Vidya Balan is back in the spotlight with Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, but it’s not just her reprise as the iconic Manjulika that’s creating buzz. Recently, in an interview with Galatta India, Vidya opened up about her remarkable weight loss journey and how she achieved her transformation—without a single gym session in the last year.
Known for her body-positive advocacy and openness about her struggles with weight, Vidya shared a surprising revelation: her weight loss was all thanks to an “elimination diet,” not a rigorous workout routine. After consulting with Amura Health in Chennai, she discovered that certain foods, which she assumed were healthy (like spinach and bottle gourd), were causing inflammation in her body. The “diet” she followed wasn’t calorie-counting or intense restriction but rather an elimination of foods that didn’t suit her unique physiology. “I have been vegetarian all my life,” she said, “but that didn’t mean everything was good for my body.”
Vidya’s journey with weight has been a public one, facing body-shaming and pressures from the industry, yet her experience with Amura Health has allowed her to embrace a gentler approach. Vidya said, “You know everyone has been telling me ‘Oh my God, you are your slimmest’ and I have not worked out all year. This is the first year that I have not worked out. And I want to say judgment around the body is brutal. A lot of times, people put on weight for various reasons because our bodies express what we are going through emotionally also…even I would not have believed last year if I had been told ‘Stop working out’. I used to be a beast in the gym. And I had people telling me, ‘You must not be working out at all’.”
Now, when people marvel at her transformation, Vidya is quick to clarify that her success comes from within. “I am just enjoying myself and feeling healthier than ever,” she shared. “I’m not saying you shouldn’t exercise, but remember, no two people are the same… we must respect our individuality.”
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, directed by Anees Bazmee, is set to be a major Diwali release, and fans are eager to see Vidya’s return as the unforgettable Manjulika.
