Bhumi Pednekar’s Ongoing Journey: From 100 kg Debut to Self-Love & Resilience

Battling body image, online trolls and overexertion, Bhumi Pednekar opens up on how she’s learning to love her evolving self — and balancing fitness with mental health.

When Bhumi Pednekar made her Bollywood debut with Dum Laga Ke Haisha in 2015, she weighed close to 100 kg, having gained over 30 kg for the role. Her performance not only earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut but also challenged long-standing beauty stereotypes in the industry. Since then, Bhumi has undergone a visible physical transformation, but her real journey, as she reveals, is one of finding balance, mental peace, and self-acceptance.

Despite her fitness transformation, Bhumi admits that body image issues never completely fade away. “I feel that doesn’t ever go right,” she said in an interview, reflecting on the pressures of growing up in a society obsessed with appearances. “We were always subjected to different kinds of comments. But you have to learn to love yourself, and that’s a process.”

Bhumi confessed that even now, she has days when she feels disheartened by comments or expectations. “It has taken me a lot of time, and I still have days where I feel heartbroken about things. But the point is that I have a routine that keeps me in check. For me, physical health is also about mental health,” she shared.

Over time, Bhumi has also realised the importance of moderation. Early in her fitness journey, she admits she pushed herself too hard — without giving her body time to recover. The overexertion eventually affected her health. Today, she works out less but focuses more on doing it mindfully and sustainably. “It’s not about how you look externally; it’s about how you feel internally,” she said, adding that running and walking bring her mental clarity and calm.

Being in the public eye means facing constant scrutiny. Bhumi has learned to stay unfazed by trolling and online commentary about her looks. “There was a time when I was 96 kg, and there were opinions then. Now, I look different, and there are opinions now,” she said, acknowledging that people will always have something to say.

Bhumi’s response to critics has evolved over the years. Early in her career, she admits she paid attention to comments about her body, but she has since learned to draw boundaries. “It’s my body — I will do what I want. Who are you to tell me otherwise?” she asserted in a recent interview. While she listens to her audience, she ultimately does what feels right for her, choosing self-worth over validation.

Bhumi has stopped measuring her progress through numbers. She no longer weighs herself and doesn’t let the scale dictate how she feels. Her focus now is on holistic wellness — eating well, staying active, and prioritising happiness. She has also spoken about maintaining a balanced relationship with food, refusing to demonise carbs or feel guilty for enjoying a meal.

Recently, Bhumi was part of the relaunch of a Skechers store in New Delhi’s Pacific Mall, where she led the brand’s Community Goal Challenge. The initiative encouraged participants to collectively run 1,000 km on treadmills, after which Skechers donated 100 pairs of children’s shoes to a local NGO. Bhumi described it as a “meaningful way to blend fitness with social impact.”

Her approach to fitness is simple — be kind to your body, do what makes you feel good, and avoid extremes. She believes wellness isn’t just about physical transformation but about aligning your body and mind.

As for her upcoming projects, Bhumi remains tight-lipped but excited. “There are a lot of things, but they haven’t been announced yet. Next year, you will see me onscreen three or four times,” she teased. She has several releases lined up, including new collaborations with major production houses.

Bhumi Pednekar’s story isn’t about perfection — it’s about progress. From breaking industry norms with her debut to redefining beauty on her own terms, she continues to prove that true strength lies in embracing every version of yourself, inside and out.