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What does fitness mean to you? What's your idea of fitness?

Fitness is very important to me. It's not only about staying fit physically but also being healthy, which in turn helps me to work efficiently and stay positive with high energy.

What efforts do you take to stay in shape?

I'm not at all a gym person. And since now I'm much occupied with my shooting, I don't really get time to take any additional efforts to keep myself in shape. Otherwise, I usually prefer to walk a lot. Walking is the best activity to burn down your calories and remain healthy.

Are you conscious about your food choices?

Not really! Actually I wouldn't say that I'm conscious about my food choices, but I've always had a habit of eating healthy and nutrient-rich food even before I was an actress. Personally, I feel lucky that I don't crave for junk food or deep fried dishes. Since I'm a cold-coffee addict, I have it every day in my breakfast along with some eggs or brown bread. Further throughout the day, I eat home-cooked healthy food only.   

Three things you do every day to remain fit.

1) Eat healthy food.

2) Cycling for 15-20 mins

3) Drink lots of water daily.

What is your take on the zero figure craze among the girls?

Well, I don't think so that there is a fad for a size zero figure amongst the girls now. In the quest for a zero figure, youngsters start taking crash diet which are inadequate in proper nutrition and do not provide the required vitamins and minerals to the body. In fact, some of the the actresses like Anushka Sharma and Priyanka Chopra are naturally slim. They have an active metabolism and that is the precise reason that weight does not even touch them.   

Is there any sport you are skilled at?

For my current show Savitri, I have been trying my hands on sword fighting and I'm quite acquainted with it now. Though I'm not an expert in it, but yes, I enjoy sword fighting. Apart from this, I'm fond of swimming as its very refreshing, releases stress, it keeps you fit and feel free. Also, the other sport that I love is scuba-diving. Recently, I had been to Maldives with my husband and I enjoyed this sport. Having a glimpse of the underwater world is very exciting.

A celeb body you admire.

I admire Hollywood celeb Beyonce for her perfect body. She is are not exactly lean, but her overall appearance and flexibility makes her look sexy. It is very easy for celebrities to have a slim-trim body but what adds on to your personality is the way you proudly carry a voluptuous body.  

What is your fitness secret?

Just eat right! Enjoy your food and stay healthy!

A fitness tip for your fans.

I would suggest everyone to eat healthy food and drink lots of water. Also, it is very important for everyone to have a good amount of sleep. Even if you don't follow a healthy fitness regime, a good sleep compensates for it. I would also suggest everyone to indulge themselves in any sport of their choice. You may have a busy life, but try and introduce a physical activity in your life. Like my husband RaQesh Vashisth is fond of cycling and even I follow it for 15-20 mins daily. It helps to burn down your calories and maintain a good obese free body.  

Over to Amit who has seen several ups and downs in his career as an actor and says that currently he is in not in a happy space but in a comfortable zone.

Three Television shows, two plays and couple of films in hand, how does it feel?

It obviously feels good but I have seen such days earlier too in my career. There was a time when I was doing this much and more and then there were times when I had nothing in hand. There also have been times when I have called up people asking for work and while everyone acknowledged my request, nothing happened further. So I have seen such phases many a times in my life when I had to sit at home for 5-6 months looking for work and then suddenly there is so much that I had to refuse some things as I could not accommodate them all! It happens in every actor's life and as an actor one has to be prepared for this.

Tell us about all Television shows that you are busy with at present.

Well, I have finished shooting for Epic TV's Dharamkshetra being produced by Vaibhav Modi where I play the character of Dronacharya. It was a superb experience as the entire show is a different take on Mahabharat. A very different interpretation with exclusive croma and special effects and realistic costumes, dialogues and sets. Currently, I am shooting for Dr. B. K. Modi's Buddha which will be telecast on Zee TV in which I play the character of Kulguru Vashistha who has a clash of ideology with another sage played by Kabir Bedi. I am also seen in Shabbir Ahluwalia's Savitri on Life Ok as the Raja's senapati.

Are your characters different in each of these serials?

Yes, even though the genres may look similar they all are three different genres – Dharamkshetra is a mythological, Buddha is historical whereas Savitri is a contemporary take on the original story of Savitri and Satyavan. So even my characters are different in each of these. In Dharamkshetra, I play Dronacharya and even though I have read so much on Mahabharat, I found it different every day. In Buddha my character is right from the start to the end and I play a sage who is a strict Brahmin and much bigger than Chanakya who is against the concept of Nirvana. In Savitri, my character is very interesting as with every episode the viewers are confused whether it is a positive or a negative character and only in the end the real truth will be out.

We see a sudden rise in historicals and mythological shows on Indian Television. For someone who has done this earlier too, what do you feel about it?

Every few years the trend on television changes and we see something new catching up. In this case, yes we see a sudden re-vamp from family dramas to such shows which is natural. Also it is good for senior actors like us who have done theatre and shows like these earlier too. Our generation has done so much and that is the reason we experienced actors are being called again for such shows which need a certain seriousness when it comes to acting. Even the channel and producers are happy with us as they think that they can save time with experienced actors. Since we have proved ourselves over the years we can add facets and imbibe our experience even as we shoot.

You are one actor who is still doing serious theatre. What is on your plate at present?

I am not into theatre for money, there are people who do commercial theatre but for me it is more for creative satisfaction. I believe that for us actors, theatre is to oil your machines and get polished once in a while for acting assignments in other fields. At present, I am doing two plays and travelling for the performance all over India. Both the plays are written by Gulzaar saab. One is Arre O Henry which are originally stories of American short story writer O' Henry and the other is Phaansa where I play Yudhistar. My co-actors in both the plays are almost the same – Lubna Salim, Bakul Thakkar and my director Salim Arif too is the same for both the shows, so working with the team is great fun and who would not want to spend time with the legend – Gulzar saab! Biggies of the entertainment industry have come to watch both these plays. And all said and done, performing in front of a live audience gives a big high.

And Films?

Films give you exposure, money and they are a good way to balance your expertise! My film career got a revival due to Anil Sharma's Singh Sahab the Great which will release soon and in which I play a main villain along with Prakash Raj. I am also doing a film Fools Return with Vinay Pathak, Mughda Godse and Saurabh Shukla. Then there is a rom-com Gollu Pappu directed by Kabir Sadanand which also stars Kunal Roy Kapoor and Vir Das.

We also hear that you are involved in other interesting projects out of India. Tell us about them.

I have done a Spanish film and also the British series, Sharpe's – Peril. It is a British TV film which is part of an ITV series based on Bernard Cornwell's historical fiction novels about the English soldier Richard Sharpe during the Napolenic Wars. It has been televised on BBC Worldwide & ITV where I play the character of Corporal Barabbas Hakeswill. It is for this series that I first shaved my head. The response for it has been tremendous.

Apart from acting, I am also on the faculty of Welingkar Institute of Management, Mumbai as a lecturer for the students of Diploma in Media & Entertainment. Also I am a special guest lecturer for the same institute and my topic is 'Overview on Television'.

So currently you are enjoying every moment in your life?

Yes, you can say that. As an actor I am in a comfortable zone with a small smile on my face. I am not happy, nor sad. Currently, I am busy with so many things that I have no time free time to think about the future. I know this is a great phase but it is temporary. As an actor I am always ready for surprises. There are times in every actor's life when for around 6-7 months you are doing nothing, sitting idle, calling people for work and then suddenly something moves and offers come in together and you have to choose between them. There was a time I was doing 3 fiction shows – Dekha Ek Khwab on Sony, Aasman se Aage on Life Ok and Veer Shivaji on Colors and Junoon – Aisi Nafrat Toh Kaisa Ishq too was offered to me at the same time but I could not do it as I was busy.So, that is an actor's life - totally unpredictable!

Seema Khot Mattoo