Bhumi Pednekar on weight loss journey; Actor says, 'People have even asked me if I’ve had a rib removed'

Bhumi Pednekar began her career as a casting assistant at Yash Raj Films before making her acting debut with 'Dum Laga Ke Haisha' in 2015. Over the years, she has carved a niche for herself with diverse roles and strong performances. The actress has now opened up about her evolving priorities, revealing that she now places health and well-being above film roles. Speaking with ANI at the International Film Festival Delhi (IFFD) 2026, the actor opened up on her journey in the industry and how her approach towards fitness and career choices has changed over the years.The actor spoke about her journey and the lessons she has learned along the way. She emphasised the importance of staying true to one’s craft rather than chasing fleeting relevance in the industry. Speaking about her perspective on success, Bhumi shared a thoughtful message. She said, “I think the biggest thing is that you should not stay relevant; you should just stay true to your craft, because relevance is very short-lived. And it's exhausting. How long will you keep staying relevant? What's important is finding what your true talent is, understanding the artist in you. And constantly doing riyaz so that that never goes,”Bhumi has often been in the spotlight for her weight fluctuations, which were sometimes linked to her film roles. Addressing her recent weight loss, she explained the shift in her priorities. "I was doing this for many years, where I was increasing my weight, reducing it. Now I have reduced it a little, because as a woman, as your age increases, your body's ability to take that weight gain and weight loss reduces. So now I prioritise my health and my body over the parts, because at some age, women have to start doing that,” she said.Earlier this year, Bhumi also addressed the assumptions surrounding her weight loss during a conversation with Soha Ali Khan. She spoke about the physical challenges she faced and the misconceptions people have. Recalling a difficult phase, she said, “So basically, for this other character, I lost a lot of weight. I was in hospital recovering from dengue. I lost 12 kg and half my hair. The pain you go through is unmatched. It was Diwali, and people were bursting crackers, while I had a splitting headache until I reached the hospital.”She also pointed out how her long-term discipline is often overlooked. “People have even asked me if I’ve had a rib removed. What about the fact that I’ve put 10 years into working out and eating right?” she said. Highlighting the direct nature of such questions, she added, “In Delhi, women straight up come to me and ask, ‘Aapne bhi Ozempic ya Mounjaro liya hai?’”. She further clarified her stance, saying, “I know enough people who have taken Ozempic and genuinely needed that medical assistance, so I will never judge anyone for it” and added, “But the fact is, I lost 40 kg and more without injectables.”On the work front, Bhumi Pednekar was last seen in the romantic comedy 'Mere Husband Ki Biwi' alongside Arjun Kapoor and Rakul Preet Singh. This was her only film release in 2025.She also appeared in the romantic drama 'The Royals' opposite Ishaan Khatter and the series received good reviews.