Like Hollywood, India’s movie industry is demanding of its stars. Perfect bodies, flawless skin, an abundance of charm and a life without scandal.
And as is the case with Hollywood, the paparazzi is always on alert, eager to catch a bad hair day, or an extra few kilos added to the thighs. “People think celebrities are simply blessed with good bodies and great looks, but it takes a lot of hard work,” says Shilpa Shetty, one of Bollywood’s hottest leading ladies, who is always immaculately groomed — even when wearing jeans and a cricket supporter’s T-shirt.
The 33-year-old model-turned-actress and this month’s Shape cover girl is a perfect size 32, which she attributes to a regular and varied exercise routine — including weight training and cardio — and a balanced, healthy eating plan. “Any achievement takes a certain amount of dedication; there’s no free ride,” she says.
Shilpa’s celebrity status exploded in the West two years ago when she won the BBC’s Big Brother reality-TV show with 63 percent of the votes, and became embroiled in a race row with fellow parti-cipant Jade Goody, who died recently of cervical cancer. “We patched up and became friends. I’ve learnt a lot from her, she’s been brave. I salute her for that,” Shilpa said in a recent newspaper interview.
She attracted more controversy when a Rajasthan court threatened to prosecute her because heart-throb Richard Gere had kissed her on the cheek. The case is still pending, but Shilpa is reluctant to attach too much importance to it, attributing the outcry to the “lunatic fringe”.
Having grown up in a sporty family and participated in professional volleyball, Shilpa finds exercise enjoyable, though finding the time between movies and international travel can be a challenge. “At home in Mumbai I have a gym and work out with a personal trainer. When I’ve done 10 reps and say ‘enough’ he says, ‘no, keep going’. It’s important to have someone to keep pushing you.”
Maintaining an exercise routine while travelling can be tough but shopping really helps, says Shilpa, a broad smile lighting her face. “I’m a shopaholic and when I do so much walking, the weight drops off.” She commutes regularly between Mumbai and London, where her fiancm, businessman Raj Kundra, lives.
She’s also a big foodie. “All the members of my family are, though we have taught our cook to use less oil in the dishes as Indian food can be very heavy in oil. We eat more salads now and I try to eat at least an hour or two before going to bed to give my food time to digest.” To satisfy her sweet tooth, Shilpa allows herself one day a week of eating absolutely anything. “It works for me, but it’s important to remember that you need to work with your body. What works for one person isn’t necessarily the right thing for another,” she says.
Shilpa starred in her first movie at the age of 17 and, unusually for celluloid stars celebrated for their beauty, has managed to secure leading roles for 18 years. “I look after myself though,” she says. “I’m a spa junkie and believe in regular treatments. Right now, I’m in my prime physically, but I know that cannot last without effort”.
Knowing that flawless beauty is not forever, Shilpa has started to cut back on movie roles in order to develop business interests. In addition to being the fiercely proud co-owner of the Rajasthan Royals, one of India’s top Twenty20 cricket teams, she recently launched several medi-spas in Mumbai.
For her own wellbeing, she relies heavily on yoga. “I’ve being doing Ashtanga yoga for nearly four years. I started when my physio, who was treating me for a neck problem, suggested it, and the neck problem vanished. I find yoga excellent for stress. It’s very calming. It’s slow, giving the muscles the opportunity to stretch.” She has shot a yoga DVD, which has proved to be so popular that she’s currently working on a follow-up — and on a coffee table book.
Another favourite stress-reliever is meditation, which she practises every night, regardless of how long her day has been or how tough. “I think it’s essential that every woman has some time to herself and those 10 minutes of meditation are mine. It’s my way of connecting with my god.”
What’s next for herd In addition to her cricket commitments, another movie — a Bollywood remake of the film The Bodyguard, and an Indo Chinese film with Chinese Superstar — Xia Yu, titled Desire.
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