Krishna Shroff was basking in the cool climes of Dehradun when we dialled her recently. “My boyfriend (Abdul Azim Badakhshi, MMA fighter from Afghanistan) is in Dehradun training for his next fight, so I am just spending the week with him,” she told us. The 32-year-old fitness entrepreneur and social media personality has carved a successful identity for herself away from the world of Bollywood, of which her family — dad Jackie and brother Tiger — are an integral part of. A t2 chat with Krishna on her fitness chain, what it takes to be confident in one’s skin and more.
What was the idea behind starting MMA Matrix, your specialised gym in Mumbai, and what have been the biggest highs of its journey so far?
My brother (Tiger Shroff) and I have a shared passion for MMA (mixed martial arts) and for fitness in general. We wanted to create an inclusive and supportive environment. What distinguishes MMA Matrix is that the whole commercialised aspect of gyms has been stripped away. It has a very personalised and unique approach to fitness. We even have very young kids coming in to train, as well as elderly members. Our trainers are equipped and knowledgeable enough to handle all age groups.
If someone is interested in the MMA aspect of it, our USP is that our trainers are active professional fighters themselves. While there is a lot of MMA being taught elsewhere now, they lack the knowledge of how it should be really done. But here, you are in the hands of true professionals.
How would you say that the market and demand for MMA and similar forms of fitness has evolved in India over the last few years?
MMA is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world today. A lot of women are getting into self-defense more than ever before. Also, there is no better cardio, honestly, than a solid boxing session.
Earlier, there were a lot of misconceptions that children shouldn’t be training until a certain age. But now a lot of parents are putting their kids into some sort of activity, and even allowing them to join the gym much sooner in life. I feel that will help them so much in the future, even beyond the physical aspect of it. The focus and the direction that physical activity gives a child is very important.
Also, there is so much variety being offered today. Even if someone who has an injury is afraid to join the gym, there are many other specialised training forms other than hardcore workouts. Rehab training is big now.
What are your short term and and long-term goals for MMA Matrix?
It is an everyday thing... helping people be inspired and motivated and just keep at it, channelise any energy, any feeling that they might be going through in a positive way. For me, there is no better therapy than the gym.
In the long term, we are focusing on expanding a lot more. We have our flagship in Mumbai, but very quickly, we have been able to open franchises pan-India with 14 currently functioning branches. There are some more in the pipeline.
Is your passion for fitness inherent or did you evolve to this way of thinking and being at some point?
Honestly, earlier I was really intimidated by the gym. In fact, I was super scared to go to the gym! That was because I was scared to fail in front of people. It was a very intimidating, overwhelming space for me. Playing sports while growing up instilled something similar that the gym does, where when I finally stepped into the gym, I felt that competitiveness with myself. The more I was able to progress physically, it did something for me mentally as well. You are never going to feel as good as you look and you are never going to look as good as you feel.
Going to the gym has instilled confidence in me and a sort of self-assurance that I didn’t really have growing up. It has given me an identity, away from who everyone expected me to be or expected me to do. When you have a fit body and mind and you walk into any room, people see that you respect yourself, and automatically they respect you.
Are there any aspects of fitness that you will never compromise on?
I am human and I don’t always feel like going to the gym. But I do something every day that keeps some movement going, keeps the blood flow going. That could be a light walk outside or just playing with my dog.... Some movement every day is better than no movement. So, even on my days off, I like to have ‘active rest days’. So I will probably go for a swim... something that is relatively easier on the body but still gets some movement in. At the end of the day, it is about releasing those happy hormones like dopamine and serotonin.
In an era of rampant Instagram Reels filled with weight-loss hacks, are there any prevalent myths about fitness that you would like to bust?
The biggest problem is people trying to sell spot reduction. A lot of people, especially women, will be like: ‘I want to lose weight on my arms or around my tummy.’ But that is not possible in isolation. There has to be an overall calorie deficit complemented by training. That will make you lose weight overall, you can’t just really target one part of the body.
Also, a lot of women are afraid to lift weights because they think it will make them bulky. But it is not the weights that are making you bulky, it is your diet. As long as you are in a calorie deficit and your nutrition is complementing your training, it will be fine. If that involves weight training, then you are going to be sculpted, toned and leaner, because muscle takes up less space in your body than fat does.
I know that Tiger indulges in ice-cream off and on. Do you also have cheat days?
I used to be a strong believer in cheat meals, but not cheat days because I think a whole day of cheat meals backtracks you. I believe in balance and I like to incorporate my favourite foods into my diet, but I do exercise portion control.
If I had to choose a cheat meal, it would be a nice, wholesome Italian meal — either a super cheesy pizza or a super cheesy pasta — and a glass of some amazing wine on the side.
Given the family you come from, was there never any interest to get into films or any other aspect of the entertainment world?
At the back of my mind, it has sort of always been there because there is a certain pressure that comes with being from a star family. People automatically assume that this is what everyone wants to do, if they have that opportunity. It is a massive opportunity, of course.
But I am really not one to succumb to pressure. I believe life is too short to do anything you don’t truly feel passionate about. A lot of people don’t know this but I have a degree in filmmaking and film production. After college, I assisted on a couple of my brother’s movies in order to get some on-field experience. That stint just solidified the fact that this is exactly what I don’t want to do! (Laughs)
But I am very grateful for the platform my family and its legacy has given me. It has given me freedom to explore and experiment and delve into things I love.
What then made you want to participate in Khatron Ke Khiladi a few seasons ago?
Khatron Ke Khiladi fits my identity perfectly. When they came to me, I decided to take the plunge. I was like: ‘Why not? It still resonates with who I am as a person.’ It came with some pressure because automatically people assumed that I would perform well. Thank God it went well (Krishna was the first runner-up). It has been one of the best experiences of my life and helped me evolve as a person.
What is that one quality — as an actor and a human being — that you admire the most in your father and brother? What about your mother inspires you?
I admire my father’s (Jackie Shroff) bindaas attitude towards life. I love that, no matter what is happening in our lives, no matter how negative it is, he is always able to focus on the silver lining. And he helps us focus on the positives as well.
With my brother, it has to be his dedication and discipline. I admire how he is able to push through everything in life. There are days when he may not feel like training, but he is so mentally strong that he is able to push through and come out better on the other side.
My mother (Ayesha Shroff) has experienced everything in
life — the best of the best, the shittiest of the shittiest — but she has always managed to stay positive with a smile on her face. She radiates a positive energy that rubs off on people. And no matter what she is going through in life, she has always stayed kind to everyone and been a ray of light in every room she walks into. I would love to embody even 50 per cent of that energy.