In the past week, two celebrities — TV presenter Sanjana Ganesan, wife of Jaspreet Bumrah, and actress-comedian Amy Schumer — spoke out against unwarranted comments about their bodies. Sanjana was body-shamed for her weight, while Amy was called 'puffer face' by trolls.

We spoke to actress Sameera Reddy, also known as 'Messy Mama' on Instagram, who has always been vocal about dealing with body shaming. She admits she is the happiest and most confident in her 40s.

Many times, I risked my mental and physical health to maintain a certain size. I did the most ridiculous things, such as trying fad diets and working out endlessly post-shoot. What I did back then has resulted in hormonal imbalances now. The consequences catch up with age, and today I'm saddened by the choices I made. Back then, I didn't feel I had any other option, and in a competitive market, you do what you think is right because you believe it's necessary.

As a teenager, I was a chubby girl, feeling different from what I believed 'beautiful' was supposed to be. The definition of being beautiful is something all young girls struggle with, and after becoming an actor, my insecurities multiplied a hundredfold. It reached a point where I experienced self-loathing. The scrutiny I imposed on myself was more severe than the scrutiny I received from others.

I was constantly compared to my sisters, Sushama and Meghna, both supermodels. People would ask me, 'Are they really your sisters?' and 'Are you adopted?' because my sisters were skinny and gorgeous, while I was dark-skinned, plump, wore thick glasses, and was not groomed at all.

OTT emerged as a game-changing platform, allowing people to showcase their talent rather than focusing on physical appearances. I began discussing topics such as stretch marks, grey hair, hormones, and everything I experienced in the last five years, on social media. Initially, people didn't respond positively, stating that it wasn't what they were there for. I don't blame people because we sell a certain image that people buy and here I was breaking it. Things have changed today and people understand you don't need to look perfect.

At a time when actors like Malaika Arora and Soha Ali Khan are redefining what 40s can look like for athletically superior mothers, a crucial conversation is also gaining attention on Sameera Reddy’s Instagram page. Addressing her 1.5 million followers, Reddy talks of the guilt she endured when she didn’t fit a certain body type, post pregnancy.

The truth of the troubled relationships that young actors in cinema have had with their bodies are well known. For Reddy, matters were not quite at odds with the ‘norm’. “I would run, swim, lift, and exercise even if I was exhausted after a long day of shoot. Mentally, I was volatile. Fad dieting was a norm. I’d survive on [minimal food], and black coffee, and had cut out sugar and carbs from my diet. When you are young, you tend to do whatever you need to do to get the job done.”

Although her lifestyle contributed to the onset of thyroid, Reddy had her real moment of realisation post-partum, when the only fruits of her labour in the gym was deteriorating mental health. “I had gained 32 kilos and tried everything I possibly could. I’d always end up demotivated. That’s when I knew I had to redefine my goals and shut off. It was like cracking something into pieces, and putting it back together.”

Her parameter to gauge if a routine was working in her favour or not, was simple — If she struggled to stick to it, it wasn’t for her. “I’d run and do busts of exercises and expect my body to react positively, but the frustration would make me give up. But, if I felt calm, I could stick to the plan. It’s not possible to depend on morale and keep at it. Consistency can be built with a calm mind.”

Husband Akshai Varde encouraged her to make her approach enjoyable, and introduced her to sports. Today, her mornings begin with a session of yoga, and evenings are spent with her kids indulging in a game badminton. “My curves have become noticeable again after taking to power yoga, and walking always works well for me. Boxing has been incredible too. But I do intend to return to lifting, again.”

 

In an industry that thrives on airbrushed images, Reddy found the process of putting her struggles on a podium fascinatingly liberating. “The more I’d speak, the more free I’d feel.” An image of her showcasing her grey hair was the trigger that kicked off a “cleansing process” of her feed.

“A lot of people were there to see sexy Sam. But she was not there. They were shocked to see the images I was sharing, and began to drop off.” But as she stayed consistent, she found a league of women who felt she spoke directly to them, and addressed their struggles. “They found in this platform a safe space. It was interesting for me to meet the right audience.” 

Reddy’s love for performance, editing, and shooting could be put to work. As the one-woman army handling the show behind her social media page, she learns several lessons each day. “A million came and went. But I can finally speak to the right people. Those who hope that a plan that worked for them a decade ago, will do so again, will eventually be frustrated. You need to redefine goals as you age.”

1. Practice mindful eating, and keep a diary.

2. Yoga, for me, was life-altering.

3. Do not eat after 7 pm. A simple trick that works for me is brushing my teeth after 7 pm. That is a trigger to stop eating.

4. I have reaped umpteen benefits from intermittent fasting.

5. Practice a sport that you enjoy, and keep changing your workouts.