Bhumi Pednekar, who made a significant impact on Bollywood with her debut in ‘Dum Laga Ke Haisha’ at a time when she weighed around 100 kg, has since become an inspiration for her dedication to fitness and self-love. However, she candidly admits that overcoming body image issues is an ongoing process, emphasizing the importance of self-acceptance.
In an exclusive interview with Hindustan Times, Bhumi spoke about her physical transformations, both on and off-screen. She shared that she still considers herself a work in progress and detailed how she manages to stay unfazed by negative comments about her appearance.
“I feel that [body image issues] doesn’t ever go right,” Bhumi remarked, reflecting on her journey. “That’s because we have grown up in an environment where we were subjected to different kinds of comments. But you have to learn to love yourself, and that’s a process.”
She further elaborated on her personal experience, stating, “It has taken me a lot of time, and I still have days where I feel heartbroken about things. But the point is that I have a routine that keeps me in check. For me, physical health is also about mental health. It’s just not about how you look externally.”
Bhumi highlighted the internal aspect of well-being: “It is also about how you feel internally. Every time when I am in a workout routine, I’m spending a lot of time telling myself that I’m doing this for my body. I’m doing this because I have to be the fittest. I want to live longer. It is where I get a lot of mental clarity every time when I am on a run or I’m walking. That’s the only way that you can take care of yourself,” shared Bhumi, who was recently present at the relaunch of a Skechers store in New Delhi.
When asked about her definition of fitness, Bhumi shared, “Fitness is just loving yourself. There’s nothing more to it. If you love yourself, you will be fit.” Her most recent appearance was in the Netflix web series, ‘The Royals’, alongside Ishaan Khatter.
Addressing how she handles online trolls, Bhumi acknowledged that she frequently faces criticism regarding her physical transformation and appearance. However, she remains remarkably unfazed.
“Well, the thing is that I have seen both ends of the spectrum. There was a time when I was 96 kg and there were opinions then. Now, I look different and there are opinions now,” the actor stated.
Bhumi concluded by saying, “The point is that I’m in the public eye, and it’s okay. I am for the audience. Everything that they say, I listen to, but by the end of it, I do what’s right for me.”
Regarding her upcoming projects, Bhumi mentioned that while she cannot reveal specific details yet, audiences can expect to see her on screen three to four times next year.