Arjun Kapoor made his debut with ‘Ishaqzaade’ and went through a drastic physical transformation to be an actor. He lost 50 kilos of weight and in a recent interview, he has opened up on his journey with fitness, mental health and acting. After years of struggling with obesity and chasing appearance-driven goals, he says fitness is now about his own well-being instead of preparing for films or meeting industry expectations.Arjun also discussed how routine, therapy, self-care and setting boundaries have helped him build a healthier and more balanced lifestyle. Looking back at his fitness journey, Arjun admitted that he once associated exercise solely with professional commitments, often racing against shooting schedules to achieve a particular physique.“I’ve never lacked awareness or effort. The reality is simply that my body works differently. What someone else might achieve in three months could take me six. At some point I realised I had to stop measuring myself against those timelines and start enjoying the process instead,” he said in an interview with Esquire India. He explained that his earlier mindset revolved around preparing for upcoming projects. “Earlier my thinking was always, ‘My film starts in three months, so I have to look my best by then.’ That pressure changes your relationship with fitness. You stop enjoying it, and your body almost resists it.”Reflecting on the highs and lows of his weight-loss journey, Arjun said the pressure to maintain a certain image had taken a significant toll.“Over the years I’ve lost fifty kilos, lost another twenty, become an actor, then found myself struggling with weight again because I wanted to look a certain way for the audience. That kind of pressure drains you mentally and physically. This year, fitness wasn’t about an agenda. It was simply for me, and that’s made all the difference.” Arjun shared that introducing discipline into his everyday routine became one of the biggest turning points in his life. He realised that having complete flexibility over his schedule was gradually becoming counterproductive.“The biggest change was learning to say no. You have to ask yourself whether it genuinely makes sense for you and whether it adds value to your life.”He admitted that while the freedom to plan his own day initially felt liberating, it eventually disrupted his routine.“Initially, though, that freedom can become dangerous. Suddenly there’s no structure. You sleep and wake when you want, meetings revolve around your schedule, your trainer adjusts to you, and before you know it, convenience starts turning into complacency.” “The first change I made was shifting my workouts to the morning. I’m naturally a late sleeper and an overthinker, but training first thing gave me accountability. The second was creating structure. Now I work out before diving into meetings, work and social plans, which helps me stay present instead of constantly rushing from one thing to the next. They’re all small habits, but together they’ve made a huge difference.”The actor also highlighted the importance of therapy in maintaining his emotional well-being. “Therapy has become non-negotiable. I don’t miss it.”He added that he has grown comfortable spending time by himself and no longer fears solitude. “I spend time with my friends, with my sister and with myself. I’m no longer afraid of silence or of sitting alone with my thoughts. I’ve found enough structure in that silence that it no longer feels uncomfortable.”Arjun also shared that he now prioritises travelling for leisure rather than work. “Over the last year I travelled to Amsterdam with friends, travelled with my sister, visited Vienna, Venice, Goa, Alibaug, Vana in Dehradun, and London, and even stayed back after work trips like Hong Kong.”He said one of the biggest personal shifts has been allowing himself to truly take breaks. “Earlier, I never took holidays. Two or three days felt like a luxury because I always thought, ‘How can I take time off? I have to work.’ Now I can disappear for ten days if I want to.”
