Fitness Trends 2025: Indian Celebrity Trainers on Ozempic Epidemic, Trending Workouts, and Keeping Paparazzi at Bay

Every day, as a celebrity is spotted outside a gym in athleisure, the questions arise: Where do they train, how long do they work out for, and what do they do there? 

Gone are the days of predictable gym routines. Today, it’s all about mindful yoga practices, innovative pilates techniques, and strength training in different shapes and forms. Celebrities are redefining what it means to lead a healthy lifestyle in 2025 — and proving that staying fit is a journey worth taking.

“In the movie Gehraaiyaan (2022), Deepika Padukone [played the role of] a yoga teacher,” recalls her trainer Anshuka Parwani, who not only trained the actor, but also gave her a few tips for playing the role. “Everyone felt she embodied the character beautifully. It's about the way you’re breathing, standing, and so many different things!” 

A holistic health coach, Parwani’s studio, Anshuka Yoga, is nestled in the the heart of Bandra in Mumbai. From Ananya Panday to Kareena Kapoor Khan, she’s got every celebrity knocking on her door.

The SohFIT 40 day challenge also is a celebrity favourite on Instagram; be it Alia Bhatt or Kiara Advani, they’re all at the SohFIT gym in Khar. “My happiest moment is when [clients] come back and say I changed their life…” says founder Sohrab Khushrushahi. “[How I] changed the way they look at food, the way they train or even made them want to start in the first place. I know so many people who are scared to eat food, or think carbs are a big no-no, and I blame the way it’s marketed. Who says a perfect body has to have a six pack?”

The Hollywood Reporter India chats with celebrity fitness experts who share the secrets behind attracting a celebrity clientele, the unique challenges that come with training actors and what wellness is really supposed to look like.

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What kicked off your own fitness journey?

Anshuka:  I was all of seven when I started practicing yoga, and my mom used to make it fun for me. I used to be a commercial pilot and was in a near fatal motorbike accident that had left me bedridden for more than a year. Yoga came as part of my physiotherapy and helped me with the mental trauma then. And I knew then was that I wanted to share this magic with everybody.

Sohrab: The first time I entered a gym was with my school friends at 14. It was an old-school, all-boys place in Bandra called Flex, which is still one of my favourite gyms in the world. I quit my job as a lawyer at the age of 35 in October, 2017. While I’d been training my friends since I was 16, no one looked at coaching as a profession back then. I didn't come from a super wealthy family, though my parents gave me everything I wanted. I had to set myself up.

As experts in wellness, what's your take on the Ozempic epidemic among the A-list crowd?

Anshuka: Studies have shown that it's good for those with Type 2 diabetes, and if you're using it for the correct ailment, it’s perfect. But for anything other than that, I disagree very strongly. There has always been a percentage of people that has always preferred easy hacks, and another that believes in being sustainable. The digital imprint of Ozempic is everywhere and everyone's talking about it right now — but that ratio has remained the same. 

Sohrab: I'm old school. My belief has always been to put in the work. So, I'm not a fan. 

But even if you are on it, you've still got to put in the work, because you will also lose muscle. And muscle is the most important organ in my book, because it's where all your metabolic health sets up. I've always stressed on how to move focus away from the body.

What is a unique practice or approach that sets you apart from the rest?

Anshuka: I used to be a national gold medalist [in swimming], and while training I realised that there isn’t one repertoire that works for everybody. Each body and mind needs to be treated differently. Our philosophy is to be flexible not only in our body, but in our approach as well. Our youngest student is two-and-a-half years old, while our oldest is in their 80s. 

Sohrab: I keep things simple. People in the fitness industry choose to focus on fear-mongering to get views on Instagram, but I'd like to think that we’re making people enjoy training. Of course, while they're working out and suffering, they don't think that way! (Laughs) I genuinely believe that at SoFit, we're coaches, not trainers. 

What are some unique fitness goals that actors often have compared to other clients?

Anshuka: Actors have erratic timings, and when they have to get into a character, they got to look and move a certain way. But if an actor isn't actively working on something specific, then their routine wouldn’t be designed any differently.

Sohrab: Sometimes you feel bad, because I don't think they are their goals; it's just what the role demands. For them, the finishing line constantly changes. 

So, if their roles require them to look a certain way, it’s our job to get them there, without compromising on their health. I would just like everyone to strength train. There's just too much emphasis on high intensity and cardio — a good workout should give you enough energy to want to go through the rest of your day. 

How do you ensure privacy and exclusivity for your celebrity clients, with the mobs of paparazzi waiting outside nowadays?

Anshuka: The paps are super chill, and so respectful. I think because I’ve been on this side of the gate, I would not be able to comment on that, but the big stars know how to manoeuvre their way around such mobs. I remember the paparazzi culture really beginning with Kareena Kapoor [Khan] back in the day…

Sohrab: I run in the opposite direction. I'm very happy to be away from all that, to be honest. I've been a lawyer, and for us, the attorney-client relationship is the most important thing. If that's not sacrosanct, no one will come to you. There's so much that they tell you, and you’re not doing your job if you share that with everybody. It also helps that I'm a bit of an introvert. 

What challenges have you faced in running a gym that caters to celebrities? 

Anshuka: We’re a boutique style studio, so it's been very easy for us. We never have a walk-in student come in for any of our classes. Celebrity clients, just like anybody else, come in to have good practice. We have one-on-ones and one-on-twos but some of them prefer group classes to enjoy that sense of community — it's just so hard for them to figure out the timings!

Sohrab: I have never trained someone who’s said they need the space to themselves. We've had cricketers and actors walk in, and we’re never worried, because we’re not a public gym. The people I train have been very chill and it also depends on the relationship you create, right? If you're in awe of them, then you're going to do things that way, as opposed to it being an equal relationship where they're working with you.

Do you keep up with viral fitness trends online? 

Anshuka: No. But the only thing I like about them is that they motivate people to start. 

Yoga is one of my building blocks and I focus on nutrition because I educate students on why they are doing what they are doing. My late [maternal] grandma was close to 89 when she passed away, and until her last day, she was moving, had a full set of teeth (that were whiter than mine!) and could walk without a stick. 

Longevity and mobility are the ultimate goals. 

Sohrab: We started the online stuff. Pre-Covid, we started a 40-day programme and the idea stemmed from my students. They said, ‘We’ve worked really hard the last six months. But now, it's Diwali, and everything's going to be ruined!' But where in any scripture does it say that Diwali means you have to eat junk and not exercise? So we started this to be accountable to each other. 

My wife [Daneesh Davar], who is also my business partner, laughed asking me. 'Who's gonna do this with you?’ But it went off really well. I've had people asking me for a guarantee that they would lose weight in 40 days and I’ve said I won’t, because I'm doing these programmes to make you fall in love with training. At 50, will I be able to outrun or outwork my son who will be about 14 years old? Now, that’s a fitness goal for me.

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How do you stay updated with the latest in fitness technology to keep your gym innovative? 

Anshuka: I've been a tech geek all my life, so I read a lot of newsletters that come in every week.

I'm always up to date with what's going on in the world and I've built a beautiful network over the years. I work with Apple very closely as well. In fact, last year, I got a chance to meet [CEO] Tim Cook and was even invited to their headquarters. 

I’m also a pilates teacher, and do animal flow and other things, so I constantly brush up on anatomy. 

Sohrab: By studying constantly. We get the right coaches on board too — from different fields doing different things. Right now, I'm doing a course on biomechanics so it's a little intense. It goes into a little bit of physiotherapy and injury management and prevention. 

Are there any upcoming projects, collaborations, or expansions you’re excited about? 

Anshuka: We are constantly doing new wellness experiences at Anshuka Yoga — whether it's collaborations, retreats or events. I work with many celebrities, which is great of course. But I also did a few sessions with about 500 underprivileged kids and it was beautiful to see them following a routine, helping each other, and being open to it all. 

Sohrab: For me, it's always about reinventing yourself. I also work with the Mumbai Indians team, so I will be there at the Indian Premier League (IPL). I love working in cricket. 

We're doing a bunch of interesting things with a few brands and that should be fun too, but for me, it's always about the people we train. As long as we can give them the right quality, I’m happy.