Mirror reader Riddhi Morkhia meets fitness icon Malaika Arora and finds out her beauty secrets
As told to Kunal Guha (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 23, 2020)

If there’s one person on my Insta feed who is always radiating confidence and beauty in every post, it is Malaika Arora. From straddling reality shows, modelling and her fitness venture, I wonder how she manages to do everything and yet appear so stunning every time the paps click her.

So, when I met her for this interaction at her yoga studio in Bandra, I couldn’t help but ask, “Since you’re clicked everywhere you go, do you feel the stress of looking good all the time?” Malaika replies with a smile, “There is pressure… but I don’t take it seriously. Also, there’s nothing wrong with putting in some effort.” The former VJ adds that if she could be left to her own devices, she would only wear tracks or jeans.

I’ve always admired Malaika for her exceptional figure. But what inspires her to keep up with fitness goals, does she ever get tempted to take a break? “When I have a late night, friends and family tell me it is okay if I miss a day of exercising. But I don’t, because it’s a way of life for me. When I do an hour of yoga, I feel awake, alive and focused, and I can go about doing things better,” she says, adding that her approach to fitness has never been about losing weight, but about “getting the mind, body and soul in conjunction”.

Malaika advises that we all need to take some time out for ourselves time and again to indulge in some kind of physical activity. “Whether you walk, run, swim, go to the gym or do yoga, it’s up to you,” she says. “But that little change will go a long way. You don’t have to be confined indoors. You can go to the park, walk around the building, or run up and down the stairs.”

Fitness aside, what is the secret behind her forever glowing skin? “I drink loads and loads of water,” she says, before pointing to a pouch that contains her beauty essentials, which travels with her wherever she goes. “It has my sunscreen, mascara and lip stain, which I use on my lips and cheeks.” Her gorgeous, flowing mane, she shares, is a result of weekly oil massages and consuming some amount of ghee in her meals every day. “I keep it simple, so I cleanse, tone and moisturise my skin. Also, I make my face and hair masks at home,” she says, adding that the torment her hair and skin endure while shooting, particularly when introduced to products, warrant that extra TLC.

Talking about what she likes to do during her spare time, the fitness icon says that she really values her “me time” and is a bonafide homebody. “Our lives are such that we have to meet and interact with people all the time, so when I get time off, I like to not see anyone,” she says, adding that her favourite indoor activities include cooking, cleaning, listening to music and playing board games with her son. “If I do step out, I would go to shop for groceries and stock up my fridge. I love cooking for friends,” she says.

I had read that Malaika was a big foodie and loved gorging on seafood, but now that she’s turned vegan, does she miss her favourite treats, like biryani, which was until recently her favourite cheat meal? “I don’t crave it anymore,” she says. “Now that I have restrictions on what I can and cannot eat, I’ve developed a fondness for any kind of khichdi.”

My biggest takeaway after our half-hour meeting was that Malaika is a warm person. I used to think that stars are usually unapproachable. But through our conversation, she made me feel comfortable. I also realised that she’s humble and down to earth. Who knew that we both would turn out to be fans of khichdi?

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; December 1, 2018)

When we compliment Malaika Arora about how radiant she looks, the diva quips, “It’s hilarious because although I take it as a compliment, some people make it sound like I’m 70 years old. I’m 43 and I don’t care about age because it’s not that big a deal. But most of the times, people don’t get my age right. I’ve been called 45.” The self-admitted health freak has now opened a yoga studio (Diva Yoga) in Mumbai that caters to women of all ages, which she plans to expand across the country. Looking stunning in athleisure wear, Malla talks to us about the importance of a healthy lifestyle, and how yoga helped her overcome tough times.

You have hardly changed in the last one-odd decade...
These compliments flatter me and make me feel that my hard work isn’t going unnoticed. I feel like I’m doing something right. I’m not doing it for someone’s appreciation. As selfish as it may sound, it’s for my longevity. It’s tough and easy at the same time.

Why do you say that?
Because no matter how unwell or tired you are or if you had a late night, you still have to hit the gym in the morning; even drag yourself sometimes. Unfortunately, we are in a field where we have to look a certain way. But then, there’s a good side to it too. It brings out a sense of happiness, well-being and confidence. I would not trade that for anything because it makes me feel good. It’s purely about self-worth.

Fitness is huge now.
Nowadays, it’s a lifestyle. I won’t call it a trend. Unlike today, it wasn’t easily accessible earlier and there weren’t many gyms. Now, there is more awareness and consciousness about fitness among people. Back in the day, I was a little more casual about health, too. There would be long hours of dancing and even one hour of it can make you faint if you aren’t fit. Now, I’m more passionate about fitness and it’s a way of life for me. I feel incomplete if I don’t work out or do yoga.

You launched Diva Yoga completely out of passion...
You hit the nail on its head. It’s truly my passion, which I channel and translate into this. I can talk about it confidently. I know a lot about everything. I do my research on health as well as nutrition and how to go about it.

How did you get the idea of a yoga studio?
I had been toying with it for a while. I was checking things out and discussing the prospects. I thought it was an opportunity that I couldn’t let go of. I loved the concept as well as the business plan and took the plunge.

Till a few years ago, fitness for women was neglected. What about now?
At the end of the day, it’s all about self-worth. Women tend to neglect themselves and get too occupied about everything else. Sometimes, we just need to do a few things purely for ourselves. We want to create a space that’s for the women, by the women and where they don’t have to look over their shoulder and feel judged or like someone’s leching at them. They should be comfortable; it doesn’t matter if they are in a pair of tights, shorts or even salwar kameez. At gyms, I see slightly older women feel awkward about sporting gym wear. That’s something I want to eradicate and if I can achieve it with Diva Yoga, I will feel I’ve made a small contribution to my tribe.

Why yoga?
For one, it helped me immensely, like thousands of people. I’m all for fitness — whether running, swimming, lifting weights or doing yoga. It creates a sense of well-being and it wasn’t just physical but also mental approach. All of us go through a lot of lows in our lives and it gave me that focus and direction. When I was going through my separation, yoga calmed me and healed me. You can do it for just 10 minutes. You don’t have to go on for an hour, although it would be fantastic if you can pull that off. You will see what wonders it does to your mind, body and soul.

What’s your daily regime like?
I’m an early riser. I wake up at around 6 am and start my day with yoga. The first 15-20 minutes involve breathing exercises and asanas. If I don’t do it, I become like a grumpy old person. There’s a sense of clarity when I do it. Apart from that, I have to handle household chores, making sure my son has everything in place, then go for meetings and office. I devote at least an hour to yoga every day, apart from working out. We just need to give ourselves a little nudge to start somewhere.

What foods do you avoid? Do you have cheat days?
I won’t call it cheating because I maintain a well-balanced diet. Fitness and food complement each other. One must never starve and do these fad diets or go crazy and binge either. We must simply follow a routine in terms of a healthy diet. If breakfast works for you, have it. Some people can’t have food in the morning, so that’s fine, too. A wholesome lunch and an early dinner are important. For me, it’s about eating at the right time and making sure I don’t have anything too late. I finish dinner by 7 pm. You can see the difference it makes.

Is Arhaan also into fitness and yoga?
Yeah! I try to instill as much as I can and force my ways. But he’s watched me all these years. He says, ‘Mom, what you are eating is fab. It can’t get healthier than this’. He is particular about fitness as well as eating right and on time. Kids his age can be whimsical and want a 3-am snack. Arhaan does that, too, sometimes when he is out with his friends. But by and large, he’s conscious of his health. I’m glad I’ve sowed that seed into him early in life.

Rachit Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; November 4, 2018)

They say time and tide wait for no one, but Malaika Arora is an exception to the rule. Her sexy avatar has garnered a fan following for nearly two decades and even after all these years, she still looks gorgeous as ever. The glamour goddess talks about feminism, fitness and more. Excerpts…

You’ve been associated with fitness since the late ’90s and over the years, you haven’t changed at all. What’s the secret?
Fitness is a combination of a lot of things. I was introduced to yoga at a point in my life when I was injured, I was down and I really needed something that could heal the mind, body and soul.

Is that why you have become an advocate for yoga and women’s fitness?
There’s so much of daily stress that we all go through and life can really throw you a curveball at any point. Dealing with so much can be daunting, and I really feel that yoga can be the answer to all the problems in life. Also, I come from a family of women. I grew up in a household where women were more in number, and took charge. So, advocating fitness for women seemed like a natural process to me.

You’ve carried off the glamorous image for years. Is the pressure to look prim and propah be too much at times?
Being glamorous is all about being comfortable in your skin. On any given day, you can wake up in the morning and feel bloated, 10 kgs heavier or lighter. Regardless of how you feel, you should love yourself for who you are. Confidence is the key to making the best impression.

Lately, you’ve been a film producer, mother, actress and a reality TV show judge too. What does it take to juggle with so many endeavours?
Women tend to focus on a lot of things in life and in the process they forget to focus on themselves. A woman has to look after her kids, spouse, family, parents… and the list just goes on and on. But while we tend to nurture and take care of so many other people, we also neglect our own well-being. Which is why, it's important for every woman to be a little selfish. Learn to focus on yourself too. I've been a working woman all my life, when I got married, I took care of my family and kids, but I did not stop doing what I loved and that was being a part of showbiz. It’s really important that we women give ourselves some due respect. That’s the only way the world will give us respect, too.