Athiya Shetty Opens Up About Being a 'Bollywood Buff' and the Skills She Picked Up During Lockdown
Dancing to her own tune, Athiya Shetty speaks to Brides Today about everything in between carving a path for herself at the age of six and navigating through these unprecedented times.
One of Athiya Shetty’s fondest childhood memories goes back to when she was six years old. She visited the sets of Umrao Jaan, a film that her father, the Bollywood actor Sunil Shetty, was shooting for. It was rare that she was allowed to be on a set. And she remembers being captivated by the colours, the flurry of activity and, most of all, watching heroine Aishwarya Rai Bachchan getting ready for the shoot. Shetty had always been drawn to the world of films, but, as she recollects, “Being there that day triggered something inside me”.
12 years later, she began paving the path to fulfilling her dream—she went to New York to study acting and film making. She returned to India in 2015 and, soon after, landed her debut film, Hero, directed by Nikhil Advani, and co-starring Sooraj Pancholi. The response was mixed, but Shetty took it in her stride. In the five years since, she has done two more films, a number that is far fewer than that of her contemporaries. But the 27-year-old isn’t in any rush—“It’s about quality and not quantity.”
Brides Today: What did Bollywood mean to you when you were growing up?
Athiya Shetty: As a child, I took Bollywood very seriously. I had haircuts that resembled Anjali’s from 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai'; I faked bad eyesight to get glasses just like Naina from 'Kal Ho Na Ho' and adopted Poo’s mean-girl attitude from 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham'. Luckily none of them became permanent traits!
BT: How would you describe yourself?
AS: A bit crazy and loyal. I’d like to believe I’m real and honest.
BT: Everyone seems to have picked up a skill or two during the lockdown, and staying home. What have you learnt?
AS: I tried to learn how to cook and realised very quickly that I’m no good at it. I just don’t get measurements, so I quit trying. But the one thing I’ve been good at is reading—I have read eight books so far this year. My favourite has been 21 Lessons for the 21st Century by the Israeli author Yuval Noah Harari. It is a thought-provoking book that speaks deeply aboutlife—on getting to know ourselves better and seeing how we contribute towards the relationships we have and the people we love. I have also enjoyed reading Of Love and Other Demons by Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez, Tuesdays with Morrie, a memoir by American author Mitch Albom, the 2019 novel Lost Children Archive by Valeria Luiselli, Little Fires Everywhere by American author Celeste Ng, Fatima Farheen Mirza’ debut novel A Place for Us, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, a 1969 autobiography by American writer and poet Maya Angelou, and the historical fiction book The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes.
BT: Do you have cardinal rules that you swear by?
AS: Yes. First, I follow a strict morning diet regime: I start my day with warm water with lime, a turmeric shot, and a green juice. As clichéd as it may sound, I drink lots of water. Second, I always lay down all cards on the table: Being honest and real with people from the get-go makes my life easier. And third, I always have a crisp white shirt in my wardrobe—it is the only piece of clothing that works for any occasion—a meeting, a night out, or paired with Indian jewellery—it just works!
BT: Most people share a love-hate relationship with exercise. Is that true for you?
AS: I have learnt to love exercising because I have learnt to love my body. I have always been on the skinnier side so my aim has been to gain weight but with a fuss-free diet and comfortable fitness routine. I want to stay strong and get fitter. My father is also a fitness fanatic and while we are all at home, he has taken over the role of being my trainer. Last year he invested in the online fitness community startup SQUATS that has an app called FITTR. I get my personalised fitness schedule on FITTR, which changes every week according to my progress and goals. I am currently working out five days a week—my routine includes body-weight training, muscle activation, and strengthening exercises. My father monitors my workout and corrects me whenever needed.