There’s a new P in Parambrata Chattopadhyay’s life. Pilates! That’s what is keeping the actor fit-n-fab. That also makes him a member of the fittest star clan, which has names like Hollywood’s Cameron Diaz and Bollywood’s Katrina Kaif. As Param Pilate-d it out at Solace, with instructor Chandini Singh Siddiq, t2 watched from the sidelines and caught up with Param post-session.

How do you feel after the session?

Very relaxing... it energises you. It strengthens your core, which is the main thing in the body. I think I’m planning to divide my exercise schedule from now on into three or four days of regular workout and two days of Pilates.

What’s your regular workout like?

I work out at the gym. I usually do 20 minutes of cardio, then weights… the usual regimen.

How would you compare that with Pilates?

It was quite challenging actually. But being on a regular workout schedule helped. If you aren’t into regular workout, you wouldn’t be able to do Pilates. One needs to have a basic level of fitness to do Pilates. It’s kind of the next level of feel-good. That’s what I’d like to call it.... My trainer Chandini Singh Siddiq is quite fantastic.

Do you feel different now that you work out regularly?

It gives me a lot of strength… a lot of tenacity to deal with stress. Makes me more focused and driven. It just peps me up.

I usually have one skip day a week, but if I don’t work out on the regular days, I feel very low… like something very important is missing from the day. That is a feeling I don’t like, so I try working out regularly. If I’m in Cal, I go to the gym. If I’m shooting in some remote village, I go for a run, do freehand.

What sort of music do you listen to while working out?

It keeps on changing. I have my phases. Most people like peppy music. Most gyms sound more like a nightclub. But I listen to the calmest of things. It can be Indian classical, Rabindrasangeet. Right now it’s a Pakistani band called Mekaal Hasan Band. It’s a mix of classical and metal. I like the music of Jagga Jasoos as well.

Any movie which motivates you to go to the gym if you miss it for a few days?

Ekhon toh shobaar kom beshi 6-7 pack dekhi. If I see somebody like that in a movie tahole mone hoy, eh baba aaj gelam na! But I feel the most motivated when I see people playing sports. I feel like kaal jetei hobe. The amount of fitness required to play a sport, especially football and tennis, is incredible.

What’s your fitness tip to those just starting out?

I was never a workout person. I like sports… football, watching cricket. But I’ve never been a hyper-sporty person. I’ve never been actively into sports. But my tip is that one has to really start enjoying their workout and try and use that one hour of workout to focus all thoughts, activities of your day, compartmentalise them. Get your head going, instead of one hour of excruciating pain.

Circuit training with Param

Morning/evening workout...

I prefer morning. When I don’t have time, I go in the evening.

Pre-workout meal...

Usually some egg whites, yogurt, cereals… stuff like that.

Post-workout meal...

I try and time my workout in a way that I get an hour after my workout and then have my lunch because I feel the body needs some carbohydrates around that time.

Fave exercise...

I think on any part of the world and at any time it would be to go for a run.

One body part I hate working on...

Legs!

Text: Rwitoban Deb