Kalki KOECHLIN on beauty, fitness, health and wellness.
Your view on beauty?
There is always a certain pressure to look in a fixed, definite way in the movie industry — this affects young girls to the extent that they end up making changes to their looks. The weight of looking good is difficult for us to handle. I feel we need to celebrate diversity of beauty in the industry, as also in real life, and understand that there is, indeed, no one idea, or definition, to it.
Your view of health and wellness?
I believe that breakfast is the first, also best, meal of the day; so, one should try not to skip it. It gives you energy. I prefer eating oats with honey and yogurt for breakfast. I prefer Indian lunch and like to eat rice with chicken, or rajma. I love to add chaas, or yoghurt, too. Such a meal will keep your tummy full and you’ll not indulge in snacking. My dinner consists of roti, vegetables and lentils. I sometimes consume ‘diet’ biscuits, or cheese, and crackers with dinner.
Your ‘take’ on fitness?
My fitness mantra is simple. I follow an exercise routine that calms my mind and boosts happiness. My workout routine includes —
Swimming. Swimming, for an hour, can keep you healthy and fit; it helps to ‘workout’ every muscle of the body, keeping one fit and active. All those who love swimming should hit the pool daily to have a well-toned body.
Sports. I love to indulge in fun games, like volleyball and football, to keep myself rejuvenated and happy.
Be your own guide. I believe that everyone should choose a form of exercise that suits their moods and preferences and stick to it until they get the desired results, and also after. I believe in experimenting with different forms of workouts like jogging, dancing and yoga. Each of us should shuffle things from time to time, as far as our workout regimen is concerned. In my opinion, doing the same exercises every day is monotonous and this can put strain on particular muscles and also lead to boredom. Most important: we should appreciate the body shape we are granted and learn to love and take good care of it.
Your ‘take’ on work-life balance?
Everyone associates with success differently. For me, success is not about becoming more famous, or rich; it means consistency to keep making good content, doing your best, being relevant and so on, and establishing the ‘right’ balance at work and home.
Your mantra to beat stress?
My belief — which I always follow — and, suggest, is simple. Change your lifestyle as often as you can. Take breaks from work and try to stay close to nature during such breaks. Have good hobbies, like reading and writing, to keep your mind active. Don’t sit in front of the television for long hours. A little entertainment is good, but make sure to set limits. Go for a little adventure trip whenever you can. It adds spark to your life. Always step back from your problems to seek a useful solution. Thinking about problems will only make them worse. Keep smiling. It helps to cultivate and nurture a calm mind.
