Mumbai: Rashami Desai has opened up about a difficult period in her life when unexplained health concerns, body-image worries and the pressure to look a certain way affected both her confidence and her professional life.
The actor, who is preparing for a television comeback, said she spent nearly three years dealing with health issues without fully understanding what was happening to her. Looking back, she says the experience taught her to stop treating weight loss as the ultimate goal and instead focus on feeling healthy and maintaining sustainable habits.
“I remember those days jab mein roz subah uthh ke sochi thhi kya mein moti ho rahi hoon. It was like I was in some kind of war with myself,” Rashami recalled.
She said the period lasted for around two to three years and involved several health concerns, including symptoms she initially experienced as food allergies.
Rashami Desai says her priority was never size zero
Rashami made it clear that achieving a particular body shape was never her primary objective.
“My aim was never size zero ya bas patli ho jaaun mein, but it was to look presentable and be healthy inside,” she said.
The actor acknowledged that people in the entertainment industry, particularly actresses, can face intense scrutiny over their appearance. However, she decided that outside opinions could not dictate how she treated her body.
“People of course have unreasonable expectations from actors especially from actresses and they judge, but I decided jisko joh bolna hain bole I have to get back to feeling better first rather just lose weight drastically because how I feel and look is entirely my call and why need others’ validation for your being,” she said.
For Rashami, the distinction between looking thinner and actually feeling healthier became increasingly important.
Meeting a nutritionist changed her approach
According to Rashami, a significant change came last year when she consulted a nutritionist.
She said the experience helped her understand that ignoring health concerns was not an option, while pushing her body through extreme routines was not the answer either.
“It was not with an intense workout regimen or anything else but meeting a nutritionist changed my life and I realised you can’t be in denial about your health, and at the same time, you can’t challenge your body and push yourself to where it starts to hurt,” she said.
The shift was less about achieving rapid results and more about understanding what her body needed.
“I chose consistency over intensity”
Rashami’s approach to fitness now centres on sustainable habits rather than short bursts of extreme exercise.
“There are like ‘mera weight ka target hain woh mujhe achieve karna hain’ that is like abusing your physical being for me. I chose consistency over intensity,” she said.
Instead of spending hours exercising for a few days and then stopping, she believes simple activities performed regularly can make a meaningful difference.
“Spending hours in gym just for a day or two and doing your simple walks or jogs everyday can work wonders,” she added.
Her approach also includes everyday habits such as drinking sufficient water, improving her sleep cycle and allowing herself enough rest.
Rashami says the bigger victory was feeling better
Rashami said she gradually lost around 10 to 12 kilograms over a three-month period, after previously weighing close to 75 kilograms.
However, she does not consider the number on the weighing scale to be the most important part of her journey.
The actor says the more significant change was moving away from the constant self-criticism that had accompanied her health struggles.
Her focus became choosing herself consistently rather than waiting for a particular day to begin taking care of her wellbeing.
In an industry where appearance can often become a major part of an actor’s public identity, Rashami says her priority was ultimately personal rather than external.
The journey, she suggests, has been about regaining a sense of calm and control rather than simply becoming thinner.
Rashami Desai is preparing for her television comeback
After stepping away from major work during a challenging period, Rashami is now preparing to return to television.
Her recent reflections suggest that the comeback comes at a different point in her life, with a greater emphasis on consistency, self-care and listening to her body.
