There was a particularly heart wrenching scene in The Dirty Picture, in which Silk, who has abused her body after being rejected in love, struggles to fit into her clothes. Vidya Balan, who had put on 12 kilos to essay the role of the buxom actress, looked chillingly convincing as her love handles and jelly belly refused to be contained by the tight clothes.
The Dirty Picture was followed by Kahaani (where Vidya played a pleasantly plump pregnant woman) and recently Ghanchakkar, but the weight stuck on to Vidya as did the tag of one of the most successful actresses.
Fresh from sweeping almost all the major awards, the actress spoke to TOI about her determination to lose that extra flab and fit into yet another challenging role.
At a Bandra cafe, taking dainty sips of her black coffee and nibbling on cracked wheat and ragi with pepper, she looks radiant and as we realise, slimmer than we had last seen her. And then we learn: Vidya has already lost 9.5 kg in less than five weeks.
“It’s fun if you can use your body as a tool to bring a character alive on the big screen,” she smiles. “My next priority is Shaadi Ke Side Effects,” said the actress who marriage is only eight weeks old. In the film, ironically Vidya is paired with a lean Farhan Akhtar. And the actress tells us, she has to lose another 2.5 kilos to play her latest part convincingly. “I am feeling much lighter. Isn’t it great to get into different roles that demand different body structures?” she asks.
Though workshops are underway for Shaadi Ke Side Effects, Vidya says she still has 20 days to get her desired shape. “I am working out with my trainer Vilayat Hussain, who knows me from the days of Paa. Except for Kahaani, we have always worked together,” she says.
Taking us through her weight-loss programme, Vidya says her meals are all about roti-subzi-daal, even rice, but with no oil. “I am not starving or dieting, but eating small meals at short intervals,” she says, adding that she has also struck off cheese and ice-creams from her food chart.
There is also a non-negotiable gym routine. After waking up at her new abode in Juhu – which she describes as a “wonderful experience”- Vidya hops across to her parents’ place in Khar to use the gym there. “This way, I get the best of both worlds,” she chirps.
A typical gym session for Vidya stretches from 45 minutes to an hour and is a combination of cardio and weight training exercises. Most importantly, she tops up her new lifestyle with plenty of uninterrupted sleep. “I am not stressed, and thankfully I can sleep peacefully for at least eight hours every day,” she smiles and adds, “But I also my curves. There are not going anywhere!”