There was a phase when I cried for days and doubted my decision to be an actor when my films were not doing well. But soon I stood up and decided to do something that could set me apart. I decided to excel in what others didn’t have, I focused on my actions and my fitness.
If you look at what people typically wear when they play, OK, my clothes could be considered provocative. But I’m not wearing them for a reaction. I’m just comfortable in fitness clothing. Golf is a sport, so dress like an athlete. Name another sport where people wear khakis and cotton polos?
Fitness for me is a passion. Yes, my profession demands it, but that works more as motivation for me. And, like I get motivated by looking at pictures of Bollywood or Hollywood stars with fab bodies, I want others to take that motivation from me.
I don’t come from a very ambitious family. We weren’t entrepreneurial. We weren’t hard-working academics, or setting up businesses. But for some reason, when I started doing fitness, I always had this voice in my head telling me to keep going – keep going, and people will eventually follow.
It’s no secret that I live in Woking and I go to the MTC every day. So I’ve spent every available day working – either with my engineers, with the team management, or with the trainers at MTC; building those relationships, getting to grips with the car, the style of driving, the cockpit and control systems, and improving my fitness.
What batsmen like me do for fitness is often a bit different to what bowlers like Jimmy Anderson or Stuart Broad do but everyone in the squad has a big focus on core strength. It is really important for batting, bowling and fielding. You need a strong core and spine so your movement isn’t restricted out there.
I have a pretty active presence on social networking sites, and every day there are messages from so many young girls telling me that they are happy B-Town has curvy women like me. I feel you should be happy the way you are. Of course, fitness is important, but not to the extent of obsession!
I took advice from Salman Khan, getting health tips because he is my mentor, and I take his advice for everything I do from Salman bhai. He has given me a lot of tips on body building because he was the first person to start the trend of fitness in the country.
