Himanshu Awasthie: I lost 7–8 kg in a week after being rejected for looking chubby in Rimjhim

Fitness has become more than a routine for Himanshu N Awasthie. The actor, currently seen playing Sameer in Rimjhim – Choti Umar, Bada Safar, views it as a discipline that shapes both his personal and professional life. The shift, however, came after an early setback in his acting journey, one that pushed him to rethink his approach towards health, training, and consistency. Today, despite long shoot schedules, workouts remain a non-negotiable part of his day.

Recalling his initial relationship with fitness, Himanshu says, “I first started going to the gym when I was 18, but I only trained there for about four months. After that, I stayed active with regular workouts like cardio, running, and push-ups, but I wasn’t consistent with gym training.”

Over time, lifestyle habits caught up with him. He says, “I fell into a phase of eating junk food and gained weight. I still felt reasonably fit, but as an actor, I needed to look sharp on screen.”

The turning point came while auditioning for Rimjhim. He shares, “When I got the show, the channel rejected me because I looked a little chubby in the face. Fortunately, my producers believed in me. They fought for me and gave me one week to lose weight. In that week, I managed to lose 7–8 kg and become much more defined. That experience changed everything.”

The actor says the incident completely altered his outlook towards fitness. He shares, “After that, I committed to a proper diet and regular gym training, combined with cardio. Now I take my fitness seriously. I don’t miss workouts, and I don’t cheat on my diet. If I do eat something unhealthy, I make up for it by going for a run, playing a sport, or doing extra cardio. I’m focused on becoming the best version of myself.”

Maintaining consistency, however, comes with its own challenges while balancing television schedules. Himanshu, who works long shooting hours, says fitness still finds a place in his routine. He says, “While shooting, it’s really hard to stay consistent with workouts because I often work 12-hour days, plus about two hours of commuting, so I’m engaged for almost 14 hours. Still, I make sure I don’t miss my training.”

His solution is an early start to the day. “I wake up around 6 am and work out for two hours, doing running, heavy weight training, cardio, swimming, dancing, and sauna steam. After my workout, I start the day with meditation.”

For Himanshu, fitness ultimately comes down to discipline and self-improvement. He says, “I hold myself to the highest standard, always striving to be better than I was yesterday. My workouts keep me disciplined, focused, and moving closer to the best version of myself.”

Before stepping into Rimjhim – Choti Umar, Bada Safar, Himanshu built his presence in the OTT space with projects such as Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo, where he played Jogi, along with appearances in both seasons of Mismatched and Dahaad. He has also featured in several music videos.