From battling alcohol addiction and depression to drastic weight loss transformation; Ram Kapoor says, ‘Was 140 Kilos During Niyat, Couldn’t Walk 20 Steps…’ – The Times of India
Ram Kapoor, who was recently seen in Lock Upp: Sach Ya Sazaa, opened up about a difficult phase of his career while working on Bade Achhe Lagte Hain. On the show, the actor revealed that although the show was a huge success, he was going through one of the worst phases of his life. Now, in an interview with Nayadeep Rakshit, the seasoned actor spoke about how the massive weight gain for Bade Achhe Lagte Hain took a toll on his health and eventually led to alcoholism. From battling depression and undergoing a drastic weight transformation to sharing his views on the use of Ozempic, Ram Kapoor opened up about this challenging phase of his life. (Photo: Instagram)
At the peak of my television career, Bade Achhe Lagte Hain was my biggest show. Even today, more than 15 years after I left the show, I am still known for it. During that time, I became very unhealthy and gained a lot of weight because I was overworking. I was working 25 to 27 days a month, non-stop. “I had a sugar problem, high blood pressure and several other health issues. My doctors told me that I couldn’t continue like this and that I could even suffer a stroke. I knew I had to slow down, but I couldn’t. (Photo: Instagram)
I was part of the biggest show on television. How could I give up the money, fame and love I was getting from the entire country? How could I let down Ekta and Sakshi, two women I deeply respected? Which actor wouldn’t want to be in that position? So, I just kept going without realising how much it was affecting me. Sometimes, you have to hit rock bottom before you wake up, and I guess I did. I am happy now. Whatever happened, happened for a reason. I am glad I went through that journey because I learned a lot from it. I am also happy with how my career turned out after that. Today, I feel very satisfied. (Photo: Instagram)
Ekta and I had our differences, and obviously, she must have felt let down by me because she had given me this opportunity on a platter. She wrote it for me, and Sakshi gave it to me on a platter. To her credit, she never spoke about it publicly. She never mentioned it to the media, the press or anyone. But I knew I had disappointed her. At the same time, I knew I didn’t have a choice. I was going through something very deep and dark, and I had to do what was right for me. I’m glad that after all these years, things have come full circle. Everything Ekta and I have worked on together over the past 15 years has become a huge success. Even this reality show, which I did and where Ekta is one of the producers, has become a global hit. So, things have a way of working out. I believe the universe has a plan. (Photo: Instagram)
When you work 25 to 27 days a month for 14 to 16 hours a day, you become extremely unhealthy. I had gained a lot of weight, I was eating badly, my sugar levels were not right, and everything was going wrong. I was putting myself in danger. At the same time, I knew that three lives depended on me — my wife and my children. That also put a lot of pressure on me because I was working non-stop for them. But you also realise that if something happens to you, they won’t have you anymore. I couldn’t share what I was going through with anyone, so I kept everything bottled up inside, and eventually, it had an impact on me. (Photo: Instagram)
I started drinking heavily and became a very unhealthy version of myself because of depression, drinking and everything else. I became a very ugly person. I would never intentionally harm myself, but I could take things to such an extreme that my actions would end up hurting me anyway. But I guess, in the end, everything worked out. (Photo: Instagram)
Obviously, when you reach a point where you are close to death, and the biggest thing you have ever done in your career finally comes to an end, you have to make a change. If you still don’t change after that, then you don’t deserve to live. That’s when I decided to completely change myself and my life. It took time, and it wasn’t easy. You try, you fail, and then you try again. I lost 30 kilos twice, but gained the weight back because I was doing it the wrong way. I lost several years in that process. Eventually, I started educating myself by listening to podcasts and reading about health and fitness. Over time, I managed to turn things around. Today, I am a completely different person from who I was back then. Like I said, everything worked out. (Photo: Instagram)
Anyone who says anything bad about Ozempic or Mounjaro doesn’t understand how medical treatment works. These are shortcuts to getting healthier. Medical science itself is a shortcut. If you have a fever and take a tablet, or if you have an infection and take antibiotics, you are using a medical shortcut. If a doctor recommends a treatment to help you get better, why would you reject it just because it is a shortcut? Why would you want to spend five years getting healthy when your doctor says you can do it in six months? If you are unhealthy or sick and your doctor or medical professional recommends something, why delay the process and take the longer route? Would you tell your children not to get better in six months and instead take six years? That doesn’t make sense. (Photo: Instagram)
You also can’t just buy Ozempic from a chemist and take it yourself. You need to use it under a doctor’s guidance. If your doctor recommends it, they are trying to help you become healthier. I had reached a point where I was extremely unhealthy. While shooting for Niyat in Scotland with Vidya Balan, I was more than 140 kilos. It was cold, we were shooting in the mountains, and I couldn’t walk more than 20 steps without getting out of breath and having to sit down. I was also taking insulin three times a day. It was a completely different life, and I was a completely different person. Today, I can take my kids to Dubai Mall, carry their shopping bags and walk around for 10 hours without needing to sit down. I feel like I am a 25-year-old again. (Photo: Instagram)
