Hema Malini reveals 'pure vegetarian' diet which helps her keep fit at 77, without gym, despite loving idlis and paneer parathas. One food she consumes daily helps burning fat

Hema Malini remains a timeless diva at the age of 77. A video shared by Jeevan Kosh shared the dietary secrets of Bollywood’s evergreen ‘Dream Girl ’ that helped her maintain a svelte figure and flawless skin. The video informed that she followed a clean diet along with exercise and dance to keep fit.

She starts her day with a glass of lukewarm water, with a dash of lemon juice and honey. This helps her maintain energy levels throughout the day.

No Meat Or Fish

Regarding her diet, the ‘Seetha Aur Gita’ star follows a pure vegetarian diet. Her meals mainly consist of vegetables which are low in calories and high in fibre. For breakfast, she often has idlis or fruits. Sometimes she enjoys paneer parathas and curd. Her meals include two rotis, a small bowl of daal, two types of vegetable curry, either rasam or kadhi, or a bit of rice. In an interview with The Telegraph, she revealed she never combines rice and chapattis in the same meal. She has her last meal before 8:00 pm to enable digestion. She also consumes two cups of green tea and a bowl of curd.


"When I am shooting, I carry my own lunch from home. We have a cook who makes food according to his style, but we like South Indian food, so thoda-bahut rasam bana leta hai (so he makes a little bit of rasam)," she revealed to The Telegraph.

Completely Sugar Free

She has also removed sugar from her diet and replaced it with honey. Research highlighted by Vinmec suggests that honey is packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and natural compounds that may support energy production while helping strengthen the immune system. These nutrients can keep the body feeling more energetic and better prepared for physical activity, making regular exercise easier to maintain.

A sluggish metabolism often makes weight management challenging because the body burns calories at a slower pace, allowing excess energy to be stored as fat. In contrast, a more active metabolism enables the body to use calories more efficiently, supporting healthier weight control. Honey has been associated with improved metabolic activity, which may encourage the body to burn fat more effectively. Evidence from an animal study found that mice given honey experienced less weight gain and a lower likelihood of developing obesity, suggesting it could play a role in managing body weight.

Honey is also considered to have a relatively low glycemic index compared with refined sugar, largely because of its naturally occurring fructose. This means it may cause a slower rise in blood glucose levels in some people. A study involving individuals with diabetes reported that consuming natural honey was linked to a reduction in body weight. However, the researchers also cautioned that honey significantly increased hemoglobin A1c levels, an indicator of long-term blood sugar control. For this reason, people with diabetes should consume honey carefully and seek guidance from a healthcare professional before including it regularly in their diet.

The Power Of Fasting

Hema follows a disciplined fasting routine twice every week, observing fasts on Mondays and Fridays as an expression of her devotion to Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga. During these fasting days, she keeps her meals simple and light, choosing sattvic foods that are considered pure and nourishing. Her diet typically includes items such as paneer, bananas, and freshly prepared fruit juice, and she concludes her fast in the early evening.

According to Hema, this regular practice is more than a spiritual ritual. She believes that fasting contributes to mental clarity, emotional balance, and sustained physical energy. By combining mindful eating with her religious observances, she feels the routine helps her stay calm, focused, and active throughout the day.

Her Workout Regimen

She engages in 45 minutes of yoga every morning. She also spends time walking, cycling and dancing to keep herself active. She doesn't go to the gym.

Don’t Overeat

In a conference years ago, the ‘Satte Pe Satta’ star advised fans to eat limited amounts if they want to keep fit. “Your stomach is small. You are supposed to eat food that fills only half that size…”