My first introduction to Gandhi’s body of work was during the lockdown when my parents raved about his performance in Scam 1992. ‘It felt like he lived the character,’ my mother said while urging me to add the series to my watchlist. I wasn’t disappointed, to say the least. However, what also caught my eye was his physical transformation to play Harshad Mehta’s character that was sharp, crude, yet relatable.  

Enjoying the success of his recent release, Dhoom Dhaam, opposite Yami Gautam, Gandhi has no time to celebrate. He’s onto his next already. “That’s the best way to go about things; I have always been a multi-tasker, so I move on from one thing to another, quickly,” he says. So how does he slow down, we wonder? “Even to slow down, I do things that demand physical and mental attention. I have been told that it’s not good but I’m trying to work on it,” he laughs. The actor is serious about his fitness routine and how he manages his health and diet, so much so that it has now become a way of life. In a freewheeling chat, Gandhi spilled beans on his daily routine, what kind of things sets him up for the day full of work and action and how he unwinds 

What’s your workout routine like? 

Working out is my passion; I try to innovate with my exercises with martial arts or other innovative techniques. There’s no separate workout plan that I follow. Honestly, it is a part of my daily life now. I try to walk as much as possible, even on sets I’m careful about my posture, sometimes I don’t use a chair but would sit in a deep squat position, I try not to use elevators and take stairs instead. What I’m trying to say is that it’s not a conscious effort but has become a way of life. I also keep changing my workout routine; I recently bought Mugdar which I used to workout with when I was in school. For the longest time, I used to go to an akhara to work out and not a gym. It’s my comfort zone.

I also like playing different sports; I play badminton and was part of my school kabaddi team as well. I started learning martial arts when I was in fourth grade and since then exercising and fitness have become recreational activities for me. It’s something that I enjoy; it’s addictive because you always want to do more and raise the difficulty levels. I also like doing yoga; certain asanas are now a part of my warm routine. 

Are you a morning person? What’s your usual morning routine like? 

Yes, I’m a morning person. I start my day with my morning prayer and consuming sole water. I follow it up with hot ginger water with lemon. In the last one and a half years, I have picked up the habit of reading. I make sure I read 10 to 15 pages every day. I enjoy reading non-fiction. 

What is your grooming routine like? 

I have extremely dry skin, so I never go without a moisturiser. I have a habit of forgetting things and therefore, I remind myself constantly to apply moisturiser. I was told by my dermatologist that I must apply a sunscreen. When I am shooting, I give my products to my make-up artist and ask him to use it on me before starting with my make-up so that I don’t forget to apply them. I must credit my wife and brother as they keep reminding me not to skip skincare. Therefore, I always ask my dermatologist to give me a simple routine and fuss-free products that take care of basics. 

I also enjoy using home remedies, but I have realised that you need to be consistent with it to see results. As I have dry skin, I use fresh cream (malayi) on my face to combat dryness. With that, I am also very particular about oiling my hair. I keep it on for a couple of hours before washing it off. 

Tell us about your diet. 

I am particular about having home cooked meals as much as possible. I usually don’t eat breakfast, and lunch is the first meal of my day. Homemade food is my go-to diet, you may say. I am not very fussy about eating right at the right time, but I make sure that I eat the best from whatever is available. This comes in handy when you are traveling and do not have access to home-cooked meals. I make sure that I eat a bowl full of green vegetables. I like to keep it simple, easy and healthy. This is what I have picked up after experimenting with multiple diet plans. 

I have learned that keeping it simple and sustainable is what works for my body. Another thing that I’d like to mention is that I have never completely stopped consuming any food group. I eat everything but the key here is portion control. The hack that I have learned with regards to diet is don’t deprive your body of anything, just keep the portion in check.  

Is there any physical transformation that you went through for any of your projects that you found challenging? 

Yes, I had to gain weight for Harshad Mehta’s character in Scam 1992. I gained over 20 kgs for that character but that was a tough time for me. My body type is such that it’s difficult for me to gain weight. So, I had to stop working out and eat all that I could. I ate a lot of junk food; it’s not that I ever made a conscious effort to not eat any of it, but I never like eating junk. I remember I ate a lot of rasgullas and drank beer for the weight to show on my face and body (laughs). It was also a lockdown time when we finished shooting for the series and I remember I lost around 14-15 Kgs and 8 inches in 58 days at home. The good thing is I can work out anywhere and I don’t always need equipment. That’s what helped me shed those extra kilos at home during the lockdown. 

On the other hand, I had to be lean for Gandhi but I couldn’t lose that weight in the gym. I had to be lean but not have sculpted or defined muscles. Therefore, I used to walk a lot and went into calorie-deficit to lose weight. However, it had some serious aftereffects because I lost muscle weight that wasn’t intended. So, now muscle building will take time. 

Is there any grooming hack that you have picked up? 

I have dark circles and so, I have realised that wearing glasses takes the attention away from deep under-eye pockets. 

What do you do to keep your mental health in check? 

What works for me is that I get myself involved in a lot of other things apart from the world of acting and entertainment, whether it's reading, or spending time with family or friends and that helps a lot. I've worked in multiple fields so, this maneuvering the human ego, maintaining your head space and peace is very easy for me. I know that not all criticism and praises have to be taken seriously. 

Do you like being calculative or going with the flow? 

A bit of both; I like to strategise and analyse but to an extent. When you realise that something is not working, and there is something bigger at play. You also have to give that space to yourself. 

What’s your idea of unwinding? 

The moment I am at home with my people, family, and certain friends, I feel de-stressed and happy. Theatre is another happy space for me. The moment I start rehearsing for a play and go to perform a show, for me, it works as the highest level of meditation. I feel the most comfortable on stage. At the same time, I constantly get to challenge myself because theatre is a live medium and it doesn't give you a chance for retake. There is no scope for an error. So, you constantly check yourself, you know, mind, body, and soul. 

Lastly, do you have any go-to fragrances? 

I absolutely enjoy wearing Dior Sauvage, that’s my go to.