What do you understand by fitness?

For me fitness is not about being skinny or slim. It’s about being healthy from inside also. I think one should combine exercising along with eating the right kind of food-healthy wholesome food.

And healthy wholesome food would be?

For me it would be say - for lunch I’d have roti and sabzi and some dal salad and rice.

Do you exercise at all?

Yes I go to the gym whenever I can. Now I have joined the Sykes gym in Andheri and I do make it a point when I am travelling to work out in the hotel gym.

Do you work with a trainer?

In Bangalore I do have a trainer and here at the gym too there are trainers who guide you but otherwise I don’t work with a trainer.

Do you practise yoga?

Yes I have just started yoga-I do it in the evenings. I go to a school.

Any other form of fitness that you follow?

No. Just this: If a person is looking at losing weight-just diet or just exercise won’t help you have to combine the two. I combine cardio with weight training. If I can’t go to the gym walk twice a day half an hour in the morning and half an hour in the evening.

Any sports?

Now I don’t play but until two years back I played basketball and even some baseball for the state. I am a sporty person but get less time now.

You are a full time model?

Yes and I am doing my graduation by correspondence.

How fit have you been in the past?

I was fitter when I was younger- when I played badminton I used to get up early and run for 40 minutes and do heavy weight training. I was fitter when I played. But it helps me now in terms of flexibility.

What food do you eat?

During shoots I eat regular ghar ka khana (home made food) with dal roti sabzi raita salad and some non vegetarian. But if it’s studio food then I stick to idlis and very light food.

Breakfast - I can’t do without breakfast. I have a huge breakfast - sometimes we have non vegetarian - sometimes upma, idlis, dosa, parathas - whatever it is I eat a lot of it.

For lunch I have two rotis and some vegetable and salad and some rice and dal so that makes it a balanced diet and it covers everything. I avoid rice and non vegetarian at night.

What do you binge on?

Thai food and chocolate desserts.

What tips would you give the readers?

There is a misconception that if you do weights you become bulky – that’s not true. Please combine exercise and diet. Just one does not help you to either lose weight or remain healthy. Think healthy and have a positive mind set...

Dance has been another defining influence for Deepika...

Jazz, Bharat Natyam (“in my modelling days, this dance training gave me grace and poise; today, it helps to keep me fit”), Kathak; the lissome lass firmly believes in the positive impact of extra-curricular activities. “I think it's very important for all kids to learn some form of sport, dance and music.”