Actress Sara Ali Khan has revealed that she weighed nearly 100 kg when she rediscovered her childhood passion for acting — a moment that came not on a film set but in a theatre class at Columbia University in New York, where she had enrolled to study history with plans to eventually pursue law.

The Moment That Changed Everything

Sara made the revelation during a candid conversation with veteran actor Anil Kapoor on his show 'India Ke Top 1%'. She explained that academics had always come naturally to her, and by the time she reached Columbia, a legal career seemed like the logical next step.

'I always wanted to become an actor since my childhood. But then I used to enjoy academics a lot. I used to enjoy studying. I went to Columbia. I was studying history there. I thought I will do my law degree there,' Sara said.

It was a theatre course at the university that upended those plans. 'When I went on stage and performed, the desire of my childhood which I had kept out of my mind started arising again. So I thought I have to do this. I have to try. That's how it happened. And I was almost 100 kg at that time,' she recalled.

Ayushmann Khurrana on Acting and Family Roots

Also featured on the same episode was actor Ayushmann Khurrana, who was present to promote his upcoming film 'Udta Teer'. When Anil asked Khurrana when he had decided to become an actor, Khurrana responded with characteristic warmth: 'I fell in love with acting when I saw you.'

On the subject of encouragement, Khurrana credited his father above all. 'My father used to encourage me a lot. He has encouraged me since my childhood. I am a millennial, so in our time people didn't even try to enter the industry. Especially, you belong to a traditional family from a small city,' he said.

Khurrana also traced his artistic instincts further back. 'I was probably one of the few kids in the school whose parents used to encourage towards arts, performing arts. My grandmother used to sing in the Gurudwara at her time. My grandmother used to do mimicry. So I got my art from there. But I got my encouragement from my father,' he added.

Weight, Identity and the Road to Bollywood

Sara's disclosure is notable for its candour — she has spoken previously about her weight and health journey, including her battle with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which has made her a relatable figure for many young fans. Her willingness to link her physical state at the time to a pivotal life decision underscores the personal stakes of the choice she made to leave academia and enter the film industry.

This comes amid a broader industry conversation about body image and mental health, with several actors choosing to speak openly about their struggles before their breakthrough. Sara's account adds a specific, humanising detail to that larger narrative.

What to Watch

Ayushmann Khurrana's 'Udta Teer' is expected to arrive in cinemas in the coming months, and the promotional circuit suggests a major marketing push is underway. Sara Ali Khan, meanwhile, continues to be one of Bollywood's more visible young stars — her candid interview style consistently drawing attention beyond the films she promotes.