What fitness means to Randeep Hooda

Bollywood actor Randeep Hooda was spotted in Delhi to launch 'Gym 99', a unique concept of pay and play, that provides customers an option to pay just Rs 99 for an hour to use the best gym facilities across India. The Sarabjit actor, who is also the co-owner of Body Building India—the fitness and supplements company—was at his candid best during a conversations with THE WEEK. Excerpts:

What does fitness mean to you?

Being healthy and active is fitness. It can go a step further into physique and sports. But the basic mantra is to be healthy and active.

A lot of youngsters go on crash dieting to lose their weight. What is your advice to them on the right way to shed the extra kilos?

I feel that the quicker you loose weight, the sooner you gain it back. So, youngsters should take time doing it and they should know their objective of losing weight. I always tell people not to read beauty magazines as they make them feel uglier. One should have proper nutrition, but unfortunately youngsters rely a lot on junk food, which do not have proper protein in it. Our body requires ample protein for our muscles and joints to function. I would advise them to supplement their diet and not go for a quick gain or a quick loss of weight. It should be monitored and done under the supervision of an expert.

Tell our readers about your fitness mantra.

I am glad that I am an actor and that (fitness) has to be kept up. I try to go to the gym as often as I can. I have tried boxing and kickboxing. Not many people know that I am an avid rider. Since I am from Haryana and have grown up in a sports school, sports is my life. It is very important for people, especially nowadays, to indulge in physical activities and sports because it is a great way of not getting depressed. Depression is becoming common and the best way to counter it is to be physically active. Going to a gym or playing a sport is a great way to take a break from the virtual world.

And your cheat meal is...
I love white butter and potato and onion paranthas with mango or chili pickle.

Why are diet supplements essential?

Our general diet that we consume at home does not give us the right amount of nutrition—be it vitamins, minerals and protein—as we add too much oil to the food. I think it is good to supplement it. It's not harmful and does not have side-effects, if you do it under proper guidance. I think, it's essential for men, women, children and old people to supplement their diet.

Had you not been an actor, you would have been...

I would have probably been a wildlife photographer or a sportsman.

You are sporting a new look.

Kesh, kada, kacheda, kangha and kirpaan. I am wearing a Sikh surat for a role. I am playing a Sikh from 1897. It's a great story of Sikhism—bravery and resolve of these people, which we have forgotten. There is an outpost of Saranghadi, which is now in Pakistan at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border that is still conflict area. Around 10,000 Afghani tribesman attacked this outpost and only 21 Sikh soldiers were there to defend it. They fought till the end.

How was it to debut on the small screen?

I have made my small screen debut in a show called The Big F on MTV #ForbiddenNoMore, which was a quick thing. I quite enjoyed it. It was different talking to the audiences rather than talking to the characters, which the audiences see. I felt that this show is very important for emancipation of women but I always stress that the show is important for men because only when they realise it and are included in that education, it can make a difference. Women on their own will not be able to make a difference because the change has to come in the attitude of men.