Former Bollywood actor and founder of NGO No More Tears, Somy Ali, started her Bollywood journey at the age of 16, and says that during her time it was mandatory for an actor to be fit. She even recalled how many actors took inspiration from Sanjay Dutt and Suniel Shetty and started following their exercise routine for a fit body.
“To be completely candid, staying fit was something I realized was not only required, but mandatory when I entered the Hindi film industry as a teenager. For me, a healthy lifestyle is intertwined with a healthy mind. Hence, it’s pretty much entangled in my daily routine via my workouts even now. I do recall my first influence on wellness was when I faced the camera for the first time with Sanju and observed how fit he was, which led to many male actors adapting to his weight lifting regimen,” she said.
She added, “I saw the same with Suniel, and then many followed the same route. In fact, male actors would do sit-ups and lift weights right before giving a shot, and this was all in the 90’s. However, with the female actors and my contemporaries at that time, I saw more of a diet regimen than exercising. I remember seeing actresses going on popcorn, watermelon, and all sorts of diets to drop their weight, and some even starving themselves. Of course, with time, all of us have realized that 80% of what we eat and 20% of exercise is what keeps us healthy and fit.”
Somy pointed out that people now consume more of what is healthy and even indulge in working out to keep themselves fit. “We are moving in the right direction, and for someone like Hrithik Roshan, Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Sushmita Sen, working extremely hard and looking absolutely fit is something that one should be proud of and look up to as fitness role models. Mark Wahlberg wakes up daily at 4am to do a two-hour workout to date, and his body speaks for itself, as do the ones I have mentioned above,” she said, adding they all look fantastic and work to an unimaginable level to have the bodies they have.
However, she mentioned, “Let’s remember that our metabolism begins to slow down at age 30, which is when we have to be really on top of our game of workouts and diets.”
Somy also highlighted that sugar is our worst enemy, but there are good fats and a certain amount of carbs that our bodies do need to have the energy to support the workouts we choose to do. “For me, weightlifting is the route because it builds muscle and burns fat. I detest cardio, but I also know that at my age, in spite of lifting weights, I have to mix it up with cardio, be it on a treadmill or walking up the stairs,” she said.
She also spoke about the use of steroids and said, “I think one has to be existing in a cave if they don’t realize how harmful the use of steroids is to their bodies, yet I know many athletes and actors continue the use of steroids. Primarily because they are seeking immediate gratification, however, this is terribly harmful in the long run as it can cause heart attacks, strokes, liver tumors, and kidney failures.”
Along with sugar, she also avoids bread and rice as much as she can, but she does give herself a break with a cheat day and enjoys food that she would not eat on a regular basis. She added, “A great deal also has to do with an individual’s genetics and what kind of regimen works for them and what doesn’t. We all have different body types, and it takes trying out countless meals and workout routines to comprehend what works and what doesn’t for each of us. I have a specific routine that I know works for me, but it may not work for another woman. Thus, it varies and holds many elements such as our genes, our height, our eating habits, and essentially everything balanced out rather than an extreme.”
Having said that, Somy also mentioned that social media has sold the idea that slim is the new healthy and shared that it is very dangerous for the youth as they might take the route of being anorexic or bulimic in order to be a size zero. “This is called body dysmorphic disorder, and I strongly hold the social media platforms responsible for instilling all sorts of rubbish in our youth so they can look a certain way. There is far too much pressure, and above all, it’s irrational pressure because all bodies are different, thus, one needs to consult a nutritionist rather than starving themselves,” she said.
“I am a huge proponent of a healthy diet and exercise, but unfortunately many are unable to make a distinction between working out and eating right as opposed to starving themselves. All this stems from what is depicted on social media platforms, and it’s not at all safe for our youth.”
