Alia Bhatt's co-star reveals the diet which made him lose 18 kilos in just 28 days: 'There's nothing better...'

Randeep Hooda once achieved the seemingly impossible – he lost a whopping 18 kgs in just 28 days. In a 2025 interview with Shubhankar Mishra, the ‘Highway’ actor revealed how he lost a drastic amount of weight for the 2016 film Sarbjit.

Speaking during a 2025 conversation with journalist Shubhankar Mishra, the Highway star explained that the intense weight loss was driven by the film's changing production schedule and his commitment to authenticity.
Hooda recalled that the filmmakers had initially planned to shoot the Punjab sequences first, including scenes that required him to appear physically strong because of wrestling sequences. However, the production schedule was unexpectedly altered.


According to the actor, he felt it would not be believable for a prisoner who had spent years behind bars to look healthy and well-built. Determined to portray the character realistically, he drastically reduced both his food intake and water consumption. He admitted that the extreme approach placed tremendous stress on his body and significantly affected his overall health.

The actor further revealed that the consequences of such demanding transformations lasted well beyond Sarbjit. He said he remained underweight for almost one and a half years while working on Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, highlighting the lasting physical toll such preparations can have on performers. Directed by Omung Kumar, Sarbjit featured an ensemble cast that included Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Richa Chadha, Darshan Kumar and Ankur Bhatia alongside Hooda.

Discussing the nutritional principles that guided his transformation, Hooda said he believes many health issues originate from the digestive system. He explained that fasting allows the digestive tract to take a break, giving the body time to recover and function more efficiently. In his view, periods without food can support both physical well-being and metabolic balance.

"There's nothing better than fasting," he said.

The actor also stressed that fasting should be approached carefully and with discipline. He advised avoiding solid foods during a fasting period while staying hydrated with plain water, black coffee or black tea. He discouraged consuming beverages such as lemon water or coconut water during a fast, suggesting they interrupt the fasting process. Hooda added that, in his personal experience, extending a fast responsibly can contribute to improved health and a leaner appearance, although such practices should be undertaken with proper awareness and caution.