Exclusive: Zarine Khan on weight loss, comparison with Katrina and upcoming projects

With her recent weight loss and the success of her Punjabi film 'Jatt James Bond', Zarine Khan is making headlines again. She talks to Pinkvilla about her fitness regime, her upcoming projects and her reaction to being compared with Katrina Kaif.

What has Zarine Khan been upto?

Well I am enjoying the super success of my Punjabi film 'Jatt James Bond', busy shooting for my endorsements, travelling for my shows, and reading scripts for my next project.

We are amazed at your recent weight loss. What was the reason behind it?

The reason behind it is to look and feel fit. I'm a big built girl and weight loss doesn't show easily on my body though weight gain easily does. So I worked really hard to get back into shape so that I liked what I saw in the mirror and I'm very happy that people are appreciating the whole effort.

Can you share some tips and fitness routine you followed to get fit?

I believe your body is made 80 percent in the kitchen and 20 percent in the gym...Mostly you have to watch what you eat. That doesn't mean you starve yourself. Eat everything in the right amount at the right time. And make sure you atleast take out 30 minutes for yourself from the whole day to do any kind of physical activity.

As for me I keep changing my exercise routine since I get bored very easily. I keep switching between power yoga, strength training, swimming, playing badminton and different forms of cardio.

What was your diet like?

A diet shouldn’t be something that you punish your body with. It’s just all about eating healthy. My diet consisted of eating small portions every two hours. Never starving. No fried food. And yes I have a major sweet tooth so indulged myself once in a while for a piece of chocolate.

You recently made a comment that comparisons with Katrina Kaif affected your career. It made headlines everywhere. Comments on that?

Well Katrina is a very beautiful woman. But I'm not here to live under anyone's shadow or be called anyone's lookalike beacuse when I see myself in the mirror I see Zarine Khan and not Katrina Kaif. Its high time that these comparisons should stop. It’s all about timing. May be if I was a part of this industry before her, the story would’ve been different now.

How did you foray into Punjabi films?

The Punjabi film industry is blooming right now. Only after doing a film there I realised how huge the market is. A lot of our Hindi film actors have ventured into Punjabi cinema the last one being Akshay Kumar, so I thought why not give it a try.

The movie ‘Jatt James Bond’ is a success. How are you celebrating?

I'm very happy that I made a choice of doing the film and super happy about the fact that the movie is doing so well. I got more offers from the Punjabi film industry but I want to take my time and choose.

Any plans of doing movies down south?

Of course...I would love to work in south movies too. Infact I'm in talks for a Telegu film...If everything falls in place I will be seen in south films also very soon.

What's next for Zarine?

Reading some very interesting scripts...Might start filming for my next in September.