May the best Bollywood anorexic win

Is the Weight loss fad catching on in Bollywood?

Weight loss is not restricted to overweight celebrities any more. The fad is catching on among Bollywood stars like Kareena Kapoor, Ayesha Takia and veterans like Om Puri too.

For the last few weeks, Om Puri has been regularly visiting a health clinic.

"I had developed a paunch. When I saw myself in Don, I realised how hideous I was looking. I've been working on it. I've already lost about nine kilos, and I intend to knock off another nine in the next few months."

So what's his formula?

Unhealthy trend

"Diet mainly, but I'm also taking medical help. Five years ago I underwent a back surgery, the same one that Shah Rukh Khan did. After that, I rapidly gained weight. I needed to lose weight because it was affecting my knees."

Actress Bipasha Basu, however, feels there's an unhealthy trend towards unchecked weight loss bordering on anorexia in the industry.

She said: "I'm really concerned about all this unhealthy weight loss in our entertainment industry. For God's sake, don't starve yourself to stay in shape. It gives you a prematurely aged look. Eat, sleep and live well. And avoid getting obsessive about losing weight."

Model-turned-actor Aryan Vaid, meanwhile, reveals that many actors acquire six-pack-abs artificially.

"Most of them doctor their abs to make them look perfect before the camera. There's a lot of colouring and contouring going on to make the abs look prominent on those midriffs. Very few actors have authentic six-abs. I do," Vaid claims.

"Forget six-abs. Eight-abs are in," says Dino Morea.

Bollywood's anti-binging squad is surely fighting to prove who's the slimmest of them all.

Kareena's calling

Kareena Kapoor - who is looking thinner than ever - has sparked fears for her health - with some industry insiders and fans branding her appearance as "anorexic".

But the actress said "I am far from anorexic. I have lost weight for my role in Tashan. I've been training to do some action scenes and hence the sudden weight loss."

She adds; "I have worked very hard in these last seven months to lose weight, so please don't take away from it by calling me anorexic."

Kareena insists that she loves food and is especially fond of sandwiches and Chinese noodles. Her dramatic weight loss was nothing more than the result of smart choices and healthy living.

"I'm following a healthy diet and a regular workout regime and feeling great." The actress claims that the secret to her losing weight is staying completely off junk food.

Om Puri and Ayesha Takia are the latest stars to join the anti-binging squad.