Q&A WITH DISHA PATANI

Three years after her debut, Disha Patani has grown accustomed to the spotlight of social media, gossip and fitness goals feeds. This year, she appeared in Bharat, her biggest film yet Q. From Bareilly to Bombay, how has the journey been so far?

When I moved to Mumbai, I used to stay in a modest apartment with foreign models who were 16 or 17 years old. They couldn’t speak English, but lived here on their own. That inspired me. I am from Uttarakhand and coming here was a big decision. Beneath the glamorous exterior, I’m still a pahadi girl.

Q. You can do a back handspring, butterfly kick, slap spin tornado. Are you preparing for an action role?

Being fit and healthy is my life’s mantra. Acrobatics help me stick to that and trying new things just adds a twist.

Q. Is the idea to empower women and show them they can match men in martial arts?

Martial arts or any other activity shouldn’t be confined to gender. Itis definitely empowering when girls learn martial arts as it is a part of self-defence training. That’s a necessity. It makes a woman self-sufficient and I’d say it does the same for guys.

Q. Is Tiger Shroff an inspiration when it comes to fitness?

Absolutely! Tiger is an inspiration not just for me, but for the whole country.

Q. You also have a separate Instagram handle for your pets...

They are my home away from home. Jasmine (cat), Bella and Goku (dogs) are my family in Mumbai.