For nearly three years, actor Rashami Desai says she has dealt with perplexing health concerns that left her anxious, “Unaware of what was happening to me I found herself stepping away from major work, caught in a quiet battle I didn’t yet know how to win. We never give ourselves importance and I feel small steps matter doing your simple walks or jogs everyday can work wonders.”
Looking back at her days of, the emotional toll of self-criticism, “I remember those days jab mein roz subah uthh ke sochi thhi kya mein moti ho rahi hoon, it was like I was in some kind of war with myself. It went for 2-3 years as I was having a few severe health concerns and I remained unaware of it. I was having symptoms like food allergies to begin with. I had no idea back then that was wrong with me.”
The actor adds her aim was never to fulfil any beauty standards, “My aim was never size zero ya bas patli ho jaaun mein, but it was to look presentable and be healthy inside. People of course have unreasonable expectations from actors especially from actresses and they judge, but I decided jisko joh bolna hain bole I have to get back to feeling better first rather just lose weight drastically because how I feel and look is entirely my call and why need others’ validation for your being.”
It was last year that the things changed for Rashami, “It was not with an intense workout regimen or anything else but meeting a nutritionist changed my life and I relaised you can’t be in denial about your health, and at the same time, you can’t challenge your body and push yourself to where it starts to hurt.”
“There are like ‘mera weight ka target hain woh mujhe achieve karna hain’ that is like abusing your physical being for me. I chose consistency over intensity, spending hours in gym just for a day or two and doing your simple walks or jogs everyday can work wonders. Aur kuch help nahin karta iske alawa.”
Her philosophy prioritizes self-care: 'Simple steps—like drinking enough water, fixing my sleep cycle, and getting enough rest—and refusing to wait for "that Monday" to start choosing myself.' In an industry obsessed with aesthetics, her focus remained solely on herself. As a result, she gradually shed 10 to 12 kilograms over the last three months, down from nearly 75 kilograms. But the real victory wasn’t the weight drop; it was ending the war within to make me calmer, happier, and finally in control of my own story,” says Rashami who is set for a television comeback soon.
S Farah Rizvi writes on Bollywood, OTT, television and culture for the daily Entertainment & Lifestyle supplement, HT City.
