Article By Manish Mishra
Queen Sculptor,
B-Town’s favourite fitness expert YASMIN KARACHIWALA looks back at KATRINA KAIF’S envy-inducing body metamorphosis and gives the lowdown on KEY FITNESS mantras…
Having straddled the worlds of fitness and glamour for more than 22 epochal years, fitness maven Yasmin Karachiwala is the first and the last word in B-Town fitness. Thanks to her numbingly-DETAILED WORKOUT techniques realised with a punctilious execution, she has time and again reaffirmed her centrality as the moving fitness force in Bollywood and beyond. From Bollywood ingenues to seasoned heavy-hitters like Katrina Kaif, Alia Bhatt and Deepika Padukone – she’s been the ultimate go-to éminence grise. HER OWN PERSONAL FITNESS STUDIO– Yasmin’s Body Image – which was founded 12 years ago, has played a catalyst in morphing B-Town beauties over the years. Over to the iconic lady, who has a cultishly-devoted fanbase of Bollywood glamazons…
HOW’S THE JOURNEY OF TRAINING THE BOLLYWOOD A-LISTERS? WHAT HAVE BEEN THE KEY HIGHLIGHTS?
“It’s always fun training anyone, especially Bollywood, because all of them come with some kind of goal in mind and have a certain look that they have to pull off for their movies. So we work towards that goal.”
YOU’VE PLAYED A CATALYST IN SCULTPING AND SHAPING KATRINA KAIF. HOW WAS THE PROCESS OF WORKING WITH KAIF?
“Katrina Kaif started training with me during her Sheila Ki Jawani song and for that particular number, we completely managed to change her body type and since then with every song or movie or role, she has been playing – whether it is Chikni Chameli, Dhoom, or Kaala Chashma, she is just working towards getting better and better.”
KATRINA IS KNOWN TO BE THE MOST DEDICATED FITNESS FREAK. HOW DO YOU LOOK BACK AT HER BODY REVOLUTION?
“Katrina is a very focused and determinant person. I wouldn’t call her a ‘fitness freak’, I’s just say that once she sets her mind to achieve the certain thing, she works towards it with full dedication and intention. From Sheila Ki Jawani to Kaala Chashma, you can see how her body has evolved and she has worked harder every time to get better.”
“Katrina is a very focused and determined person.”
TODAY EVERY B-TOWN ACTRESS WANTS TO HAVE A BODY LIKE KATRINA. WHAT WOULD YOU ADVISE THEM?
“Everybody wants to have body like Katrina and in order to achieve that I would like to advice them to have determination and the intention Katrina puts behind every role.”
HOW HAS IT BEEN SHARING YOUR FITNESS CANVAS WITH OTHER ACTRESSES LIKE ALIA BHATT AND DEEPIKA PADUKONE?
“It is always wonderful working with anybody – whether it is a celebrity or a regular person, who is a housewife or an executive on their fitness routine. With the film stars and celebrities like Alia, Katrina, Deepika etc, it is a bit more challenging because your work is out there for the world to see.”
HOW SHOULD ONE SET ONE’S FITNESS GOALS?
“Every body type is different and every body reacts differently to workouts and diets. Before we set anyone’s fitness goal, we do a full body evaluation to find out the fat percentage and the number of kilograms of muscles and fat required by the body. Depending on that and the body type, we set goals for different people and give them food plans to go with it.”
“Before we set anyone’s fitness goal, we do a full body evaluation to find out the fat percentage and the number of kilograms of muscles and fat required by the body.”
YOU HAVE TRAINED A NUMBER OF CELEBRITIES, IS THERE ANY PARTICULAR ONE WHOSE TRANSFORMATION YOU ARE PROUD OF?
“I am proud of my all celebrity clients’ transformation. From Katrina in her different avatars to Alia Bhatt, who wore a bikini in Shaandaar and now is heading towards being one of the fittest bodies. I started training Deepika Padukone when she was working on Cocktail and her transformation continued till her Hollywood foray with xXx: Return of Xander Cage , where she completely took even the Western world by storm.”
WHEN IT COMES TO THE MEN, DO SIX PACKS MATTER?
“Each man has a certain look that they want to get – it could be six packs or V-shaped packs or whatever. I think it’s very individualistic, and I don’t feel, I am in the position to comment on what other people want to achieve.”
WHAT IS YOUR FITNESS AND EATING ROUTINE LIKE? DO YOU HAVE CHEAT DAYS?
“I don’t believe in the work diet. I think we all know what is right for us and what foods we should avoid. Sunday is my cheat day.”
“Sunday is my cheat day.”
ANY FOODS ONE MUST AVOID AT ALL COST?
“Avoid processed foods, sugar, things labelled – low fat or diet. My main rule is ‘Don’t eat anything you can’t pronounce’.”