Vidya Balan, Karan Johar: Bollywood stars with the biggest weight-loss stories

The flip side of fame is scrutiny, of what you wear and what you eat, of what you look like at your most vulnerable and at what you consider your best. And in the world of showbiz, where size zeros are ‘just right’, the quote ‘you can never be too rich or too thin’ seems to hold more, well, weight than ever before.

Today we are armed with more solutions to those annoying extra pounds than ever before, and as usual it’s a star-studded clientele that’s showing the first effects. In the past few months, transformations have been popping up all over social media, with everyone from Bollywood’s super director Karan Johar to Vidya Balan, posing for slimmer pictures.

Here’s a look at the A-listers on the fit list, and how they got there:

Vidya Balan

While the Kahaani actress has always had a legion of followers for her versatility on screen, she’s had just as many admirers for her relatable figure. Recently, however, she was seen on the cover of The Peacock Magazine wearing a much more svelte form, stunning fans and sparking speculation about her bowing to industry pressure. However, the Bhool Bhulaiyaa star has been open about her weight issues, insisting in interviews that her weight-loss wasn’t a result of injectables or physical stress, it is a result of her adopting an anti-inflammatory diet. “I realised I wasn’t just carrying fat; it was inflammation,” she was quoted as saying by EasternEye.

Karan Johar

The Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani director has spoken about his issues with body dysmorphia – obsession with perceived flaws on one’s body – before, which is why when fans saw a thinner, more gaunt-looking Johar on Instagram, they expressed concern. However, Johar was quick to dismiss a person asking if he had used diabetes medication Ozempic to slim down his waistline on X. Instead, he said, he was trying the One Meal a Day (OMD) diet along with exercise sessions to better his health. He explained in an interview with Raj Shamani that the changes – eating one meal a day at 8.30pm, eliminating lactose, glucose, and gluten – had left him 20kilos lighter.

Boney Kapoor

At 69, one would assume a sluggish metabolism would keep weight static. But it isn’t so for the late Bollywood actress Sridevi’s husband, who has managed to shed 26 kilos, according to media reports. TimesNow quoted paparazzi as saying that Kapoor had used a strict diet plan, which included fruits, juices, and soups, to slim down. He showed off his new look on Instagram, captioning his post: “Feels great to get into some old clothes. lost 26kgs, just a few more to go. Sharing this for those who need motivation. Do it. It’s worth it! If l can, anybody can!” Feeling inspired yet?

Ram Kapoor

While this 56-year-old actor has often had to field insults for his weight, he kept silent, put his head down and decided to do the work. At 56, the man is rocking a body of one much younger, and as he explained to Indian anchor Cyrus Broacha, it’s because he had a shift in mindset. “You have to have the mindset of a healthy person,” he said. He has invested in a gym in his home and become a regular. The result: a 55kilo lighter Kapoor who is making headlines.

Kapil Sharma

Sharma has been a bit of a weight shuffler in the past, but this time, he’s hoping it will stick. When he was spotted earlier this year walking around with a much sleeker silhouette, everyone wanted to know how he did it. Fortunately, his trainer Yogesh Bhateja offered up some clues. According to a report in Times of India, the Indian TV show host took on the 21-21-21 challenge, where for the first 21 days one focuses on incorporating a daily workout into one’s schedule; the next 21 days on mindful eating and making healthy choices; and the last 21 days to focus on the psychological aspect of eating. This reportedly led to him dropping 11kilos in 60 days.

Kusha Kapila

Actor-influencer Kapila has struggled with her weight for most of her life. The star has spoken about being fat-shamed in interviews and about how it led to her body dysmorphia. She has over the years followed crash diets or strict regimens interspersed with periods of bingeing. This year, however, Kapila is hoping for a different outcome after shedding some pounds. The 33-year-old was quoted as saying by Live Mint: “For the first time in my life, I felt like I wanted to lose weight for myself. I told myself—‘You are by yourself now. You’re responsible for everything that happens in your life. Take care of yourself, because no one else is coming.’"

Baadshah

For a rapper – or singer of any description – it’s important to stay fit because their craft depends on it. That control over lung power that allows you to spit fire requires a certain degree of robustness. So when Baadshah found himself gasping for air ahead of a live show during the pandemic, he began to reevaluate his life choices. He also realised that he suffered from sleep apnoea, a condition where you stop breathing while you nap. This disrupts the flow of oxygen to one’s body and results in exhaustion (no matter how many hours you snooze).

This year, the Abhi Toh Party Shuru Hui Hai artiste debuted a much fitter look than before. He apparently lost 20 kilos, which drew questions about the use of Ozempic, which he has denied. He told NDTV that his new physique is a result of portion control, clean eating, and regular workouts.

Fardeen Khan

His stint in 2024 Netflix show Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar has won him plaudits for his acting as well as his fitness levels, but Khan has over the years struggled with his weight. In 2016, he called out trolls who made fun of his physicality, saying he wasn’t ashamed of it. However, as he grew older – he turned 51 this year in March – he realised that he needed to follow a healthier path. He told ETimes that he dropped 18kg in six months in October last year, because “In the work that we do in our industry, you are expected to look your best and you indeed want to look your best.” How? Why, through diet and exercise of course.

Sara Ali Khan

She’s made waves with stints in series such as Murder Mubarak and movies like Metro in Dino, but it’s the changes she’s made in her personal life that speaks volumes about the kind of commitment she has to her profession. The daughter of actors Amrita Singh and Saif Ali Khan grew up in a film-fuelled family and had a great desire to act in movies, but her weight kept her away from the big screen. At one point, the five-foot-four-inch star weighed 91kg. She has the hormonal disorder Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), which kept her from achieving her goal weight for the longest time. However, with grit, determination – and the help of trainers – she began to heal and get fit. In the end, she said goodbye to about 45 kilos. She’s not been shy about sharing her journey, inspiring others to begin theirs too.

Ganesh Acharya

As a choreographer and director, Acharya has a demanding, often unpredictable schedule. Over the years, this led to him putting on a lot of weight – in 2015, he had hit 200 kilos. Realising that something had to give, Acharya used diet and lifestyle to turn things around. He lost about 98 kilos in one-and-a-half years, a look he debuted on The Kapil Sharma Show in 2020. The best part: he’s kept it off. Now if that’s not inspiring what is?