Best known for her work in Bollywood movies, Tanishaa Mukerji has also gained recognition in South Indian movies with her contribution in Tamil and Telugu Films.
She has also been a part of movies like – Neal N Nikki, Popcorn Khao Mast Ho Jao, Sarkar, Tango Charlie, One Two Three, Sarkar Raj, Kantri, Tum Milo Toh Sahi, Anna, etc. Her performance in the superhit movie – Sarkar by Ram Gopal Verma was highly appreciated.
She has also participated in various reality shows such as Bigg Boss 7, Fear Factor – Khatron K Khiladi, Comedy Nights Bachao, Gangs of Hasseepur, Entertainment ki Raat and many more.
An adventure enthusiast, Tanishaa is an intermediate level diver with a record of 22 dives. Tanishaa recently had a mind-blowing fitness transformation, which we’re sure all of you are intrigued to know about.
Therefore, Women Fitness India recently caught up with the stunning actor, bringing to you all the details about her new found lifestyle and how she feels fitter, healthier and happier now!
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You have been a part of the Indian Film Industry with numerous movies to your name, be it Neal N Nikki, Popcorn Khao Mast Ho Jao, Sarkar, Tango Charlie or Sarkar Raj. Did you always have your sights set on entering the Entertainment Industry or did it happen by chance?
Ms. Tanishaa Mukerji:
I always wanted to be a part of the film industry! When I was young I used to watch my mom prepping for her film shoots like doing makeup and getting ready to go for her shoots on the set and I used to always say to her that, “mum when I grow up you’re going to stay home and relax and I’m going to go for shoots on set to become an actress just like you.” I believed that acting and filmmaking was always in my blood and I wanted to do movies that will entertain people.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You have transformed yourself into the wonderful, fit woman that you are today. What inspired you to challenge your limits? 3 things that were instrumental in achieving this fit body?
Ms. Tanishaa Mukerji:
I have always been fit; I think I just let the ball drop for the last couple of years. But a few incidents in my life made me realize that I would be more confident if I became fitter. The 3 main aspects that made me change my outlook towards fitness and work harder for my body were –
Firstly, with my biological clock ticking and wanting to be fit and be able to have kids after the age of 40. Secondly, when I was trying horse riding, I ended up with a terrible catch in my back and that really shook me. I thought I was fit and that small jerk from a horse affected my back so badly, it made realize that I am not as fit as I think. Lastly, my friends and loved ones played a huge role in pushing me to get back to being fit as I used to be earlier.
So, these 3 things have been very instrumental in changing my body and helping me achieve a healthy lifestyle.
This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar, President womenfitness.org and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2018 Women Fitness Org
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
In a previous interview, you said that you have not become skinny but only added muscle and lost fat. What was your workout routine then and what is it like these days?
Ms. Tanishaa Mukerji:
Yes, the intention was not to become skinny, but the intention was always to be fit. In order to be fit, you need to be more muscled; more toned and have more inner strength. I am becoming healthy now with my workout routine and I am achieving a level of flexibility, strength, core-strength, weight muscle toned that was lacking earlier.
Also, I realized something that we all have this notion that working out is enough to become fit, however working out is not a complete solution. It’s like you may do cardio for a couple of hours but that is not going to help you if you are not watching on your eating habits.
Earlier my work-out routine used to be Pilates and I did see the change in me. However, I think it wasn’t just my work-out but also my diet. And once I figured out my diet, it really changed the way my body looked. It’s all about understanding the right nutrition that your body needs and I think a lot of people don’t understand nutrition and its importance – not even the trainers. You really should approach an expert who will give a holistic approach and not just guide you to lose fat.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You are an intermediate level diver with a record of 22 dives and are also learning horse-riding. Your passion for adventure was pretty obvious when we saw you as a finalist on Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi. Has it been a part of you from childhood or is it something that you learnt about yourself on the way?
Ms. Tanishaa Mukerji:
I have been a huge fan of the show since the beginning. Also, I love adventures and taking up new challenges, so when I was offered the show, I jumped into the opportunity without sparing a thought and took it up as a challenge.
Honestly, there were times when I have opted for things with my sheer gut feeling and Khatron Ke Khiladi was one such decision.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Healthy eating is all about creating healthy habits. Do you make it a point to eat healthy at home? An off-day lunch with your friends would be?
Ms. Tanishaa Mukerji:
I am a huge foodie and I do believe in eating especially when I go out with my friends but I always stick to healthy options from the menu and luckily for me I am someone who doesn’t like deep fried or oily food, instead I prefer something like smoked salmon. I have always been a relatively healthy eater!
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Share a few mantras, from your own beauty regime, for healthy skin and hair?
Ms. Tanishaa Mukerji:
My skin care regime is all about moisturizing and applying tons of sun block. And that is only because if you do not keep it simple, you will not do it every day. I believe in using right products for personal care. I go for regular facials and resort to DIY remedies for my skin at home. For instance, I use a mixture of Lemon and cucumber juice for tan removal and use egg yolk for hair.
Also, I cannot compromise on my hair and I make sure to take a good care of them.
My hair care routine is regularly oiling my hair and if you color your hair, it is important to get protein treatments done on a regular interval.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
After a hectic day of shoot, how do you like to relax and rejuvenate?
Ms. Tanishaa Mukerji:
I absolutely love spas. I love getting massages and pedicures on a weekly timeline. When I want a little extra I’ll do a nice body wrap or an Ayurveda therapy.
My favorite pass time is to sit with my puppy Leo reading a good fantasy fiction novel with a cup of cinnamon tea which relaxes me completely.
I also love catching up with my close friends or just enjoy some good music. But what makes me instantly happy is spending time with my nieces and nephews and getting cute hugs from them. They just manage to cheer me up even in my worst moods.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What does your workout routine look like?
Ms. Tanishaa Mukerji:
I do an intense one-hour workout every day. I alternate between cardio, weight training, and Pilates. I also brisk walk, jog, cycle and do yoga when I am traveling. So, my exercise routine varies, and I like to keep it that way. The change keeps me excited about working out and doesn’t let boredom set in. I enjoy doing Pilates with my trainer Namrata Purohit. It’s one exercise which keeps me motivated to stay fit and strong.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
With many actresses undergoing fitness transformations like Parineeti Chopra and Sonakshi Sinha, do you see a drift in the outlook towards fitness in the women of our country today? What do you think has led to this change?
Ms. Tanishaa Mukerji:
Definitely, there has been more emphasis on fitness today with women especially in our film industry. Back then a lot of actresses didn’t think about fitness as it was not so relevant for them in terms of getting a role or fitting a character. Today because roles are expanding and because fitness has become so conversational in our country, the conversation in Bollywood needs to be about fitness. Besides, the Bollywood industry also the represents our country on an international level, so how can the industry be unfit. Also, today Cancer has become very prevalent in India, there has been increase in a number of cases of women having breast cancer or diabetes that has pushed women to change their fitness mantra and that is why more women are getting into healthy lifestyle management.
I think it is great that Parineeti and Sonakshi have transformed themselves in to getting more fit and have inspired a lot of women to follow the fitness path.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Your fans are always so excited to see you on-screen, so do share with us your goals for the year 2019?
Ms. Tanishaa Mukerji:
I have some exciting plans for 2019, I had done a very interesting short film based on some prevalent issues that our country is facing today. As an actor, I want to do more work like this which is reaching out to people and is creating a huge social impact. I am also planning on producing a few projects which are in pipeline. I want to be part of this Industry not only as an actor but also as a creator.
I have also acted in a film called Code Name Abdul which is releasing soon. I am eagerly looking forward for these films to come up on screen and releasing in mediums where people can interact with me on a larger scale
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Being a part of the Indian Film industry since your childhood, share with us the three best and three challenging things that you had to face.
Ms. Tanishaa Mukerji:
I think I was part of the film industry since my childhood because of my parents and the best part about it was that it felt like a big family. I have been close to all my mother’s and father’s friends from this industry and we share a very close bond even today. As a kid, I use to visit sets to see the shooting, which helped me gain a different perspective than others. As my father was a director, I would go along with him for his shooting and I got to experience a lot of things! Also, another part of this industry that I loved was our family studio, we had a stable of horses and I used to love meeting my favorite horses. I used to also meet my grand-father at the studio which is one of my fondest memories.
My upbringing was very different from others. In school, a lot of people did not understand our background. And back then, the film industry was not considered as a valid career profession by most of them, unlike what it is today. So we did face a lot of preconceived notions from people at times but thanks to social media we have been able to open up a lot of our personal lives to the world and get a different perspective of which actors actually are today. And it is not just the character that you play on a screen but there is so much more to our lives.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Lastly, one fitness/health tip for our viewers at Women Fitness?
Ms. Tanishaa Mukerji:
My fitness mantra is to have a holistic outlook! I believe in dedicating one hour every day to do some kind of workout. It can be anything from walking, playing sports or any cardio exercise at the gym to keep my body and mind active.
I don’t want to be preachy, but one must make it a habit to stay fit. Fitness must be a part of one’s living. Also, to look good on the outside, one must be healthy and happy inside.
So eat healthily, exercise daily, drink a lot of water and sleep well. These basic things will take you a long way.
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This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar, President womenfitness.org and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2018 Women Fitness Org