Hema Malini

If there’s one actress who has been able to defy age and look as gorgeous as ever, it has to be HEMA MALINI. We asked the dream girl some of her diet secrets.

The first thing I have in the morning: Is a cup of tea. I have only two cups of tea in a day. The milk for my tea is boiled beforehand with kesar. Along with my tea, I have crisp Marie biscuits. Later, I have idlis for breakfast. I avoid fried stuff like vadas. On Sundays I eat paneer paratha with plain curd. I fast on Mondays for Lord Shiva and on Fridays for the divine mother, Durga or Lakshmi. When I am fasting, I have two small pieces of unsalted paneer, bananas and a glass of orange juice.

My lunch: 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. When I am fasting, I have a bowl of fruit salad and some boiled vegetables without salt. I fast only till 6.30 in the evening.

I am very fond of eating: Kadis, both South Indian and Gujarati. My brother’s wife is a Gujarati. She makes first-class Gujarati khana.

I am particular about: Not eating chapattis, when I eat rice and vice-versa.

My diet: Is pure vegetarian. I hail from an orthodox Iyenger family; so we don’t eat non-vegetarian food.

My evening snack: If I am very hungry, I eat a plain slice of toast with a cup of tea. When I am shooting in the south, the evening tiffin is great — idli, vada, dosa, upma... a variety. I instruct the cook to use oil very sparingly.

My favourite desserts: You name any sweet, I like it. I relish desserts — be it rice kheer, sevaiyyan kheer, saboodana kheer, gaajar halwa or hot gulab jamun. I am extremely fond of rasgullas, I can eat five-six at a time. I am not fond of chocolates and pastries. I compensate for my sweet tooth by working out every day for 30 minutes.

I have a separate fridge in my room, which I call the chocolate container. It is stocked with chocolates and chocolate brownies as both my children love them. I stock a lot of fruits and water too.

A childhood memory associated with food: My mother used to make excellent onion sambar and rasam. I have taken the recipes from her. I miss typical South Indian food in Mumbai because it is difficult to get good South Indian cooks.

My culinary abilities: My children are happiest when I cook for them. Even if I make a simple but delicious curry-patta chutney, I can’t tell you how much they relish it. There are always five-six people to help me in the kitchen. I like my kitchen to be spick and span, but I am too preoccupied with my other activities to keep a regular check on the kitchen. Once in a while I make a surprise inspection and if the kitchen is not in a proper state, I go mad!

My favourite beverage: Fresh lime with soda. I am also very fond of coffee if it is brewed well. When I am in Chennai, I have lots of coffee.

My favourite fruit: Raspberries.

Eating out: I am not a restaurant person, but since my children love Chinese we go out a lot. I love eating Continental food, especially corn with spinach and vegetable au gratin. At a restaurant, I give a lot of importance to the ambience. It should be quiet.

Eating abroad: When I go abroad for my shows, my diet is always faxed to my organisers, beforehand. Rice and curd are a must on the menu.