Drastic transformation for a role may affect health, says Kriti

Many actors have gone the extra mile in terms of physical transformation to justify a role. The characters Kriti Sanon has essayed so far didn’t really require drastic transitions. However, if a role of that stature is offered to her, she is game to go that length for it. She says,“We starve ourselves to look thin, so if I get a role where I have to look chubbier then I would be up for it. For instance, in Raabta (2017), I had to look quite toned for the warrior part. My midriff was visible all the time and that is where I usually gain weight. So, I was on a high protein, low carb diet. I had light meals at night and worked out twice a day. Then for Bareilly Ki Barfi (2017), the DOP told me to get some cheeks. So my breakfast would have sweets and jalebi.”

But wouldn’t going through extreme measures to transform the body also affect subsequent characters that an actor would play? “If I have to become double my size that can be a bit of an issue because I’d be shooting one or two films back-to-back. But if it’s a film of that stature, you have to allocate a certain number of days and look a certain way. Then you can’t be shooting anything else at that time. It’s important to gain or lose weight over a period of time than doing it quickly. When you do something very drastic, that may affect your health,” she says.

Kriti says that she doesn’t like working out much. “I am in the business where I realise it’s important to do some form of exercise. But I am blessed and I hope I stay like this. And not start gaining weight like Punjabi girls after a certain age (laughs). There are times when I start putting on weight on all the wrong areas. If I’ve to be in a certain shape for a particular shoot, then I do have to cut down on what I eat, and make sure at least my meals at night are lighter,” she says.

Talking about her personal fitness regimen, the actor says that weight training suits her body. “I am someone who loses weight very fast. So when I lose weight, it shows on my face, which doesn’t really look pleasant. I like a little weight on my face, as I have strong cheekbones . But I lose weight faster, so I don’t do cardio normally. I also love Pilates and dance; these are a great form of workout. Otherwise, I get bored with gym,” she says.

Kriti Sanon