Keerthy Suresh Opens Up on Fitness Journey, Body Shaming and Finding Strength Through Self-Belief

Chennai, May 2026: Actress Keerthy Suresh on Saturday shared an emotional and deeply personal account of her fitness journey, revealing how years of self-discovery, criticism, discipline and perseverance transformed her understanding of health and strength.

Taking to Instagram, the actress reflected on her evolution over the years and admitted that fitness had become one of her greatest teachers in life. She said the journey had helped her understand not only her body better, but also her emotional resilience and mental strength.

“High time I shared this,” Keerthy wrote, adding that she had never openly spoken about her fitness experiences before. “Every day I still learn something new about my body and myself,” she said.

Recalling the early days of her acting career in 2013, Keerthy described herself as a “clueless kid” who never believed the gym was meant for her. Like many people, she admitted that she ignored the basic needs of her body and lacked awareness about proper fitness practices.

The actress revealed that after the success of Mahanati in 2018, she decided to take fitness seriously during a break from work. She began experimenting with high-intensity interval training (HIIT), cardio workouts and a strict high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet.

The intense routine helped her lose nearly 10 kilograms over nine months. While she initially felt proud of the transformation, the reactions from some people deeply hurt her.

Keerthy said many accused her of looking weak and even spread rumours claiming she had undergone cosmetic surgeries. She clarified that she had always chosen to remain natural, including with her appearance, and felt disappointed that years of hard work were dismissed through baseless assumptions.

“I’ve always kept things natural, even with my face,” she wrote, admitting that such comments “stung” because they undermined her effort and discipline.

The actress later discovered a healthier and more balanced approach through yoga in 2020. According to her, yoga brought emotional balance, confidence and a more meaningful connection with herself. However, over time, she also realised that gym training had value — she simply had not approached it correctly in the beginning.

Today, Keerthy says strength training forms the foundation of her fitness routine. She now combines it with yoga, cardio, animal flow exercises and calisthenics, creating a balanced system that makes her feel physically and mentally stronger than ever before.

“What was once not my cup of tea has become non-negotiable for me today,” she wrote.

Keerthy also addressed the constant scrutiny women face over body image. She pointed out how people demanded that she become fit when she was “plumpy,” yet later told her they preferred her earlier appearance once she became leaner.

“When you are plumpy, they want you to be fit. When you are thin, they want you plumpy,” she observed, questioning society’s ever-changing beauty standards.

The actress further disclosed that she had recently gone through both physical and mental setbacks, which explained her absence from public appearances and social media over the past few months. Despite the challenges, she said her journey had taught her never to give up.

“If at some point I have to break, pause, or stop, I will — but I’ll never give up,” she wrote confidently.

Team Maverick.