Nimisha Sajayan gained 14 kg for 'Babita Singh Reporting', ate 8,000 calories a day
Synopsis
Nimisha Sajayan ate up to 8,000 calories a day and gained 14 kg to play an underconfident police officer in Babita Singh Reporting — a physical commitment she called a 'nightmare' but says ultimately brought her closer to the character. It is one of the most demanding body transformations by an Indian actress in recent memory.
Key Takeaways
Nimisha Sajayan gained nearly 14 kg for her role in Babita Singh Reporting , directed by Ambiecka Pandit .
Her weight went from 58 kg to 72 kg , supervised by Dr.
Siddhant Karan and Chef Saif Dada .
Daily caloric intake was scaled from 1,200 calories to a peak of 8,000 calories .
Nimisha described the experience as an 'absolute nightmare' but said it helped her connect with the character.
After filming, she returned to 1,000 calories per day and resumed intensive workouts to shed the weight.
Actress Nimisha Sajayan has revealed the gruelling physical transformation she undertook for her role in Babita Singh Reporting, disclosing that she gained nearly 14 kg and consumed up to 8,000 calories a day — an experience she described as an 'absolute nightmare.'
The Weight Gain Journey
Nimisha plays Assistant Sub-Inspector Babita Singh in the film directed by Ambiecka Pandit. She weighed 58 kg when she was cast and eventually reached 72 kg by the time filming was underway. The process was supervised by a dedicated team including Dr. Siddhant Karan and Chef Saif Dada.
'Yes, I gained like almost 14 kgs for the character. I was 58 when I got selected, then we started working on the weight gain journey, so we had this set of professionals, Dr. Siddhant Karan and Chef Saif Dada. So first it started with 1,200 calories and it went up to like 8,000 calories,' Nimisha said.
What 8,000 Calories a Day Feels Like
The actress did not hold back when describing the ordeal of consuming such a large volume of food daily. 'It was a nightmare, it was an absolute nightmare for me. 8,000 calories is a lot. 8,000 calories is like a lot of food, you know, I was literally stuffing food, but I enjoyed the process, you know, because it got me more closer to the character, maybe, so I had fun,' she said.
The caloric intake began at a structured 1,200 calories per day before being scaled progressively to its peak. The transformation was not incidental — it was central to embodying Babita, a character written as an underconfident police officer who is routinely dismissed at work and perpetually adjusts to others' expectations.
Losing the Weight After the Film
Once filming on Babita Singh Reporting concluded, Nimisha immediately shifted gears. 'I got back to my 1,000 calories per day and worked out hard,' she said. The reversal was as disciplined as the gain — a testament to the physical demands the role placed on her over its entire arc.
Personal Parallels with Babita
Nimisha also drew a candid connection between her own life and her character's journey. She acknowledged that she has faced repeated judgement over her appearance but said she has arrived at a place where such remarks no longer affect her the way they once did. 'I too have been judged on the way I look many times. But it doesn't affect me,' she said.
On the emotional core of Babita's story, Nimisha reflected: 'You take it but there's a point of disrespect, and after a point, you start reacting' — a sentiment she said is mirrored in her character's arc on screen. Notably, this kind of deeply embodied, character-first preparation places Nimisha among a growing cohort of Indian actresses willing to undergo significant physical change for roles that challenge conventional screen aesthetics.
Point of View
000 calories a day — but the structural support behind it: a nutritionist and a chef, not a crash diet. The character herself, an underconfident officer dismissed by her peers, adds a layer of irony: the actress had to visibly expand to portray someone society renders invisible. Whether the film matches the preparation in ambition is the question audiences will now answer.
NationPress
3 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much weight did Nimisha Sajayan gain for Babita Singh Reporting?
Nimisha Sajayan gained nearly 14 kg for the role, going from 58 kg to 72 kg. The weight gain was supervised by Dr. Siddhant Karan and Chef Saif Dada, with daily caloric intake eventually reaching 8,000 calories.
Who does Nimisha Sajayan play in Babita Singh Reporting?
She plays Assistant Sub-Inspector Babita Singh, an underconfident police officer who is routinely dismissed at work and constantly adjusts to the expectations of those around her. The film is directed by Ambiecka Pandit.
How did Nimisha Sajayan lose the weight after filming?
After Babita Singh Reporting wrapped, Nimisha immediately returned to a 1,000-calorie-per-day diet and resumed intensive workouts to shed the 14 kg she had gained for the role.
Why did Nimisha Sajayan describe the process as a nightmare?
The actress called it an 'absolute nightmare' because consuming 8,000 calories a day required her to continuously eat large volumes of food. She added, however, that the process also helped her feel closer to the character of Babita.
Has Nimisha Sajayan spoken about being judged for her appearance?
Yes, Nimisha has said she has faced repeated judgement over her looks but that it no longer affects her the same way. She drew a parallel between her own experience and Babita's journey, noting that repeated disrespect eventually pushes a person to react.
