went back to who we were. How long can you pretend?

Khan: I was fine till the shoot started. Then, when the cameras were in our house, we panicked a bit.

Kothari: I think what helped was that we had known each other for 25 years.

Kapoor: We are very possessive mothers. That will resonate for sure.

Pandey: We all multistask like everyone else, especially like everyone has during the pandemic!

Khan: Maheep is obviously Samantha, and Neelam is very much like Charlotte. I think Bhavana and I oscillate, and have a bit of both Miranda and Carrie in us.

Neelam Kothari, Bhavana Pandey, Maheep Kapoor and Seema Khan