Latest news with #Choked
Indian Express
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Saiyami Kher on finishing her second Ironman: ‘Skipping late nights, working out after 12-hour shoots… it's not glamorous'
Despite nearly a decade in the industry, Saiyami Kher is yet to taste commercial success. But the Ghoomer, Choked, and Jaat actor is grateful for the opportunities and the filmmakers who have trusted her. Off-screen, she's known for her strides in the endurance world too — becoming the only Indian actor to complete two Ironman 70.3 races, the gruelling triathlon involving 1.9 km of swimming, 90 km cycling, and a 21.1 km run — all in a single day. In an exclusive interaction with Kher opens up about what drives her, how she trains, her career so far, and why she prefers discipline over drama, both on the plate and on the path. Read the edited excerpts below: Saiyami Kher: The training starts the day you sign up. It begins with the decision to do this, no matter what life throws at you. For me, it's not just physical, it's emotional. You have to keep choosing to show up: skipping late nights, training when you're exhausted or just back from a 12-hour shoot, and doing it when you are tired, angry, sad… it is not glamorous. That builds you into a better athlete and a stronger human being. I trained six days a week for 14 weeks — three runs, three swims, three cycling sessions, and one strength session. Some days, I trained twice. Saiyami Kher: I don't follow a strict 'diet'; I listen to my body. I live with PCOD, so I've learnt what works for me through a lot of trial and error, and patience. I eat clean, but I don't punish myself. I train hard, so recovery matters too. Some days, the body just says no, and I respect that. And it's key to fuel during training. Long hours require energy. Saiyami Kher: I slow down. I eat ice cream. I sleep. This time, after this race, I swam in the ice-cold lake — it worked like an ice bath. These races are emotional journeys. You're out there for seven-eight hours with just your breath, heartbeat, and thoughts. You confront things you didn't even know you were carrying. So after the race, I sit with it all. I always come out more connected to myself. A post shared by Saiyami Kher (@saiyami) Saiyami Kher: Knowing my 'why.' That's everything. There are days I train through cramps, run with blisters… but I know my 'why'. It gives me peace of mind and makes me feel better about myself. On race day, you see someone with a prosthetic or a visually challenged athlete with a guide, you stop complaining. You remember… what the human mind is capable of. Saiyami Kher: The unpredictability of the film industry can shake your self-worth. But when I train, I feel grounded. Rejection in acting can be arbitrary; it's not always about talent. Fitness reminds me of my capability. In fact, Balki sir offered me Ghoomer because of my sporting background. On the flip side, Anurag gave me Choked, which was the opposite of what you'd expect from a fitness freak. As an actor, I want to keep doing different things, but sports and fitness keep me sane and mentally in a good space. Saiyami Kher: I'm incredibly grateful and highly blessed — I've worked with incredible directors like Anurag Kashyap, Balki, Rakesh Mehra, and Neeraj Pandey. But no, I haven't seen commercial success yet. That's not in my hands. What I can control is the work I do. I'll never be fully satisfied. I want more, I want to keep growing. If commercial success follows, great. But my focus remains on doing meaningful work. Saiyami Kher: The in-between time between projects. That uncertainty, where you have to keep your faith intact. Also, the 'acting' off-camera – the socialising, the networking – that doesn't come naturally to me. I love the part between action and cut. The rest is tough. Saiyami Kher: Yes, constantly. After every film. But I knew what I signed up for. When I was written off, Anurag sir gave me Choked — that changed how I was perceived. Then came Ghoomer, which not many get to do so early in their career. So I hold on to that faith. Saiyami Kher: A lot. For Choked, I gained seven-eight kilos to play a mother. Then I lost it all for Faadu. Ghoomer was the toughest emotionally and physically. I had to function using only my left hand for six months. The physical pain was easier; it was the emotional side that took more out of me. A post shared by Saiyami Kher (@saiyami) Saiyami Kher: It's about mental health more than anything. Fitness keeps me sane and positive, especially when things aren't going well. Saiyami Kher: I love home-cooked meals. I'm not fussy, I eat everything. I exercise a lot, so I don't believe in compromising on food. I did give up sugar for a year, just to challenge myself mentally. I'm a big ice cream and chocolate person, so it was tough. But I proved I could do it. But yes, I'm a boring eater. I can eat the same salad for 40 days straight. I actually did that during Faadu and Ghoomer, I ate the same salad for 60 and 40 days, respectively. Saiyami Kher: I feel it's your medium to tell what you want to tell. It's become extremely toxic, but I don't get affected by trolls. They're just faceless people who are frustrated in their lives and have to release their frustration somewhere. However, for me, social media is also a means of revenue because advertising has now become social media. It's become a necessity with your films, their promotions, and posting what you want to put out. So I like to look at the positives. Also, I restrict my time on social media. I've deleted social media from my phone because it's a waste of time, just scrolling through nothing. I would rather read or listen to a book or music, or do what I used to do five-seven years ago when social media wasn't such a big deal. Shweta Sharma leads the lifestyle section at Over the years, she has written about culture, music, art, books, health, fashion, and food. She can be reached at ... Read More
Mint
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Saiyami Kher finishes Ironman 70.3 triathlon twice within a year: Its a race against my own doubts
New Delhi, Jul 8 (PTI) "Mirzya" actor Saiyami Kher has become the first Indian actor to complete the Ironman 70.3 triathlon twice in one year. The Ironman 70.3 is one of the most grueling endurance challenges in the world, testing athletes across 1.9 km of open water swimming, 90 km of cycling, and a 21.1 km half-marathon run all within a single day, according to a press release. Kher, also known for projects such as "Choked" and "Ghoomer", completed her first Ironman 70.3 in September 2024 and went on to finish another on July 6 in Jonkoping, Sweden. The 33-year-old actor shared a post on her Instagram handle on Tuesday and said endurance sport is deeply personal for her. "Finished my second Ironman 70.3. And my heart is full. Two races in ten months, while juggling a year filled with work, only reminds me of one simple truth: discipline always beats excuses. People often ask why I put myself through this kind of torture. The truth is, it's not about proving anything to the world. I've never thrived on external validation. Endurance sport is deeply personal. It's a race against my own self. Against my own doubts. My only goal this year was to be better than I was last year," Kher wrote in the post. "When I first arrived in Jonkoping, I was overwhelmed. The cold, choppy swim. The relentless bike hills. My periods kicking in. And then, a thunderstorm warning Every part of me wanted to crawl back into the comforts of the soft hotel something shifted on race morning," she added. Kher's latest work is "Jaat". Directed by Gopichand Malineni, the film released in April and was headlined by Sunny Deo.
Scroll.in
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scroll.in
‘Jarann' review: Amruta Subhash is terrified, terrifying and terrific in horror thriller
In the demonetisation-themed crime drama Choked (2020), Amruta Subhash's character has a fit when she hears about the note ban. Subhash is brilliant in this scene, covering a gamut of emotions in mere minutes. The highly mobile face that can switch expression without warning, the ability to summon complex emotions, the power to create empathy – Subhash's protean talent gets the platform it deserves in Jarann. Much of the impact of Rushikesh Gupte's Marathi movie is down to the choice of Subhash for the lead role. Gupte's Jarann (black magic, or bewitchment) attempts to reorient the horror genre. Subhash plays Radha, who has been living under a dark cloud since her childhood. Ganguti (Anita Date), who is deemed a witch, dooms Radha to life-long misery. Given whatever befalls Radha in her adulthood, Ganguti's curse appears to be working. A recent mishap in Radha's life has compelled her to consult the psychiatrist Dhananjay (Kishor Kadam). Ganguti's malevolent influence reasserts itself when Radha visits her ancestral house along with her daughter Saie (Avanee Joshi). Ganguti follows Radha and Saie back to their own home, pushing an already high-strung Radha further to the edge. Cinematographer Milind Jog and editor Abhijeet Deshpande are in perfect sync, conveying Radha's perilous situation though creeping camerawork and judicious transitions. AV Prafulla Chandra's ominous soundtrack nudges viewers into shutting their eyes at the right moment – some scenes in Jarann are truly scary. But Jarann wants to be more than a horror film. Hrishikesh Gupte's screenplay is perched in the grey zone between occult belief and psychological fragility, old-fashioned witchery and an enlightened view of paranormal occurrences. The 120-minute film is stacked – overloaded even – with spine-tingling elements, from mouldy attics to seances, scary-looking dolls to altered voices. Running parallel to the frequently doled out jump scares is a conversation about the source of Radha's plight. However, there are convenient holes in the film's premise, especially in the handling of Radha's parents (Rajan Bhise and Seema Deshmukh) and extended family. Given what we eventually learn about Radha, the behaviour of her family members is improbable, inexcusable even. Parenting is a big theme in Jarann, most vividly expressed in Radha's anxiety that Ganguti has infected her daughter too. But for the sake of maintaining suspense, the film sidesteps the role played by Radha's family in their reactions to the Ganguti problem. The twist-heavy climax undermines the film's approach towards its subject matter. Although Jarann lacks the courage of its convictions, there is no hesitation whatsoever in Subhash's performance. Whatever the drawbacks of his film, Rushikesh Gupte deserves kudos for picking the right vehicle for his ambitions. Amruta Subhash is terrified, terrifying and terrific. In scene after scene, Subhash conveys the utter loneliness and anguish of a woman labouring under an unimaginable burden. There are sharp supporting turns too from Kishor Kadam and Anita Date as the mumbo-jumbo spouting Ganguti. Play
Pink Villa
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
‘How dare you touch me?': Gully Boy star Amruta Subhash exposes senior producer for inappropriate behavior
Bollywood actress Amruta Subhash, who has worked in Lust Stories 2, Gully Boy, Choked, and more, recently opened up on the shocking incidents of facing sexual harassment in the industry by some 'big' producers. She exposed a senior producer for inappropriate behavior. In a recent conversation with Zoom, Amruta Subhash recently opened up on the harrowing incident and shared that she was climbing stairs and her top lifted a bit. Soon, the producer of a play came from behind and held a hand near her waist. The actress turned around after feeling something around her waist and found out it was the producer. She questioned him about his behavior but got no serious answer from him as he just brushed it off. Amruta shared, 'Everybody was stunned because he was such a big name. He said, 'No no, your top just moved up,' and I said, 'It's none of your business! How dare you touch me there? You can't do that'." The Gully Boy actress further added that people there were sure that she will be thrown out from her role but she wasn't concerned about it. She continued slamming the producer and strongly made it clear that no one can touch her without her consent. Amruta Subhash revealed that the producer was very elder to her. Meanwhile, the Lust Stories 2 actress also opened up on another similar incident where a producer invited her for drinks at night. When she decided to confront the situation, she showed up unannounced at his room, catching him off guard. Amruta questioned his inappropriate behavior and reminded him of their age difference, expressing her discomfort. Her direct approach surprised him and made him uneasy. She added that she kept the door open for her safety and stood her ground, refusing to feel awkward or tolerate the daily harassment. The actress stated that after this confrontation, the situation improved. Amruta Subhash also has some advice for young girls to tackle such harrowing incidents. She revealed that looking straight into such men's eyes works as they get afraid to make eye contact. She shared that when women feel afraid, they notice and try to overpower them. But looking straight into their eyes makes them scared.
Hindustan Times
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Amruta Subhash reveals being sexually harassed by a big producer: ‘His hand was on my waist, I looked at him and...'
Actor Amruta Subash, who is known for her roles in Sacred Games and Gully Boy, recently opened up about disturbing incidents of sexual harassment she faced in the industry. In a recent interview, the actor revealed two incidents involving big names, while stressing on standing up against inappropriate behaviour. (Also read: Anurag Kashyap clarifies his statement about almost firing Amruta Subhash from Choked: 'I took her example because...') In an interview with Zoom, the actor recalled one such incident and said, "There was a producer of a play. I was climbing some stairs, and maybe my top lifted slightly, I didn't even realise. I felt something - a hand near my waist. I turned around and he was a big producer. I just looked at him and said, 'What did you just do? What was that?' And he just brushed it off pretending as if nothing happened. I said, 'I felt it. What was that?' Everybody was stunned because he was such a big name. He said, 'No no, your top just moved up,' and I said, 'It's none of your business! How dare you touch me there? You can't do that.'" Amruta mentioned that everybody else on the set was worried that she would lose work. However, the actor decided to standup against him because no one should have the audacity to touch her without her consent. In another incident, the actor described how she was tired of another senior, well known producer who would force her to drink with him every night. She avoided him for some time but one day, decided to confront the situation head on. "I banged the door open and entered. I knew people were watching. He was shocked. I looked into his eyes and said, 'Sir, you are my father's age. Why are you talking to me like this? What is your problem?' I said it calmly but directly looking into his eyes. He started getting awkward. Of course, I left the door open, not just for his sake, but for my safety too. After that, things settled down." Amruta will next be seen in Chidiya which also stars Vinay Pathak, Svar Kamble, Ayush Pathak, Brijendra Kala and Muzaffar Khan. Set against the backdrop of a Mumbai chawl, the film revolves around two young brothers, who aspire to play badminton while overcoming the limitations of their modest environment. Directed by Mehran Amrohi, the film is set to hit the theaters on May 30.
