By : Kavita Shyam
Kalki Koechlin. Unconventional good looks, personality, movie choices. Her avant-garde looks, her French lineage and Puducherry upbringing, her unusual life choices make her stand out.
Aside from being a talented actor, Kalki Koechlin is witty, holds strong views and has an unconventional way of voicing it on issues such as education, women’s empowerment, sexual abuse, gender equality, LGBT, etc.
Her wit marks her Twitter bio, which reads, “This one time abroad I didn’t have ID to get into a bar so I told the bouncer ‘Google me, I’m famous.’ The rest of the time, though, I don’t feel that important.”
Kalki Koechlin is equally cool and relaxed about her beauty, fitness and fashion routines.
You look absolutely fit and gorgeous. Tell us your fitness secrets?
I am very lucky! When I was a teenager, I was chubby and did a lot of aerobics to shed pounds. I’ve managed to lose the baby fat.
I am not fond of working out at the gyms nor do I have a personal trainer either. However, I like to swim for an hour every morning. Swimming keeps me lean without building the muscles; it’s a balanced workout, works in every part of the body. After swimming, I feel charged and more focused on my work.
I have always liked sports such as football and volleyball. I advise people to go and take up an exercise regime that you are interested in; dancing, yoga, jogging or even a sport.
How do you unwind after a hectic work schedule?
The best way to rejuvenate is to slow down one’s lifestyle for a week. Take it easy and take time out to connect with nature. Fresh mountain air and sparkling spring water revive me. I’m an outdoorsy person, not a city girl. If I am exhausted, I opt for an adventure trip away from the city, or scuba diving.
What are your dos and don’ts of working out?
Don’t eat immediately after an exercise regime as the body stores the food as fat. Don’t repeat the same exercise on a daily basis. There’s no shortcut to losing weight. I used to try a lot of crash diets, before going on a beach holiday. It was disastrous as I put on weight on binging after three days of depriving myself completely!
Tell us about your beauty mantra
I am very low maintenance. I stick to natural and chemical-free products. From my skincare to the makeup and diet, it’s mostly natural. I drink a lot of water as well as lemon water through the day to keep me going. The best thing to use on your face is natural aloe vera, straight from the plant. It is known for its moisturizing, healing and cooling properties. For my hair, I use protein shampoo and conditioner regularly. I use argan or sesame oil treatments once a week for nourishment and healthy tresses.
How do you do you makeup?
If I’m going out to dinner or to an event, I wear slight make-up. I use foundation only if I have to. I use a bit of concealer under my eyes to cover the redness. I play up just one striking feature, either big eyes with kohl and some eyeshadow, or a pop of color on the lips in bright red. A great makeup tip is to apply a light shimmery shade just below the eyebrow on the brow bone and then put a dot of the same shimmer on the inner corner of the eyes, it immediately opens your eyes up. Also using a nude or pinkish eye pencil on the waterline instead of kohl works well to make your eyes look bigger!
Are you a spa person?
I don’t visit the spa too often, but there is one in the city that I like to visit for its Thai massages.
What’s your diet like on a daily basis?
When it comes to my diet, I don’t really have any rules. I eat vegetarian, home-cooked food as much as possible. I recommend heavy, carbohydrate-loaded breakfast for the necessary energy boost. So I eat oats with honey and yogurt. My lunch consists of rice with curry like chicken or rajma with buttermilk or loads of yoghurt. For dinner, I have roti, vegetables, and lentils. I have a lot of fresh juices, lassi, and soups when I am shooting. Often I relish snacking on Shrewsbury biscuits or cheese crackers.
What do you think of size zero concept or being overtly thin?
I think it’s great to have womanly curves; it sets women apart from the men. We try to aspire to get to that one shape that is supposedly desirable. We are losing our individual identities.
Lastly, tell us about your fashion mantra, a fashion tip besides give out your favorite designers?
My style changes often and depends mostly on my mood. I swear by wearable, high-street fashion and vintage shops. My advice is never to follow trends blindly. Always wear your personality and wear clothes that suit your body type. I love Sabyasachi and Marc Jacobs creations.