Latest news with #Mamangam
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Prachi Tehlan sheds 18 kilos with an anti-inflammatory diet: her complete weight loss diet and fitness regime
Former athlete Prachi Tehlan, known for her film roles, achieved a remarkable 18-kilogram weight loss in months by returning to basics. Eschewing extreme measures, she embraced clean eating, regular badminton, and consistent workouts. Tehlan emphasized the importance of an anti-inflammatory diet, guided by nutritionists, and a disciplined fitness regime including functional training. Former basketball and netball player Prachi Tehlan , who is now popular for her roles in films, recently underwent a drastic weight loss. She shed 18 kilograms, from 98 to 81, in a matter of months. No, she did not spend hours in the gym or hop on a fancy crash diet. Instead, she went back to the basics - eating clean, regular exercise, and consistency. 'For almost two years, I was held back by a few health concerns that stopped me from being at my fittest. I kept trying, but something always felt missing in my routine… Until I realized—it was sports,' Prachi Tehlan said, in an exclusive interview with ETimes. As sports have always been her pal, the 'Mamangam' actress knew how it could fuel discipline, energy, and passion. Since team sports were tough to commit to at that point, she relied upon badminton, which, according to her, was a 'game changer'. 'I started training four days a week, alongside a disciplined fitness regime: functional training, mindful winding routines, and a clean, focused diet,' Tehlan said. Pic courtesy: Special arrangement For her, resuming her fitness routine wasn't just about losing weight, but 'regaining control'. 'After two years of battling health concerns, I didn't want to leave any stone unturned this time. So I went all in: followed a guided routine with 3–4 nutritionists, took an anti-inflammatory diet plan, and stuck to a clean, consistent regimen,' she reveals. In four and a half months, Tehlan managed to lose 18 kilograms, thanks to the anti-inflammatory diet, paired with workouts. Diet Prachi Tehlan started her day with chia seeds soaked in water, infused with a dash of lemon juice. Chia seeds are packed with antioxidants, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fatty acid. Several studies have shown that chia seeds can lower the risk of heart disease, cancer, and inflammation, and also aid weight loss. They are also rich in dietary fiber , which aids digestion. The vitamin C in lemon boosts immunity, aids digestive enzyme production, and also provides hydration. For breakfast, the actor prefers to have protein-rich eggs. She consumes a protein shake before starting her workout sessions. Her lunch is all about nutrition that her body needs. This includes a small portion of rice, paired with chicken, and a salad loaded with vegetables and leafy greens. Throughout the day, she ensures to keep herself hydrated. One key rule she followed during her weight loss journey was to finish her dinner early. Her dinner options are often hearty soups, veggie-loaded salads, or protein wraps. Saqib Saleem's No-Carb Body Breaks The Internet She also made a conscious effort to stay away from processed foods and sugary treats. 'I avoided maida, sweets, aerated drinks, and milk from the diet. But, at the same time, I made sure to include healthy fats and superfoods in my diet—like ghee, butter (in moderation), and chia seeds,' she reveals. The actor also shared that she added supplements as recommended by her doctors to compensate for deficiencies. Workout regime Pic courtesy: Special arrangement Tehlan's workouts were carefully curated by her fitness coach. As she enjoys sports, it was also part of her workout routine. 'I played badminton four times a week—Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday—for about 1.5 to 2 hours each session. Alongside that, I trained at the gym 2 to 3 times a week. Additionally, I incorporated functional training 2 to 3 times a week. This combination helped me build stamina, strength, and consistency in my fitness journey. ' The actor has now started Muay Thai training (a martial arts form that originated in Thailand). It's never easy Pic courtesy: Special arrangement The actor also confessed that the journey hasn't been a cakewalk. She has also hit roadblocks along the way. 'The major challenge during my weight loss journey was hair fall and hitting a plateau,' she adds. She also revealed a few non-negotiable rules she follows religiously to stay on track. Consistency: Showing up every day, regardless of how she felt. Discipline: Sticking to her diet and fitness routine. Hydration: Ensuring to drink adequate water throughout the day. No eating out: She decided to eat home-cooked meals and completely avoided eating out to stay on track. Prioritising recovery: Getting enough sleep and rest days so that her body can recover and perform better. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
The Hindu
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Rima Kallingal on winning the best actor award at the Kerala Film Critics Awards, acting in an Anjali Menon film and being a dancer
Gratitude. Rima Kallingal sums it up with one word when I ask her what she is feeling. Winning the Kerala Film Critics Awards for the Best Actor, praise for her Sree Kanya in the segment Backstage, directed by Anjali Menon, part of the coming of age anthology Yuva Sapno Ka Safar and the astounding response to her latest dance production Nayika, a tribute to Malayalam cinema's women actors of the past 100 years, Rima says: 'I feel a surge of gratitude and happiness as an artist! ' We are sitting in her apartment in Panampilly Nagar, Kochi, which wears a dash of whimsy and has dance-related stuff strewn all over. She has just opened the new space for her dance school, Mamangam, which she founded in 2014. It is the material from there, related events and her impending trip to the US (for a month-long series of stage shows), she explains, accompanied by her trademark full-throated laugh. Sharing the best actor award 'I had forgotten about it when the announcements [Kerala Film Critics Awards] came, I was scrolling to see which film it was for. We were filming in Varkala last March. ' Although Rima is seen far and between onscreen, the work that she has been doing is interesting, in her own words. 'Getting a best actor award for a film like Theatre — A Myth of Reality alongside mainstream films for which Tovino [Thomas] and Nazriya [Nazim] got awards is saying something about films and where Malayalam cinema is.' Backstage, which recently dropped on the Waves app, is the story of estrangement and reconciliation of two dancer friends, Gowri (Padmapriya) and Rima's Sree Kanya. The nuanced telling of a story that only Anjali can, and abhinaya-laced performances by the two actors is a refreshing and evocative take on layered female friendships. Rima calls getting to work with Anjali a dream come true. Rima, 41, says the film's set was a 'safe space' where more than 60 percent of the people on the set were women. 'When we were shooting the climax, when the two friends talked to resolve the estrangement, every woman there had tears in her eyes. That is the thing about female friendship; they are more nuanced — we ask, we tell everything, we want to know…. We all have that one friend with whom we are or may have been estranged! It was so relatable.' Her last commercial release was Neelavelicham (2023). She was curious about how the audience would react to Backstage, which is a small slice of life presented in 40-odd minutes. The happiness shows, Rima is glowing because of it. With good reason — she has carved a space for herself despite hostility and ridicule for her political stance as a feminist or as a member of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC). When I ask her of the lost opportunities (in films) because of her politics and how she feels about it, she says, 'Yes, it affected me career-wise. There was a time when I was not happy about having to pay the price for my beliefs; today I am happy to. I did not want to change my stand to get work, I don't want to. I am sure about it. If, as an artist, my work derives from the space and time I live in, how can I deny what is happening?' The message being sent, with the way the actors who spoke up against the status quo were penalised, is that to succeed they have to keep quiet. She confesses to feeling feminist fatigue with constantly trying to change the way people think. 'Now I am like if someone absolutely wants to be a misogynist, so be it. I can't be constantly arguing and trying to change them.' For the love of dance Her focus currently is dance, she is open to work that is exciting enough. 'Filmmakers who approach me, come with offers that need me like Theatre — The Myth of Reality.' Talking about women in Malayalam cinema, the conversation segues to Nayika. Her face lights up when she speaks about her tribute in dance to the 'nayikas' of the past and present. The one-hour show, choreographed to some of Malayalam cinemas classic, well-loved songs featuring the women actors, has been staged in Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram. She is taking it to the US now. 'I have split Nayika into four eras which span from the black and white to the present. It starts with a homage to PK Rosie, the first of us. It is a sobering reminder of how she was treated, discriminated against for her caste. The songs we have picked induce such a rush of nostalgia…and that resonated with the audiences too,' says Rima. The last song is Bougainvillea's 'Stuthi…' 'and I had to add 'Chillane…' [22 Female Kottayam] because it is from my film and also because the song still has such a feel!' she says laughing. Neythe at ITFOK The contemporary dance production, Neythe — Dance of the Weaves (2023), was Mamangam's first dance production. It holds a special space in her heart. One of the high points was it being staged at the International Theatre Festival of Kerala in Thrissur earlier this year. 'We have watched films at the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) sitting on the stairs and floor. Imagine watching a dance production like that? We had people watching Neythe like that. It was such a great feeling. There were those who wondered about an actor bringing a 'dance' to ITFOK but Neythe is physical theatre. And the response to the two shows was validation. It formed a core memory for me.' Although she had carried the idea of Nayika for a while, it was a conversation about how a more relatable dance production would work with audiences, post-Neythe, which is inspired by handloom weaving. That is how she decided to work on Nayika. The research, she admits, was intense. 'I did not want it to be just another dance show with film songs. I wanted it to be more than that, I have tried my best to ensure that nobody is left out.' The scope of what she has done is huge, encapsulating a journey of a century into 60 minutes was not easy. 'I am not done with Nayika, I want to bring in more layers,' she says. Pulling out her phone she shows videos and photographs of Nayika. It is evident that she and her team have pulled out all stops, creatively. Nayika is a spectacle in the truest sense of the term. She credits her team at Mamangam for what she has been able to achieve. 'They inspire me to go after what I want. I could not have done it without them. I have never liked to dance solo, I have always wanted to dance as a team. People like Aloshy and Greeshma (dancers with Mamangam) who look at dance seriously, as a career. That is what they do. When I started dancing, I was unsure, but now there is a space for dance and those who want to make it a career.' Five choreographers, each a specialist in their genre such as folk, classical, hip hop, pop etc worked on the Nayika production which will have 16 dancers. Being a dancer, acting in films that she wants to be a part of and winning awards while at it…Rima Kallingal is in a happy space and she is grateful for it.
