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Baby John movie review: Not-so-great vibes

Baby JohnDirector: KaleesCast: Varun Dhawan, Jackie Shroff, Rajpal Yadav, Keerthy Suresh, Wamiqa Gabbi, Zara Zyanna   I’ve been hooked to the Nain Matakka song from Baby John since it released, and it’s probably the only thing I enjoyed during the 2 hour 41 minute runtime of this film. That and two kickass scenes featuring Rajpal Yadav. He delivers one heartfelt monologue about how perpetrators of crime against women mostly go unpunished in this country. In another, he holds his ground against gundas who ask the ‘comedy’ to get out of their way. “Comedy is serious business” – Yadav’s response extracts applause in the movie hall. What is Baby John about? If you have watched Vijay starrer Theri, then you already know the story. People who have watched Atlee's 2016 Tamil film say this is a frame-to-frame recreation, although Baby John’s makers have denied that. I haven’t watched the original, so I went expecting to see Varun Dhawan try something new – this is his first out-and-out action film. I wish the script and direction was as flawless as Varun’s dance moves in the song Bandobast. Varun Dhawan-Jackie Shroff face off lacks punch Jawan director Atlee has produced this film and there’s the ‘save the women from the goon’ trope in place alright. Jackie Shroff plays a formidable villain – his transformation is remarkable but the age gap between the hero and the baddie is too evident, which makes it difficult to take their clash seriously. With Varun declaring he is a Gandhiwadi cop who comes with ‘Good Vibes Only’, we long for the menace and intensity required to match a heartless goon like Babbar Sher (Jackie Shroff). Unfortunately, that never happens. In Singham Again, the interaction between Ajay Devgn and Jackie Shroff feels sincere – in Baby John, even though Varun executes much more heroic acts, his face-off with Jackie lacks intensity. Rajpal Yadav and Jackie Shroff steal the show In terms of cast, it is Rajpal Yadav and Jackie Shroff who fulfill their parts perfectly. Wamiqa Gabbi and Varun look completely out of place in the Kerala-based sequences. Wamiqa’s character arc is underdeveloped and some scenes featuring her are so abrupt that you’ll wonder how to connect the dots. Zara Zyanna as Varun’s onscreen daughter Khushi is cute, but their scenes aren’t that heartwarming.  Keerthy Suresh is adequate as Meera. Her love story with Varun is enjoyable, but they have no visible chemistry. Varun tries everything – dance, romance, action, fatherly emotions, social and moral wokeness, but Salman Khan steals the claps and whistles in his 5-minute action scene at the end. Shows that the younger stars still have a long way to go. Should you watch Baby John? Welll, there are no Christmas vibes here for sure. It isn’t very kid-friendly either. The long runtime is another bummer. If you have time and money to spare, and don’t mind an average actioner, go for it.

25 December,2024 10:21 AM IST | Mumbai | Bohni Bandyopadhyay
Salman Khan

Traffic eased up for Salman Khan's security convoy on Christmas eve

On Tuesday evening, superstar Salman Khan's car along with his security convoy was spotted travelling in the narrow lanes of Bandra where the actor lives. The streets in Mumbai's Bandra are crowded around this time owing to the festive season that brings visitors to the suburban side of the city. A video that is going viral on social media as traffic is being eased for the actor's convoy.  Salman Khan walks around with tight security ever since bullets were fired at his Bandra home in April this year. He has also received death threats reportedly from gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. In the wake of this, the actor is always escorted by security and travels in a convoy. The actor also travels in a bullet proof vehicle and the security around him was strengthened following the assassination of politician Baba Siddique who shared a close bond with the actor and his family.  On Tuesday night, the actor was headed to the wedding anniversary celebration of his younger brother Arbaaz Khan and his wife Sshura. In the videos doing the rounds, traffic officials and Salman's security team were seen easing up the traffic on the roads for the Khan even as vehicles on the opposite lane moved at a snail's pace.            View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani) Salman Khan's work front  The superstar is currently working on the film 'Sikandar' directed by AR Murugadoss. An 80-second teaser of the film will be unveiled on December 27 which marks the superstar's birthday. According to an independent industry source, "The 80-second teaser of Sikandar, starring Salman Khan, is nothing short of a blockbuster in the making. Fans are ecstatic to witness the megastar return to the big screen. With its powerful visuals and larger-than-life aura, this teaser is already being hailed as one of the most anticipated glimpses of the year. Salman Khan and Sajid Nadiadwala have once again raised the bar for cinematic excellence!" Salman Khan is set to return on Eid 2025 with Sikandar, produced by Sajid Nadiadwala and directed by AR Murugadoss. The film also stars Rashmika Mandanna and will mark her first collaboration with the superstar. 

25 December,2024 10:00 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Sara Ali Khan and Khushi Kapoor

Sara Ali Khan, Khushi Kapoor, Vedang Raina and others arrive in Jamnagar

Gujarat city Jamnagar had become a hotspot earlier this year with the Ambani family hosting a pre-wedding function for Anant and Radhika in the city and getting Rihanna to perform in the town. The function saw the gathering if the who's who of Bollywood as well. Now, once again the young crop of Bollywood was seen arriving at Jamnagar airport for yet another pre-wedding bash.  Khushi Kapoor and her boyfriend actor Vedang Raina arrived at Jamnagar airport on Monday to attend the pre-wedding festivities of Yash Singhal and Kresha Parekh. Orry was also seen along with them. On Tuesday morning, actress Sara Ali Khan was also seen arriving at the airport. Soon-to-be actress Shanaya Kapoor was also seen arriving for the pre-wedding festivities of their dear friends.            View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Pallav Paliwal (@pallav_paliwal) In October, bride-to-be and groom-to-be Kresha and Yash had their engagement ceremony which was attended by several young Bollywood celebrities including Ananya Panday, Nysa Devgn (Ajay Devgn and Kajol's daughter), Khushi and Janhvi Kapoor and many more. Orry who is a social media sensation had shared several pictures from inside the engagement ceremony.  How Jamnagar became a hotspot in 2024  Until March of 2024, most must have not considered Jamnagar as an option for wedding festivities. But that changed with India's richest family hosting their youngest son Anant Ambani's pre-wedding in the Gujarat city.  Apart from noted Bollywood celebrities, the occasion also saw the presence of Meta head Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates among other global dignitaries.  The function saw performance by pop singer Rihanna who even got out of her temporary retirement for the Ambani pre-wedding. Diljit Dosanjh who sells out sold out concerts across the world was also called in to perform. The event also managed to get the three Khans- Salman, Shah Rukh and Aamir- together on stage and perform for the audience. The trio has never done a film together.  Meanwhile, the young crop of Bollywood will be seen ending the year in Jamnagar by celebrating the holy union of their close friends Yash Singhal and Kresh Bajaj. 

25 December,2024 09:31 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Pic/Instagram

It's a wrap for Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan's 'Housefull 5'

The makers of Housefull 5 have announced the completion of the shoot and shared stunning pictures from the sets featuring the entire cast of the film. Taking to their Instagram handle on Tuesday, Nadiadwala Grandson shared a series of photos with the entire Housefull 5 cast and crew. In the photos, the comedy film's ensemble, which includes Abhishek Bachchan, Riteish Deshmukh, Fardeen Khan, Sonam Bajwa, Jacqueline Fernandez, Chunky Panday, Shreyas Talpade, and others, can be seen. In the first image, cakes and plates are seen on the table as the crew celebrates the milestone. The photographs clearly capture the enthusiasm of the entire cast and crew. Along with the pictures, Nadiadwala added a caption that read, "That's a wrap for Housefull 5! A rollercoaster of emotions, filled with laughter, hard work, and unforgettable memories. Get ready to laugh your hearts out on 6th June 2025 in cinemas near you!! #SajidNadiadwala's #Housefull5.. Directed by @tarun_mansukhani" Check out the post:           View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Nadiadwala Grandson (@nadiadwalagrandson) Helmed by Tarun Mansukhani, Housefull 5 will be released in theatres on June 6, 2025. The film is backed by Sajid Nadiadwala. Housefull 5 marks the first-ever franchise film in Indian cinema to have five instalments. The first part of Housefull was released in 2010 and starred Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Lara Dutta, Deepika Padukone, Arjun Rampal, and Boman Irani. The film was declared a hit, followed by another successful sequel, Housefull 2, which was released in 2012 and featured a stellar cast of Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, John Abraham, Shreyas Talpade, Jacqueline Fernandez, Rishi Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor, Mithun Chakraborty, and Asin. Both parts were directed by Sajid Khan. Sajid Khan was replaced by director duo Sajid Samji and Farhad Samji for the third instalment of the film, which was released in 2016. Director Farhad Samji helmed the fourth part of the franchise, which was a reincarnation comedy film. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

25 December,2024 08:08 AM IST | Mumbai | ANI
Saqib Saleem

Saqib Saleem celebrates 3 years of ‘83’ with BTS moments from the film

Actor Saqib Saleem is celebrating 3 years of his sports biopic ‘83’. The actor took to his Instagram on Tuesday, and shared BTS moments from the film. He wrote in the caption, “Made so many memories on this one. Some lifelong friendships, some unforgettable times, not tagging anyone cos everyone from this team is tagged in my heart. 3 years to ‘83’”.           View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Saqib Saleem (@saqibsaleem) ‘83’, which was helmed by Kabir Khan, told the story behind India’s World Cup winning squad of 1983. The Indian cricket team, spearheaded by Kapil Dev, squared off against the mighty West Indies in the 1983 World Cup Finals. Interestingly, Neena Gupta, who also stars in the film, dated Viv Richards, the cricketing legend, who was part of the 1983 West Indies squad under the captaincy of Sir Clive Hubert Lloyd. Sir Richards used to bat at number three and also a Right-arm medium/off break bowler. In the finals, he scored 33 runs from 28 balls with a strike rate of 117.85 before he was caught by Kapil Dev on Madan Lal’s delivery. However, he proved expensive with the ball as he conceded 8 runs in the only over that he bowled. Neena and Richards started dating in the late 80s and have a daughter, Masaba Gupta, who is one of India’s leading courtiers and an actor having made her debut with the Netflix original, ‘Masaba Masaba’. The film was originally scheduled to release in cinemas in April 2020, but was pushed from its release date several times due to the casting and pre-production works that delayed filming, and also due to the Covid-19 pandemic in India, resulting in the film being delayed until December 2021. It premiered at the Red Sea International Film Festival on 15 December and released worldwide on 24 December 2021 in conventional 2D and 3D formats, distributed by PVR Pictures in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam languages, apart from the original version. However, the film was unsuccessful at the box office. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

25 December,2024 08:08 AM IST | Mumbai | IANS
Sonam Kapoor

Sonam Kapoor shares adorable birthday wish for her father Anil Kapoor

As Bollywood star Anil Kapoor celebrates his 68th birthday today, his daughter and actor Sonam Kapoor shared an adorable birthday wish for him. She also posted a throwback picture of her father. In the first picture, Anil Kapoor is seen happily playing with his grandson Vaayu and along with the still, Sonam wrote, "Love You." Another picture is from her childhood days in which her father was seen carrying her in his arms. "The best dad in the world", she wrote in the caption. In the last picture, Anil Kapoor dressed in a grey suit can be seen posing happily with, Sonam, who wore a black dress. The actress wishes her father on a special day, mentioning, "Happy happy birthday @anilkapoor" On Anil Kapoor's birthday, the makers shared the first look of his upcoming film 'Subedaar'. The poster shows the intense look of the 'Animal' actor, giving fans a glimpse of his intriguing role.Sharing the announcement on Instagram, the makers wrote, "A special day calls for a special announcement! #Subedaar, new movie, coming soon." 'Subedaar' features Radhikka Madan as Shyama, the daughter of Anil Kapoor's character, Subedaar Arjun Maurya. The film is directed by Suresh Triveni, who previously directed T-Series' comedy-drama 'Tumhari Sulu' (2017) and 'Jalsa', both headlined by Vidya Balan. Vikram Malhotra, Suresh Triveni, and Anil Kapoor serve as producers for the film. In this action drama, 'Subedaar' Arjun Singh grapples with civilian life, navigating a strained relationship with his daughter, and societal dysfunction. The man who once fought for the nation must now fight enemies within to protect his home and family," read the official synopsis of the project. 'Subedaar' is a joint production by Opening Image Films and Anil Kapoor Film and Communication Network (AKFCN), with Vikram Malhotra, Anil Kapoor, and Suresh Triveni as producers. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

25 December,2024 07:53 AM IST | Mumbai | ANI
Karisma Kapoor. Pic/Yogen Shah

Karisma Kapoor recalls working with Shyam Benegal

Actor Karisma Kapoor recalled working with veteran filmmaker Shyam Benegal in the 2001 film Zubeidaa. Calling him her "second grandfather," she talked about the dedication and extraordinary directorial skills of the late director. Ace filmmaker and screenwriter Shyam Benegal, a legend in Indian cinema, died on Monday at the age of 90. He breathed his last at 6:38 pm at Wockhardt Hospital in Mumbai, where he was being treated for chronic kidney disease. "Shyamji's legacy is eternal. He was like a second grandfather to me. His dedication to authentic storytelling and his courage to explore themes of identity and human struggles will continue to inspire generations," Kapoor said in a statement shared by her team. 'Zubeidaa' is a 2001 film directed by Shyam Benegal and written by Khalid Mohammed. It stars Karisma Kapoor, Rekha, Manoj Bajpayee, Surekha Sikri, Rajit Kapoor, Lillete Dubey, Amrish Puri, Farida Jalal, and Shakti Kapoor. The film recieved the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi and won Karisma Kapoor a Filmfare Award for Best Actress (Critics). Karisma shared that working with the ace director was an "enriching experience" of her life and she appreciated him for going into minute details while making the project. "Working with him on 'Zubeidaa' was one of the most enriching experiences of my life. He had an extraordinary eye for detail, from insisting on sync sound to using real jewellery and costumes lent by the royal family. I fondly remember bonding with him over movies, music, and food; it was at his home that I tasted 'khow suey' for the first time. Indian cinema will forever be indebted to his genius, and I feel incredibly honoured to have been able to work so closely with one of the greatest maestros of Indian cinema," she added. Kareena Kapoor also took to Instagram stories, where she shared a poster of 'Zubeidaa' starring her sister Karisma Kapoor. She captioned the picture with a heart emoji. Benegal's films left an indelible impact on audiences, addressing relevant socio-political themes with remarkable depth. His most recent project, Mujib: The Making of a Nation (2023), was an India-Bangladesh co-production depicting the life of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh. Shot extensively in both countries during the COVID-19 pandemic, the biographical film added another feather to his illustrious cap. In addition to feature films, Benegal contributed significantly to documentaries and television. His iconic series Bharat Ek Khoj and Samvidhaan remain benchmarks in Indian television. He also served as the Director of the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) from 1980 to 1986 and was a member of prestigious juries, including the 14th Moscow International Film Festival (1985) and the 35th National Film Awards (1988).

25 December,2024 07:51 AM IST | Mumbai | ANI
Sunny Leone, Diljit Dosanjh, Varun Dhawan

Have you heard? Sunny Deol, Diljit Dosanjh's Border 2 goes on floors

War cry It’s finally happening. In June, Sunny Deol announced that he would headline Border 2, over 27 years after he led the 1997 blockbuster, Border. Since then, there has been much interest in the war drama’s sequel. Yesterday, director Anurag Singh took the ambitious project on floors. He shared a photo of the clapperboard on social media, marking the start of the shoot. Crafting the sequel to filmmaker JP Dutta’s much-loved Border is quite a big responsibility, but if Kesari (2019) was any indication, Anurag has a knack for war dramas. And the director has put together quite an eclectic cast—read Sunny, Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh and Ahan Shetty. All hail the queen Many of us drooled over Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s exquisite lehengas when watching Jodhaa Akbar (2008). Now, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have acknowledged what Hindi cinema fans knew for long—that filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker and designer Neeta Lulla have an eye for detail. On Tuesday, the Academy posted a video of Aishwarya’s iconic wedding outfit from the period drama and announced that it would be part of the Academy Museum’s Color in Motion exhibition. It praised couturier Lulla’s creation that displayed India’s centuries-old craftsmanship, vibrant zardozi, and had a peacock made of jewels. Cross-cultural romance If chachu Anil Kapoor’s teaser was out, niece Janhvi  Kapoor unveiled the first look of her next, Param Sundari. In October, mid-day was the first to report that the Janhvi and Sidharth Malhotra-starrer explored a north-south love story (When north meets south, Oct 27). Sure enough, sharing the poster, the makers introduced Sidharth’s character as ‘North ka munda—Param’ and Janhvi’s as ‘South ki Sundari’. Is Tushar Jalota’s directorial venture reminding anyone of Alia Bhatt and Arjun Kapoor’s 2 States (2014)? Well, we can only give our verdict  when the rom-com hits the theatres on July 25.

25 December,2024 07:37 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist Team
Kesav Binoy Kiran in the film

'Girls Will Be Girls' actor Kesav Binoy Kiran on his role in Shuchi Talati film

One of the first things director Shuchi Talati told debutant actor Kesav Binoy Kiran about Girls Will Be Girls was that his character Srinivas is neither a good or bad guy. “There are no labels on him,” says the actor.  Girls Will Be Girls explores themes of love, sexuality, and generational conflict through the journeys of the teen-aged Mira and her mother Anila, played by Preeti Panigrahi and Kani Kusruti respectively. Kiran’s character serves as a catalyst for change in the protagonist’s life. “I played Sri as a boy who thinks he is a man. He liked having a motherly figure like Anila because he doesn’t have that in his life. The script was layered, and every character had so much depth,” marvels Kiran. For the actor, what stood out about Girls Will Be Girls—which won two awards at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival—was its depiction of male characters. He believes his character challenges the stereotypical representation of young men in pop culture. “‘Men will be men’ is used to excuse men for their deeds, but this film’s title turns the idea on its head. The film shows women as their own people, and it shows Sri as charming yet vulnerable. He isn’t the stereotypical young man you see in pop culture. Shuchi crafted him with care, allowing me to explore what it means to be a young man navigating his own insecurities,” he states.

25 December,2024 07:20 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar Basu
Akshay Kumar, Jacqueliene Fernandez, Disha Patani, Suniel Shetty, Raveena Tandon

Welcome To The Jungle: 34 actors of Akshay Kumar-starrer to shoot 3 songs in UAE

Foreign shores are calling the team of Welcome to the Jungle. The ensemble comedy—which boasts 34 actors, including Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Raveena Tandon, Arshad Warsi, Jacqueliene Fernandez, Disha Patani, Jackie Shroff and many more—had gone on floors in Mumbai in April, followed by another marathon schedule in August and September. Now, director Ahmed Khan is gearing up for a 15-day stint in the United Arab Emirates, during which three songs will be canned. Ahmed Khan The director has pencilled in February for the international leg. A source from the unit tells us, “The comedy has five songs, of which one has already been shot in India. In the February leg, Ahmed plans to film three tracks and a few comedy scenes in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Ras Al-Khaimah, which are known for their picturesque locales and golden deserts. The three songs will feature all 34 actors, and hence, will demand a lot of coordination. It has been a tough film to shoot as it required combination dates of many actors.” There will be little rest for the team after the UAE stint. By mid-2025, the cast and crew will head out again, this time to Kashmir, where Khan will conduct the final leg of the laugh riot. Originally, the unit was to shoot the second schedule in the glaciers and jungles of Kashmir in August. The source adds, “But at that time, the team couldn’t travel to the Valley due to security reasons. So, Ahmed had the set of a Kashmiri village constructed at the Golden Tobacco Studios in Vile Parle, where the actors filmed a chunk of their portions. This time, Akshay & Co will fly to Kashmir to shoot some action sequences that are set in the jungle. These portions are crucial to the narrative, and form the foundation for the film’s title.” After the 15-day schedule, it will be a wrap on the third instalment in the Welcome franchise. Confirming the development, director Khan tells mid-day, “We are to kick-start a mega schedule in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which will play an important role in the movie. The audiences can expect a cinematic extravaganza. The team is already [gearing up] to travel for the recce.”

25 December,2024 07:17 AM IST | Mumbai | Upala KBR
Sunidhi Chauhan

Sunidhi Chauhan: ‘I haven’t had a chapati in years’

It wasn’t until Sunidhi Chauhan welcomed her son Tegh in 2018 that she found merit in a statement that had often been said to her. “They’d say, post-pregnancy, a woman acquires a body that seems new; one that can be moulded as she desires. Back then, I did not believe it.” Her stage shows, social media posts, and press outings, however, suggest that Sunidhi 2.0, as internet users have dubbed her, was able to pull off a physical transformation that is inarguably enviable. In her most recent musical piece, she got Sanya Malhotra—easily among the fittest actors of the industry—to rub shoulders with her in a glamorous dance number that had Chauhan, 41, and Malhotra, 32 sport bikini-like attires that put their svelte frames on display. Sure, it is their physical appearance that was most talked about, but Chauhan can’t help but celebrate the multi-fold benefits she has derived from her new routine. “While shooting that song, I recall that I could dance for hours without tiring. The other dancers were getting tired, and would ask for breaks, but I could keep going for as long as three hours. [My choreographer] would say, ‘I’ve never seen a person like you. While others want a 30-minute break after a 30-minute rehearsal, you only need one for five minutes.’ I was shocked to notice that I had more energy when I was eating less. Eating right is so important!” In a bid to establish her “commitment to routine”, her fitness trainer Viraj Sarmalkar, seated beside us, chimes in to share that Chauhan had shed five kilos in 10 days to film the song. It is one among the multiple statements he makes in this conversation that take us by surprise. “She can lift 90 kilos, squat with 70 kilos on her back, and can pull off a few unassisted pull-ups. At one time, she completed a five-kilometre run in 25 minutes,” he shares. While these statistics may seem incomprehensible for the layman, they’re certain to make a fitness buff sit up and take note. Sure, these achievements couldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t for the commitment that Sarmalkar previously elaborated on. The singer reveals that even during her recently conducted Australia tour, she’d often return to Mumbai and pack in sessions with him. “Often, I’d train with him virtually while I was in Australia too. I’ve been fit before, but there’s something different now. Maybe it’s the kind of clothes that I’m wearing now; it was not like that before. Perhaps it’s the social media boom, or maybe it’s simply the fact that I am [carefree] after becoming a mother.” Food for thought? Prod her about the most vital lessons she’s learnt about fitness, and Chauhan speaks of the importance of discipline, consistency, and commitment. “And keep your mouth shut,” says her trainer, “as far as the food is concerned,” she completes his sentence. Chauhan, we learn, is indeed keeping her mouth shut, and, according to Sarmalkar, consuming less than 1,200 calories a day. He makes a case for a calorie-restricted diet, as Chauhan reveals she adheres to the principles of intermittent fasting. “The motivation to fast was to not only lose weight, but also give the intestines rest. [Our ancestors] would hunt and eat, and even go without food for days. With evolution, we adopted the pattern of eating three times in a day. It was never a requirement. All the snacking that we do is not good. At times, when I’m travelling, or shooting long hours, I’ve [gone without food for] 24 hours. I would never be hungry because my work would [keep me occupied]. Today, [fasting for] 16 hours is [not tough]. I get better sleep, and have better concentration.” Chauhan begins her day with eggs, and, when she’s permitted, a slice of sourdough bread. “Ideally, you must break the fast with protein and fat. They are more important than carbohydrates. If I am hungry, I grab a meal. I only crave food at around 5 pm. In the interim, I may have nuts, which keep me full for another three hours. On the days that I lift weights, which is twice or thrice a week, I also have a protein shake. My last meal is at 7.30 pm.”  Eat, train, repeat In a world where the use of semaglutide drugs like Ozempic are considered the easiest way to beat obesity, Chauhan enjoys the rumours linked with her name. When she heard that individuals within her industry were claiming she had undergone surgery to shed the 21 kilos she gained during her pregnancy, she was elated. “It’s the best compliment I could have got,” she smiles, going on to add that her battle with the bulge is one she has waged on more occasions than one. When she first met her trainer in 2008 at the behest of her singer-friend Aditya Narayan, she recalls having shed 15 kilos in six months. Over the years, she has subsequently gained and lost weight, with each effort making her certain that she could always find her way back to her original fitness levels. “Training is part of my system now,” she says, adding that a statement shared by her trainer has stayed with her over the years. “He says, [exercising] is like paying rent. It’s an ‘everyday’ thing. When I am fit, I find a notable difference in my performances. I feel light, and can stretch myself a bit more. Today, before a show, regardless of how I am feeling, and even if I am unwell, I will always do a bout of cardio. It makes me deliver better.”

25 December,2024 07:11 AM IST | Mumbai | Sonia Lulla
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