Latest news with #MrsIndia
Indian Express
04-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘Someone remarked I looked like a buffalo': How this former Mrs India finalist lost 30kg weight and rebuilt her relationship with food after a serious injury
Hong Kong-based stand-up comedian Maitreyi Karanth, who is also a former Mrs India finalist, has inspired many with her dramatic weight loss transformation in just a year. According to a report by the South China Morning Post, this journey started two decades ago. While playing squash with a friend, Karanth ran to get a shot and slammed into a wall, experiencing severe bleeding and bruising deep in her chest muscles. The injury took months to heal and dramatically affected her mobility. A physically active person, she turned to food for comfort and ended up gaining 25kg. 'I still felt very pretty and continued to post pictures of myself on social media without feeling like I needed to hide any part of my body,' said Karanth, now 52. But as she returned to activities like squash and hiking, she noticed the toll the extra weight was taking. 'I realised how heavy I'd become.' Over the years, she endured painful comments: 'I really admire you — if I were you, I would not even go out,' someone told her. 'Another friend asked to look at my meal, because she wanted to know what I was eating 'to look like this'. And someone else remarked that I looked like a buffalo,' she recalled. But instead of retreating, she used these moments to reflect. 'I'd heard about intermittent fasting, and opted to eat just one meal a day. Initially, my daily meal wasn't particularly healthy, but as the extra weight came off, I felt a greater desire to prepare healthier meals. A typical meal consisted of a small amount of rice, some protein, like a hard-boiled egg, plenty of vegetables, some fruit and a bite-sized treat,' she told SCMP. After she began adjusting to her new eating routine and started to lose weight, she got back to enjoying her favourite physical activities. Within a year of following a one-meal-a-day plan and giving up alcohol completely, Karanth shed 30kg, bringing her weight down to 62kg. However, this came with its challenges and led her to switch to a more sustainable diet plan. 'It was hard not being able to snack between lunch and dinner, and I struggled with introducing alcohol back into my weekends without going overboard. I realised that I didn't have a good relationship with food. I was afraid to eat, and when I did eat, I didn't know my limits.' She added, 'I gained 7kg during this time, but then I went back to eating one meal a day and lost the extra weight in two months. Since then, I've tried to develop a healthier relationship with food. Now, I eat two meals a day and allow myself to have a little bit of everything,' she revealed. A post shared by Maitreyi Karanth (@maitreyi_karanth) Ashlesha Joshi, senior nutritionist at Tone 30 Pilates, tells 'Eating just one meal a day, also known as OMAD, can lead to short-term weight loss for some individuals due to a significant calorie deficit. However, for women over 50, it may not be the most sustainable or supportive approach for long-term health. At this stage of life, hormonal changes can impact metabolism, bone density, and muscle mass. Relying on just one meal a day might result in inadequate intake of essential nutrients like protein, calcium, and fiber, which are crucial during and after menopause. Instead of extreme restriction, a more balanced approach that includes small, nutrient-dense meals across the day tends to be more effective in the long run. ' 'This type of emotional relationship with food is more common than we often realise, especially among individuals who have been through years of dieting or societal pressure around body image,' says Joshi. To break this cycle, she suggests that it is essential to first rebuild trust with food. Practicing mindful eating is a powerful strategy. Working with a trained nutritionist or therapist can help unpack the emotional triggers behind food choices. It is also important to move away from labelling foods as good or bad, and instead focus on nourishment, satisfaction, and body awareness. DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.
India.com
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
TV actress Navina Bole accuses director Sajid Khan of sexual harassment, says 'asked me to....'
In a shocking incident, TV actress Navina Bole, known for her roles in 'Ishqbaaz', has recently accused director Sajid Khan of misconduct. The actress claimed that the director asked her to 'take her clothes off.' The revelation by Bole was made during a chat show with Subhojit Ghosh for his YouTube channel. The 'Ishqbaaz' actress opened up about the casting couch experience in the industry. She revealed how she was invited by Sajid Khan to his home and was asked to meet his inappropriate demand. The actress said, 'There was a terrible, terrible man who I would never want to meet in my life called Sajid Khan, he came after so many of us after Gladrags, and he just really pushed the envelope when it came to disrespecting women.' While recalling her interaction with Sajid during the casting of 'Heyy Baby', she said, 'You know, I was really excited when he called me and then he literally said, 'Why don't you just get off your clothes and sit in your lingerie, I need to see how comfortable you are.' I am talking about 2004 and 2006 when I did Gladrags.' The actress shared that director Sajid Khan once again contacted her when she was participating in Mrs India. She recounted, 'He had called me again then and asked me, 'What do you do, you should come see me for a role.' And I said this guy must be hitting on so many women that he does not even remember that one year ago he had called me to his place and he has already hit on me so badly.' For the unversed, Sajid Khan was accused of sexually harassing many women during the 2018 India's #MeToo movement.
India Today
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
TV actor Navina Bole accuses Sajid Khan of misconduct, says he asked her to strip
Navina Bole, best known for her role in 'Ishqbaaz', has recently made shocking allegations against director Sajid Khan, claiming he asked her to "take off her clothes."In a conversation with Subhojit Ghosh for his YouTube channel, Navina opened up about facing the 'casting couch' in the industry. She shared how Sajid invited her to his home and made inappropriate demands. Speaking to the portal, the 'Ishqbaaz' actor said, 'There was a terrible terrible man who I would never want to meet in my life called Sajid Khan, he came after so many of us after gladrags and he just really pushed the envelope when it came to disrespecting women.'advertisementRecalling her encounter with Sajid during the casting for 'Heyy Baby', she said, 'You know I was really excited when he called me and then he literally said why don't you just get off your clothes and sit in your lingerie I need to see how comfortable you are. I am talking about 2004 and 2006 when I did gladrags.' Navina also revealed that Sajid contacted her again a year later while she was participating in Mrs India. She recounted, 'He had called me again then and asked me, 'What do you do, you should come see me for a role.' And I said this guy must be hitting on so many women that he does not even remember that one year ago he had called me to his place and he has already hit on me so badly.'For the uninformed, In 2018, Sajid Khan was accused of sexual harassment by several women, including actors and a journalist, during India's #MeToo Watch
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Professor scoops hat-trick of beauty queen titles
A mum who spent 10 years studying to become a professor says she has 'a new respect for Kate Moss' - as the toughest moment in her career was learning to walk in high heels. Motivational speaker Professor Dr Parin Somani usually splits her time between teaching, academic research, and writing books in London with humanitarian trips to India, particularly helping young people. So when Dr Somani was invited to take part in a beauty queen contest instead of just speaking at it, she decided to give it a go believing it would be easier than years spent with her nose in books in academia. But the 55-year-old, who completed her studies in leadership management in Keisie International University in Dallas, Texas, was stunned when she discovered it was not a walk in the park. She spent weeks tottering around in four-inch heels in a desperate bid to perfect her best model-worthy catwalk strut. Dr Somani, founder and CEO of the London Organisation of Skills Development (LOSD), admitted mastering the skill was a 'totally different ballgame' to anything she'd done previously. READ MORE: Mum loses everything after air fryer 'exploded' while she was out READ MORE: Dad who stabbed daughter, 14, in chest in play fight guilty of murder But her grit and determination paid off as she scooped three beauty queen titles of Mrs India and Mrs Brit Asian in 2021 and Mrs Enigma World in 2022 - proving she's both brains and beauty. Despite being offered lucrative Bollywood movie deals off the back of her wins, Dr Somani turned them down instead choosing to dedicate her time to helping more people with her humanitarian work. Dr Somani, from Barnet, North London, said: "I had to learn how to walk like a model in 3.5-inch heels. It was a completely different ballgame learning the walk compared to academic work. I couldn't walk, it took me several weeks to learn how to perfect it. "I had to practise a lot, it's hard work. People are cheering and clapping but they don't know how much hard work has gone into it behind the scenes. I have a new respect for catwalk models like Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss who make it look effortless." The mum-of-three was initially going to just speak at the beauty contest, but says organisers encouraged her to hit the main stage as the ultimate way to motivate others. Dr Somani said: "I work as a motivational speaker and a humanitarian. Initially my journey started as just speaking at Mrs Queen of India and Mrs India but they asked me to take part to inspire the girls. "When asked to join as a beauty contestant as a role model for other participants I was unsure how practical it would be but the lady said 'I'll teach you everything. It'll really help our other girls'. "Taking part in beauty contests is inspiring people in a different way, to see me as a success in motion. It's not just looking at the beauty of the woman, but the beauty of the brain too and how you've helped society. It shows you can have brains and beauty." The three-time TEDx speaker, who founded London Organisation of Skills Development (LOSD) online digital platform providing skills-building and self-improvement courses, said there was an unexpected outcome from her success on stage. Off the back of her wins Dr Somani said she was offered lucrative Bollywood movie deals but shunned them to further pursue a humanitarian career inspired by Mother Teresa. Dr Somani said: "After winning the competitions I was offered the main roles in Bollywood movies with big stars including Rajinikanth, who is considered 'the God of the South' and many others. "It was very flattering but I didn't want to become a movie star, my main ambition was to be a Mother Teresa figure and do humanitarian work and make a global change. "I said to the director 'thanks so much for offering it to me but I don't think I'm a suitable candidate'. When he asked 'why?' I said I wanted to help society with humanitarian work." The beauty queen winner, who cites Mother Teresa and Mahatma Gandhi as her inspirations, said she wants to help as many people as she can. Dr Somani, who also studied Media Communication at Universal Press Media Education Vidyapith affiliated with shine international university in India, said: "I'm connected to hundreds of universities around the world. "In my philanthropic work I coach the under-privileged, help people to become empowered and also do youth development work. I also help set up businesses, help with education and provide a helping hand in the UK to young people and seniors. "I want to continue the legacy of Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandhi and Aga Khan - they're my role models. My aim is to help humanity until my last breath."
