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COVER STORY
KANGANA

RANAUT

ON HER WEIGHT GAIN FOR

THALAIVI

hips. Bharatnatyam involves a lot of leg work, so the dancers tend to
gain weight in this region. Also, I needed to put on so much weight
because I am tall. At 5’8, I had to ensure that the bulk was visible on
my frame.”
The 33-year-old actress, who gained 20 kgs for the Jayalalithaa
biopic Thalaivi, wishes to shed it for her forthcoming films Tejas and
Dhaakad.
Currently nestled in picturesque Manali, Ranaut decided to make the
most of the lockdown by taking along her trainer of several years.
In an interview, Kangana opened up on her Under the guidance of Siddhartha Singh, founder of iSweat, she has
weight gain for Thalaivi. She said, “I didn’t shaved off seven kilos and continues to crawl, jump and jog off the
expect to gain 20 kilos. When Kareena rest.
was pregnant, she gained 16 kilos. I told “We are focusing on workouts that encourage movement for a long
myself, I am like post-pregnant Kareena duration of time, instead of those involving shorter intervals. The idea
Kapoor!”. is to keep movements sustainable by not rendering her breathless
“I never remember feeling so unfit. At one so that more calories can be burnt. The evening functional training
point, I needed to support myself with sessions last 45 to 75 minutes, and are coupled with a 20-minute
my palms to stand up off the floor. I was morning walk in her 100-meter driveway,” says Siddhartha, attributing
unable to carry my weight in heels, and that her body’s positive response to the regimen to her consistent yoga
almost left me in tears. One thinks they’ll practice.
eventually adjust, but I couldn’t walk in my “Kangana is attuned to her body’s needs. If she craves something,
own shoes! Usually, I can run in them, but she’ll have it in limited portion, or cook a version of it at home”,
now my feet would swell. I didn’t know how added Siddhartha.
to handle it”, she added. Kangana was going through a lot. She said, “It was difficult. I had to
“The makers told me to start losing weight undergo detox. I was affected by the sugar withdrawal and felt like I
so that we could shoot Jayalalitha’s was in rehab. For over six months, I was perpetually hungry and had
younger portions, and that’s when I noticed mood swings. The weight wouldn’t budge. Also, at 33, things are not
that I had gained 20 kilos. I wondered if as easy.”
I had gone too far, and questioned if the When asked if she will do it all over again if a film demands it, her
decision to take the hormone injections response was prompt, but not very assertive, “No, yaar!” she says.
was appropriate.” “It’s not worth it. My cholesterol level was quite high this time. In my
It was towards the close of 2019 that 30s, I don’t enjoy doing this.”
Kangana had first admitted on taking Speaking on playing an icon like Jayalalithaa, Kangana said, “After
hormone supplements to add bulk to her Manikarnika, this is my second biopic, and I am honored to portray
hips and thighs, to emulate her muse. such a strong lady. Her personality was very different from anything I
Unlike the misshapen built acquired by have portrayed earlier. It’s very gratifying to play someone who was so
Bollywood’s top brass of actors gaining determined, persevered but had a silent strength which distinguished
weight for cinema, Ranaut’s avatar, though her from everyone else.”
voluptuous, had to resemble the shapely AL Vijay, who is helming the multi-lingual (Hindi, Tamil & Telugu) says,
and nimble-footed Bharatanatyam dancer “The film depicts the early years and struggles she faced both as an
that Jayalalitha was. actor and as a politician.” The film will be an unvarnished depiction
She said, “I had to do Bharatnatyam for two of Late Jayalalitha’s life. He adds,” Her life was a mix of glamour,
hours, yoga for one, and still gain weight love, heartbreak, struggle, and success. Our focus is to make it as
in a desirable manner. The mild hormone real as possible, without trying to glorify her, but show the human side
dosage helped gain weight around the of the person she was.”

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