Bhumi Pardner Gained and Then Lost 30kg From Fat to Fit

Bhumi Pednekar chose the role of an overweight married woman as her launchpad in a size-obsessed industry. The experience of piling on--and eventually losing the weight has taught her some valuable lessons.

What makes a good Bollywood debut. A glamorous, big-banner movie with a handful of song-and dance numbers thrown in, a fair number of designer costume changes and ample opportunities to show off the midriff and a lissome frame?

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Not for Bhumi Pednekar. The young woman signed up for a role that demanded she bulk up--she was heavier by nearly 30 kilos--drape staid saris and play the part of an overweight housewife trying to earn the affection of her husband in her launchpad Dum Laga ke Haisha (DLH).

It was the best debut I could've ever made, says the 25-year-old who had to disconnect herself from her "hardcore Mumbai" life and plug into Haridwar of the 1990s. "I'm in love with the film and have watched it innumerable times! There wasn't a moment's doubt about the role, I was being paid to do two things I love, eat and act!" says Bhumi, recalling the time she woke up to butter chicken for breakfast, "I was being pampered and fed all the time.

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The foodie in me was thrilled, and the actor in me wanted to do it right." Watching their young daughter take that path wasn't easy for her family, especially her mom who, Bhumi reveals, is the gatekeeper of the family's health. She's the reason why the girls--Bhumi and her younger sibling--love a good meal but never grew into the "Coke and chocolate kids".

So here she was, sending her academically leaning upper middle class parents into a mild state of shock. When girls her age were preoccupied with weight loss programmes and trying to get into skinny jeans, she was wolfing down double a cheese pizza. "I was never a skinny girl and was tinkering with the idea of knocking off some weight to get fitter. Along came DLH and I was blown away by the script. It was a gamble, but I'd never give up on an opportunity like this. I didn't have a doubt about Sandhya," she says of her role.

She was auditioning aspirants for the role of Sandhya when the YRF bosses chose her to play the role. "When I signed, I knew I was going to make a career of it. Every girl thinks about losing weight, but I now know how much work it takes to gain weight! I was happy doing it, but that doesn't mean I endorse it.

But let weight not get in the way of how you feel about yourself. I feel transformed by the experience, it has taught me so much more about myself!" says Bhumi of the role that revealed her own stubborn streak, "I did everything in my power to become Sandhya Verma. Later, when it was time to shed the kilos, I worked hard on that too."

The shooting was completed in March 2014, and Bhumi waited until December for reshoots and patchwork. As soon as she got the green signal, she shifted gears.

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Butter chicken was out of her life. A few months down, by the time the film released, she'd lost 10 kg. "Post that, I went Ninja," she says, launching into the details of the homegrown diet plan she devised with the help of her mother (see box). She took the help of a trainer to bolster her diet with a robust fitness regime.

"I had a lot of weight on my body, so I could not launch into high intensity exercises right away. I had to condition my joints and prep myself for it."

Her routine included a variety of workouts, from running, working on machines, functional training, swimming and Bollywood dancing. "I like to keep it interesting with a lot of variety. Even today, I dance to Bollywood tunes, it is high intensity cardio and a great way to tone up," she says.

She's aware her weight loss story is a point of conversation, possibly an 'inspiration' for many young women. But Bhumi is careful not to lump the idea of being thin with being fit.

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"In real life, I am not inspired by the idea of being a certain size. I've never been a skinny girl. Yes, if a role requires it, I might work towards it." She experienced first-hand the effects of excess weight.

"When I was overweight, my back hurt and my ankles would swell up. It wasn't the weight itself but the problems it brought along that bothered me. What I love about my current size is that I am comfortable, not bloated or achy," she says. The excess 30 kilos did not dent her body image though.

"When I looked in the mirror I thought I looked stunning! My life had not changed, I got enough attention. I was very happy and attracted good energy. I wore the clothes I wanted to, partied and had fun." That unflinching confidence, she says, is what her parents have instilled in her. "They've always been supportive of our choices, giving us no real reason to rebel," she laughs.

Life on the other side of the size-divide threw a few unsavory moments, when people who did not know she was preparing for a role would come up and ask her if she was depressed or unhappy. "That hit me! The experience was an eye-opener. I could sense a shift in the way people looked at me, there were some jokes too. But I was so full of myself that it didn't bother me."

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Her roller-coaster ride has taught her another very valuable lesson, "If you want something, don't wait for a Monday to begin working for it. Just show up." When it was time to drop the weight, that's exactly what she did. "I just woke up each day and showed up at the gym. I decided to never break this resolve, so there were days when I would merely take a steam and sauna and potter around. But I was there, soaking in the energy.

There's no dearth of excuses when the motivation is down. I knew I had to push past this." As the resolve stiffened, she got resourceful. Dance replaced regular cardio. Refined was subbed with whole. Always tech-saavy, she turned to the Internet and social media, following blogs and Instagram posts for new ideas.

"There is just so much that I have gained--I've walked away with beautiful friendships, I've adopted good eating practices and love my workouts. Weight is such a problem in everyone's life, I think I'm over it now!"

Food Truths
My mother has always been careful about what we ate, so when I was trying to drop kilos, she got even more innovative! We made a meal plan, of course mom worked harder on it. I love good food and was happiest when I was gaining weight.

On the other hand, eating to lose weight has helped me find joy in every morsel, to enjoy and appreciate the diversity on my platter, to sub refined and processed foods with whole grains and greens. This experience has changed the kitchen rules, and the way we cook.

We love our salads and experiment with home-made marinades using various cold-pressed oils. Hummus has been my saviour, I've used it in every form, on sandwiches, rotis, with veggies and meat. When I started on this weight loss journey, I gave up white sugar, refined flour, refined oils and alcohol (red wine is allowed once in a while).

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I switched to traditional foods, we subbed sugar with jaggery. We've always baked our own bread with whole flour. Now my rotis have less wheat and more wholegrain flour made of ragi, amaranth and chana.

Daily Diet
I would begin the day with 50 ml of aloe vera juice consumed on an empty stomach. If the plant is growing in a polluted area, do not use it. Preferably, buy organic aloe vera juice. Portion control is important. I even add ghee to my roti, but in moderation.

For breakfast, I eat 3 eggs-white omlette with herbs and multi-grain bread. Or granola with skimmed milk. This is followed by a workout after an hour or so. Post-workout I eat a protein-rich snack, like egg whites or chana, chicken, fish with some greens.

I love a good Indian meal, so at lunchtime I eat a big bowl of sabzi, 2 small rotis made with a blend of ragi, soya, chana and amaranth flour, and a big glass of buttermilk.

I snack on seasonal fruits, usually a bowl of papaya or an apple, and sip on green tea. Around 8 pm I have a bowl of salad with different kinds of greens, seeds, nuts and cold pressed oil. Then at 9, I dine on grilled chicken or fish with brown rice.