Saiyami Kher has become the first Indian actor to complete the Ironman 70.3 triathlon twice in a year. In an exclusive conversation with Bollywood Hungama, the actress opened up about her fitness training, her upcoming projects, and the preparation that went into achieving the feat of becoming the first and only Indian actor to complete the Ironman 70.3 on two separate occasions.
EXCLUSIVE: Saiyami Kher opens up about her fitness routine and Ironman 70.3 prep: “It’s always mind over matter. If your mind decides to do something, the body follows”
Speaking about what pushed her to take on the challenge again, especially knowing how intense it is, Saiyami said, “Well, I actually did my first race in September last year. And after I came back, I kind of just continued my training, so the training never really stopped. I felt that since I was already training, I might as well do another race. It becomes like a goal to work towards. It gives you purpose, something to focus on. It was purely that: the desire to be better than I was in the last race. The competition was always just with myself. This time, the race I chose was much, much tougher than the last one, about eight times harder. The bike elevation was 820 meters, compared to just 110 or 120 meters last time. So, I had already challenged myself on that front. After that, it was just about putting my head down and training every single day. That gave me a sense of purpose, and I really enjoyed it.”
The race took place in Sweden, and competing there came with its own set of challenges. Reflecting on how this race differed from her first Ironman, Saiyami shared, “Like I said, the route was very different this time because the elevation was much higher, making it a much tougher race. The weather conditions were also far more challenging, there were thunderstorms and heavy rain while cycling. And to top it off, I have PCOS, and I happened to be on the last day of my period, which made it even harder. Overall, the conditions were much tougher than during my last race.”
When asked about her training regimen while preparing for something as demanding as the Ironman, Saiyami explained, “So the preparation, like I said, never really stopped. I just continued training after last year’s race. But this time, the prep was a bit different because I had to focus more on hill training. I used to run up and down that hill near Shah Rukh Khan sir’s house quite a lot, and I also made sure to cycle on hilly routes whenever I could. So the hill training part was definitely new. Otherwise, the rest of the routine was pretty similar to what I did for my first race.”
Talking about the importance of mental strength in endurance races, Saiyami said, “Actually, the mind is the most important part. It’s always mind over matter. If your mind decides to do something, the body follows. There are so many days when you’re physically tired or mentally just not in the mood, but that’s where pushing past the mental barrier comes in. That’s really what endurance sports are all about, pushing through mentally, because the body will do what the mind tells it to.” She added, “For me, I do it because it also makes me feel good about myself. Hitting those targets, pushing through, that sense of achievement is what drives me. That’s why I love endurance sports.”
Saiyami was recently seen reprising her role in Special Ops 2, and returning to that world was a rewarding experience for her. Speaking about the show and what fans can expect this time, she said, “Well, this season was released a few days ago, and the response has been very, very good so far, which is definitely a positive, especially since it’s with Kay Kay Menon Sir, playing Himmat Singh. I’m really happy to be a part of it. We actually shot this two years ago, so it’s been a while. But it’s always lovely coming back to work with Neeraj (Pandey) sir, he’s someone I truly enjoy collaborating with. I really hope I get more opportunities to work with him in the future because I connect with his style of storytelling and direction. The aim, of course, is always to make it bigger and better the second time around, with more action. So hopefully, the fans feel that it is bigger and better.”
Balancing high-intensity roles and demanding physical pursuits like the Ironman isn’t easy, but for Saiyami, both are deeply connected to her personal growth. She explained, “For me, every film I do is a step toward personal growth. I meet new people, interesting people, and I learn from each experience. Similarly, with every race I take part in, I grow as a person because I get to know myself better. I think that’s the whole aim in life, right? To be better than you were yesterday.” Saiyami added, “As for my acting, I truly hope to play many more diverse roles, not just stick to one genre. That’s what excites me as an actor. I want to keep challenging myself. So the goal is to constantly push my limits, whether it’s through acting or the races I choose to take on.”
After pushing her limits in a grueling Ironman race, Saiyami turns to a comforting and energy-packed post-race ritual. She shared, “I actually eat a slice of pizza right after I complete a race, because you’re supposed to eat something with carbs since you need so much energy. So yeah, I eat pizza right after a race.”
When asked to choose between an early morning run and a late-night shoot, Saiyami didn’t hesitate to prioritize her craft. “I mean, I wouldn’t go for a morning run if I’ve had a late-night shoot, but I’d still choose the shoot because acting is always my priority. I can find time to run later.”
When asked which co-star she’d want to convince to take part in the next Ironman with her, Saiyami had a couple of names in mind. She revealed, “Well, I mean, if there’s anyone fit enough to do it, I think it’s Farhan Akhtar. He’s extremely fit and a very good cyclist, you’ve seen how strong he is with his running, so maybe Farhan. Or actually, Akshay Kumar, because he’s the OG fitness guru of the film industry. He’s incredibly fit too, but he’s also a very busy man.”
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