Admitting to have a metabolism that requires her to monitor what she eats, Sonakshi Sinha on her newly acquired washboard abs
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; August 22, 2018)

We must admit, we found ourselves struggling to hold up a debate when a colleague once termed food privilege as 'God-created inequality'. The leeway that select individuals can afford with their meals, given their rapid metabolic rate, can be a bitter pill to swallow. So what do you do when your rather dormant metabolism keeps you from such luxuries? The obvious answer: "You eat right, and train hard."

Admittedly stuck with a metabolic rate that puts her in the latter category, Sonakshi Sinha has, so far, battled weight woes with confidence and a smile. Yet, only of late, close on the heels of the release of her latest film, Sinha has been flaunting a frame that's certain to make cinephiles do a double take. "I tried something new," she says simply, attributing her svelte figure to pilates.

Sinha's journey could inarguably be the stencil of every female Bollywood actor's battle with the bulge in an industry obsessed with beauty. After a dream debut in Dabangg, the actor's weight yo-yoed on either side of the scale. However, she now admits to have learnt the importance of consistency.

"Namrata [Purohit, trainer] taught me the value of being consistent. You have to be regular with whatever exercise you choose to do. Even if it's [an exercise like] walking, you should walk every day. So, there were lifestyle changes like these that I started to incorporate. Also, I began eating a healthy, balanced meal. Earlier, I thought if I would work out, I could eat whatever I liked. But that's not how it works. Given my metabolism and body type, I have to check what I eat," admits Sinha. But monitoring what she ate had little to do with cutting down portions. Purohit says she likes her clients to be well-fed so that they can train properly. In fact, starvation can be detrimental for those with a slow metabolic rate.

"As for Sonakshi's diet, we tweaked the amount of protein she consumed. If a person with slow metabolism eats less, the body treats it as an excuse to function slower. Nutrition is necessary. Instead of starving, the aim should always be to strike a balance between the quantity of carbohydrates, proteins and fats consumed," says Purohit.

It's been only six months since an "unsure" Sinha met Purohit. "She had tried multiple workouts and nothing had worked well enough for her. She wanted to feel fit and lose a few kilos," says the trainer. Yet, the jubilance with which she's been carrying herself at promotional events is telling of a joy that's associated with transformation stories, like her own.

"I have always been very confident of myself, regardless of my size or shape. The way that I look has always been at the front-stage of my career. But, I was never affected by it. I didn't do anything for my body for several years. It was only when I decided that I wanted to look different that things changed," says the actor, quick to point out that her story can be an example for anyone. "Honestly, if I can do it, anyone can. I had little willpower to [lose weight like I have]. I would take to a diet, but, within a day, I'd be back to my old ways of eating. It took me some time to put my mind to it. But, here I am."

If her evident excitement isn't testimony enough, Purohit says Sinha's appreciation for her body is evident in the clothes she wears. "Her choice of outfits are bold. She experiments with what she wears. Also, she talks about her body and appearance. She is definitely appreciating the fruits of her labour." Purohit also finds solace in the fact that Sinha is truly growing fitter. Not one to fatigue easily, she says the actor is willing, ever eager, to push herself in class. "Also, we try an array of workouts. I don't make it monotonous. Fitness has to be enjoyed."

Namrata Purohit on Sonakshi's training
"Sonakshi works with me five days a week for hour-long sessions. We were able to customise her routine to suit her body type. It's important to know that you can't fight your genes, but the right form of exercise and nutrition can alter a lot. A bulky body can be turned into a leaner one. Sonakshi is tall; we trained her accordingly to ensure she acquired a feminine look."

Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; August 21, 2018)

Flaunting an envious, toned bod, Sonakshi Sinha is in the best shape of her life. But it’s not just the weight loss that has lent Sona her newfound sense of calm and confidence. It’s her winning attitude that makes her a cut above the rest. Honest, humorous and happy — the actress tells us what keeps her going, how she deals with naysayers and all you need to know about her forthcoming film, Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi (HPBJ).

You have undergone a startling physical transformation. Unfortunately, your weight has been a talking point over the years, but you have silenced your naysayers with a bang. What triggered the change?
It has to happen from within. I woke up one day and decided to utilise my time in the best way possible, which was to work on myself. I tried a new form of workout (Pilates). Earlier, I used to eat anything and assume that it’s okay to do that since I was exercising, but it doesn’t work like that. You have to strike a balance between your meals and workout. I have only been able to achieve that in the past six months and the result is visible.

Obviously, compliments from others who meet me and tell me how great I look also help, but those things are temporary. It’s about how you feel about yourself. What you see in the mirror is what matters. I am feeling better and that is what keeps me going. Also, I will be very honest with you. My shoot (for HPBJ) got delayed and I had two months to myself and had nothing else to do. So, I went to the gym, started working out and it’s as simple as that.

You had once said that when you were not ‘thin enough’, various designers were not keen on dressing you. Has that changed now?
You put it very politely (laughs!). There are people who have said that, ‘We cannot style Sonakshi because she is too big’ or ‘I can’t give her my gowns, because she won’t look good in them’. It’s not nice to say these things. It stays with you. Now, these same people constantly call my stylist and request her if they can style me. They send clothes, too, but you tend to always remember these things. Too bad! If you didn’t like me as a potato, you can’t have me as a fry!

You have always been an athletic person. Today, you have an extremely toned body. Did you always aspire to achieve this level of physical fitness?
Yes, I have always been an athletic person, but I never had an athletic body to go with it. I have played every sport in school. I still love to play sports. Finally, my body is matching my athletic personality and I am happy about it.

Your workout video with Katrina Kaif was a gruelling watch. It looked like one heavy duty workout session. Do people like her inspire you a lot?
My trainer (Namrata Purohit) is extremely motivating. Katrina is hard-core when it comes to workouts and her trainer is on the next level (laughs!). One day, I told her I am really tired and she was like, ‘I am taking you to the gym’, because she figured I might not end up going. I went with Katrina and it was fun. She does a lot of functional training and I have to say, she is definitely one of the fittest actors we have in the industry today.

Akira (2016), Noor (2017) and now Happy… Today, you’re getting an opportunity to showcase your range as an actor in different genres. Also, the interesting thing is that these are movies where the women characters lead the way...
Every actor just needs that opportunity to show their range and what they are capable of. A lot of amazing roles are now being written for women and it gives us an opportunity to showcase our talent and portray a different side of our personality on screen. I feel we should do away with this term called ‘women-centric’ cinema. We don’t call other films ‘hero-centric’. A film is a film, whether the protagonist is a man or a woman. All of us, at the end of the day, are trying to achieve equality, so we need to stop differentiating.

Do you feel lucky to belong to a generation who gets offered diverse roles, as opposed to a time when opportunities for actresses were more conventional?
I feel very lucky, but don’t get me wrong. I love to be on both sides. I got the confidence to do these kind of movies because of the films I have done in the past. Whatever I know, I have learnt on the job. The kind of reach and audience I got initially was because of those big blockbusters. They gave me the confidence to shoulder a film on my own.

Do you seek your father’s opinion when it comes to approving scripts and movies?
Sometimes, I do, but the final call is always mine. If I need some advice, I always turn to my family, since they have so much experience in the movies. I am not the one to sit and strategise. I have always been instinctive when it comes to choosing my films. If I like it on paper, I will do it, if I don’t like it, I won’t do it. If I have to agree to a project, I do it instantly. I don’t dwell over it or have several discussions with people.

Did you have any apprehensions about taking over a franchise, which had another actress, Diana Penty, in the lead?
HPBJ is about these two girls who are called Harpreet Kaur, and thus Happys. Strangely, they both end up in China and that’s where the confusion and comedy of errors unfolds. When they came to me with the script, I couldn’t stop laughing. Because of my Punjabi traits, Happy’s character came naturally to me and I felt at home. I didn’t have to fill anyone’s shoes because these are two different characters. We have the same name and that’s the only commonality. As people, we are completely different. For me, it was about how to carry the story forward. Jassie Gill and I are new entrants to the franchise and I treated it like a completely new film. Also, it helps being a funny person in real life. I am a positive person, who doesn’t take life seriously, and I have a knack of seeing the lighter side of any situation. Also, I have been blessed with my dad’s sense of humour, so all of this really helped.

On social media, you don’t hold back from voicing your opinions and are not diplomatic. Do you think the industry appreciates someone who is safer with his/her words?
If I feel strongly about something, I talk about it. I don’t really care who thinks what. That’s who I am as a person. What you see is what you get. When you get into this profession, a lot of things change anyway, so it’s important to stay true to yourself, which is what I have done right from the beginning. I don’t intend to change that and if anybody has a problem with it, it’s their problem.