First, it was Deepika Padukone bravely opening up about her battle with depression on NDTV in a chat with journalist Barkha Dutt. Next Sara Ali Khan candidly came out with her struggle against PCOD (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) and weight gain on Koffee with Karan with the irrepressible TV impresario Karan Johar. It seems Bollywood actresses don’t mind breaking the silence and stigma and being the new poster girls for ailments that earlier nobody wanted to even mention.

Sara, three Sundays ago, had gone on Koffee with Karan with her father Saif Ali Khan and revealed that she at one-time weighed 96 kilos because she suffered from PCOD. But the actress, who made her Bollywood debut last Friday in the romantic drama Kedarnath, determinedly fought the syndrome with exercise and a healthy eating plan to appear gorgeous and svelte on screen. Sara is often photographed emerging from the gym sweaty and glowing after her workout.

[caption id="attachment_179283" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Blast From The Past: Sara Ali Khan[/caption]

Talking about her condition to PeepingMoon.com, Sara said, “Sometimes you need someone to tell you that, okay, you’re feeling low – but smile for five minutes and you will naturally feel happy. You could be having a great day and suddenly start to feel low. You need to be reminded that this is a hormonal issue. There is no cure for PCOD so I balance it with a workout, by eating right and trying to lead a healthy lifestyle.”

[caption id="attachment_14939" align="aligncenter" width="696"] Sara Ali Khan clicked outside her gym on various occasions[/caption]

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According to Sara, while staying fit is necessary for her as an actress, it is also specifically important to her personally because she has PCOD. “The workout has now become something I love to do because I also love to eat,” she revealed. She eats home-cooked food at regular intervals. Her meals are foods rich in fibre and include idlis, egg whites, toast for breakfast, dal-roti-sabzi, salad and fruits for lunch and roti with green leafy veggies for dinner.

[caption id="attachment_179284" align="aligncenter" width="696"] Sara Ali Khan for Kedarnath promotions[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_179286" align="aligncenter" width="622"] Sara Ali Khan for Simmba Trailer launch[/caption]

Her pre and post workout snacks are more interesting. Sara has muesli, fruits and oats before her workout and a protein shake with tofu and salad after. Her workout is vigorous and high intensity. “I do a combination of weight-lifting, functional training, Pilates, and cardio. I swim sometimes. And I like to dance. I also kick-box outside India because I have not been able to find a great place to kick-box here,” Sara revealed to PeepingMoon.com.

What is PCOD?

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, known as PCOS or PCOD, is a hormonal disorder that affects women in their reproductive years. The common endocrine condition affects 1 in 10 women in India. Globally, over 10 million women suffer from PCOD. If left untreated, it can lead to infertility and other complications. The signs and symptoms of PCOD include irregular periods, ovarian cysts, weight gain or difficulty losing weight, acne, oily skin, dandruff, thinning hair, excessive body hair, infertility, pelvic pain and Type 2 diabetes before the age of 40. Excess insulin, low-grade inflammation, and genetics are believed to play a role in the development of PCOD.