Gautami Kapoor had everyone in splits when she recreated her husband and actor Ram Kapoor’s weight loss video, prompting his epic reaction. “I did it spontaneously without much thought; shot it in split seconds. Ram wasn’t in the country, so I didn’t expect him to react. But knowing he’s a prankster, I knew something was coming—and everyone loved it,” she said.
Appreciating Ram’s ability to make jokes about himself, Gautami said, “Many made memes and videos about his transformation. Anyone in his place might have been upset, but Ram loves laughing at himself. That’s a rare virtue.”
Appreciating Ram’s efforts in losing weight during an exclusive chat with indianexpress.com, she said, “People don’t see the tough side of it; they only see the end result. I am proud of him for doing it. He’s gone through a lot mentally, emotionally, physically. Our daughter Sia also lost a lot of weight. In fact, she started her fitness journey before Ram, and I think somewhere she inspired him to kickstart his,” Gautami said.
In an exclusive chat with indianexpress.com, Gautami shared her thoughts on fitness, diet, and lifestyle.
Gautami’s fitness journey
Gautami’s workouts include strength training, Pilates, and some cardio like Zumba or treadmill walking. “I started exercising at 15, long before gyms were common. My goal was always health, not just looks, because I come from a family of doctors.”
She initially focused on running and aerobics — and even covered a distance of 0 to 15 km in Shivaji Park — but later realised she was overtraining. “Back then, women lifting weights wasn’t a thing. I did excessive cardio and followed extreme diets without proper guidance. That led to my injury years later. I had done so much cardio that it had eaten into my lean muscle mass. That taught me the biggest lesson.”
But it was a meniscus tear in 2010 that forced her to pause. “I was immobilised overnight and needed surgery. Recovering strength in my left knee was the hardest six to eight months of my life,” she recalled.
Now, she listens to her body: “I am consistent with my workouts but I don’t push myself unnecessarily. With age and perimenopause, workouts are adjusted based on what my body needs. I don’t have to prove anything to anyone.”
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High Intensity Interval Terminal (HIIT) is her favourite but limited to once a week. “Since I’m naturally lean, too much cardio makes me too thin. My trainer tweaks my HIIT workouts weekly based on how I’m feeling,” she said.
For her, the workout is not only physical but necessary for her mental health too. “It is a stress buster for me when I go to the gym. When I come out, I feel extremely calm. Gym or exercises are my holy grail,” said Gautami.
Diet and lifestyle
Gautami’s diet is basic and disciplined but not restrictive. “People assume I avoid fried food, ghee, or butter, but I eat everything. My meals are fixed—I eat at 11:30 AM, and my last meal is by 6:30 PM.” She doesn’t snack much, except for nuts, seeds, or homemade protein bars. “I’m lucky I don’t have a sweet tooth,” she said.
Adding that she comes “from a family of simple Maharashtrians,” the actor said she grew up with basic food and eating habits, and she doesn’t “change my eating times unless I’m working, shooting, or it’s beyond my control.”
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However, she admits that with menopause, she’s facing digestive changes. “Foods I ate comfortably two years ago now cause bloating or IBS symptoms. So, I adjust my diet accordingly.”
She has cut out dairy. “Milk and curd made me feel uneasy, so I stopped completely. I haven’t even switched to almond milk. I just drink black coffee twice a day.”
A non-negotiable in her diet? “For 20 years, I’ve only had warm water. No cold or room-temperature water—just plain warm water throughout the day.”
Does she work out with Ram?
“We used to, years ago, but now our timings and goals don’t match,” she admitted. “He has different targets, and I have mine.”
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However, she hopes they’ll work out together again soon. “It would be fun and challenging. Back then, he had incredible strength, and I was great at cardio, so we’d compete. Hopefully, we’ll get back to that soon,” she said.
Gautami and Ram Kapoor love the social media banter (Photo: Gautami Kapoor/Instagram)
Dancing and other hobbies
Gautami loves dancing, something she attributes to her mother, an Odissi dancer. “I love music and dance. I’m untrained but passionate. If not dancing, I’d love to sing—I sing decently, though I get teased for it! I find it therapeutic.”
She also wants to restart learning a musical instrument: “I had started playing the keyboard and want to pick it up again.”
A typical day in her life
Gautami values consistency because it leads to a better lifestyle and a healthier and fitter life as you grow older. “I wake up early and stay active, even at home. I never nap in the afternoon. My nightlife is zero—I sleep by 9:30 PM and only socialise if it’s really important. I love being home, watching TV, playing with my dogs, and just chilling.”
Skincare and parenting
Her skincare routine is as simple as her diet. “My dad is a dermatologist, so I’ve grown up knowing less is more. I stay hydrated, remove makeup after shoots, and avoid heavy products. I keep my skin clean. And when I’m not shooting, I will never, ever use makeup, even if I’m going to an event. I just do a bit of eye makeup and lips. That’s all I do,” said Gautami, crediting her parents for “good genes”.
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As a parent, she follows her upbringing. “My parents, despite being working professionals, taught us––my brother and I––discipline and independence. I want my kids to learn the same.”
She believes in leading by example. “This generation thinks for itself—you can’t force lessons on them. But they see how we live. If they follow the same ‘keep it simple’ mantra, they’ll be happy.”