Vidyut Jammwal: Calling a woman happy is a praise; calling her thin isn’t

Vidyut Jammwal

Let's open this piece with a personal anecdote - while pursuing a degree in dance years ago, this writer managed to break a personal record by acquiring a body-fat percentage of eight. On paper alone, this is comparable to the physical composition of professional boxers. And while the ability to skilfully leap, sprint and jump had lent a feeling of being as close to superhuman as is possible, it was easy to notice that there were athletic inadequacies.

A conversation with Vidyut Jammwal is reminiscent of a lesson that was learnt back then - while physical fitness is only one part of holistic fitness, physical parameters too are only partially revealing of one's physical health. Bollywood's most athletic may share a similar frame, but there's something about Jammwal's mastery over movement that remains unparalleled. It is also why he seems to be unenthusiastic when addressing questions on fitness, a subject that he self-confessedly "wants to talk about".

"Most reporters ask me ridiculous questions like what I eat, or how I train," he complains. It's understandable, perhaps. The crux of physical fitness could be drawn to the basics - eat, sleep, train, repeat. Simple, but evidently tough for many to master. For, Jammwal, who developed the discipline to adhere to these basics from the age of three, fitness has now emerged to be equally cerebral. We ask him about matters that he'd like to bring to the fore of the discussion, if the mic was in his hand. The mic, indeed, already is. "I started a show called X Rayed on my YouTube channel, where I interviewed the fittest people across the globe, asking them questions that I hoped people would ask me. My biggest take-away from that [experience] is that we all are individual beings. No one can use someone else's formula. If you do that, you will constantly be searching for happiness, and [not find] it. You need to identify your own formula. If I tell people that I eat 12 eggs, and they begin to do so too, they won't become like me, they'll become a diseased version of something. It starts with changing mindsets. We call a woman thin, and [inaccurately] assume that that is a compliment. Tell her she is glowing with happiness, and that's a praise. But [if you applaud] being thin, every girl will want to be that. I've been a professional model, and have seen thin girls be angry all the time because they don't get the food that they desire."

Also Read: Vidyut Jammwal: Playing MMA fighter for the first time on screen

In order to comprehend what that formula is, Jammwal says people must be willing to listen to their bodies. "Our bodies constantly communicate with us. But we don't pay attention to it. Pregnant women have strange cravings. They are [capable] of noticing that they want to consume pickle, and perhaps, some ice-cream. That's how we need to start listening to our bodies too." This, he warns, mustn't be muddled with indiscipline. Contrary to what people may believe, Jammwal says waking up to train is a mental battle he must wage each day. "People think I may be someone who wakes up without an alarm clock and goes to exercise. But that's not the case. I've been disciplined for a long time. Every morning that I wake up to [exercise] I have the same feeling that I did when I was young - that I don't want to go. But I've told myself I will do so the night before, so, I will keep that promise to myself."

The discipline, of course, is something he links back to his training in mixed martial arts. "[MMA] teaches you self-respect. There's a thin line between that, and ego. As a martial artiste, you learn self-respect, and then, kindness. They are both intertwined. Being disciplined is respecting yourself." He agrees, however, that not all who train in the art form are able to reap its benefits, like he did. "The only difference between others and me is that I never stopped doing it. I did it in school and college, when others gave up due to busy schedules. Many of them were good at it."

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Jammwal's position on a list of Top 10 Martial Artists Of The World

Jammwal doles out nutrition tips

1 If you feel like eating something, eat it. Else you'll be depressed, anxious, and nervous.

2 I know many people who go off carbohydrates and say they are losing weight. Carbs are food for the brain. There are so many men in the gym who are constantly irritable [due to this reason]. You need to know how to listen to your body. People also go off salt. They are completed deluded. Without salt, the body will have cramps all day long.

3 It is a myth that protein only comes from meat.

Also Read: Vidyut Jammwal's 'Sanak' gets a release date, to arrive on October 15 on OTT

The Cheats: Mahesh Shetty

What's your cheat meal:
Whatever makes me happy at the moment. I satiate my cravings.

Cheat meal vs cheat day:
I indulge every day because I am not a supporter of strict diets.

Do you compensate for it:
I do, by consuming a large share of healthy meals too. I love fruits, and they, alone, form a big part of my diet.

Inside Malaika Arora's Fridge

Berries
Greek yogurt
Dates
Cheese
Fruits

Fitness Tip That Works for

Tabu
Your fitness goals will change depending on your age. The sensible thing to do is asses where you physically are, and then take a route that suits you, instead of [overworking] yourself.