Ever wondered how many hours celebs really spend in the gym? Or what they eat for breakfast, apart from the paparazzi? Active gets the skinny on lara's fab-abs and other body parts to find out what it takes to look as good as the ex-Miss Universe

Stand on your head to look like Lara Dutta

She has spent the better part of last week dubbing for the forthcoming release Housefull in which she plays a Gujarati living in London. "I've to practice speaking Gujarati in a Brit accent!" she chuckles over the phone, "It's been tough, but also an exciting experience."

Given the stressful demands that come with stardom, we wonder how Lara manages to stick to her daily diet-and-exercise routine. "It has taken me years to build self-control and discipline. One can't afford even a day of complacency at our level. Audiences are not so kind and if you belong to a world where every ripple on your body is judged, you can't afford to slip up."

It's taken audiences seven long years to sit up and notice Lara's hot, flawless body, which was more than evident in Blue. Active coaxed the fit and fabulous star to share tips on fitness and nutrition to help the rest of us get on the long and winding road to perfection.

You must follow a strict diet to stay in such fab shape...
I am a huge foodie and have never followed a diet in my life. I am a vegetarian by choice and have been one for the past five years now. I eat five to six small meals a day and try to eat every couple of hours. I've learnt the importance of having to eat right, the hard way.

What's breakfast like?
Breakfast usually depends on the kind of day I'm going to have. If I'm looking forward to a relaxed day at home then I stick to eating raw food, say a bowl of papaya and maybe an apple, till about noon. If I'm shooting, then I have a big bowl of porridge with some nuts sprinkled on top, or maybe an omelette made from egg whites with whole-wheat toast. I do have one rule thoughu00a0-- the first thing that goes into my system should not be caffeine. So, if I need to head to the gym early in the morning, I make sure I eat at least half an apple. I make it a point to never work out on an empty stomach.

And lunch?
I eat salad, two rotis, one or two vegetables and a gravy-based dish. I usually swap wheat for jowar or nachni.

Do you always manage to eat a healthy dinner?
I try to keep dinner the lightest meal of the day. Though, I must admit, I often eat dinner at my sister's place and since she has two daughters aged five and 10 who love pasta, I do tend to get carried away sometimes. When I eat out, I've taken to studying menus quite diligently.
But you can't beat yourself up for what you've eaten everyday. It's okay to occasionally eat the things you love. I know I can't do without carbs for a long time, so I make it a point to opt for a healthier alternative four out of every five times.

What do you eat when you feel like snacking on something?
For my mid-morning snack, I usually eat a small cube of cheese and a few nuts like badams, pistas and walnuts. I never mix nuts with dried fruits, as it doesn't suit me. I might even eat some low-fat yoghurt.

Do you take vitamin supplements on a regular basis?
I take a multi-vitamin, Vitamin C and flaxseed oil. Though, I make it a point to stop every one or two months, so that I can allow my body to not get too dependent on these supplements or to get to the point where I am force-feeding my body vitamins.

Is there a key to eating right?
I think the most important thing is to be aware. Given the hectic lifestyle that we lead, half our time is spent eating on the runu00a0-- either grabbing a sandwich or shoveling a quick morsel into our mouth. We need to be more aware of what we are putting into our stomach. Eating right will make a huge difference to not just your workouts, but to your moods and overall energy levels as well. Making healthy eating choices is not rocket science and only requires a little bit of planning ahead.

Parts that make a sexy frame

For beautiful eyes: I don't usually use too many creams and potions, but with time, I am trying hard to become slightly more conscious. The make-up artiste on the shoot of Blue recommended an eye cream, which I now swear by.u00a0

For a kissable pout:u00a0Given how much we use our mouth while talking and the fact that it is a visual turn-on, it's important that we keep lips well-hydrated. I see so many women who look great but have chapped lips. When you exfoliate the face, remember to exfoliate the mouth too. Use a good lip balm that stays on throughout the day. And yes, drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

Skin Care: In part, I am blessed with good genes, thanks to my mother who has great complexion. She's taught me not to mess too much with my skin. It's important to keep skin clean to allow it to breathe. I go for clean-ups every three weeks and make sure I use a moisturiser with SPF. If I wash my face when I return home before passing out exhausted, that's great!

Get five steps closer to Lara's body with this routine

"Lara's look was an outcome of very sensible nutrition and a structured workout regimen. In addition, she also included intense swimming lessons, deep-sea diving, and horse-riding," says fitness consultant Zareen Warden, responsible for Lara's sculpted and lean body in Blue.
Zareen interspersed Lara's workout with traditional strength-training in a gym with boot-camp style exercises. Her regime incorporated pilates-based movements, floor movements, body-weight exercises and a blend of plyometrics and speed, and agility training. Lara also followed a strict diet of eating small, mini-meals throughout the day to ensure she was getting enough of the right nutrients.
Here are a few exercises from Lara's most basic routine, to get you started on your road to
bikini-bod perfection.

<< 1>> Floor bridge
Lie on floor, knees bent and feet placed firmly on ground. Lift hips off the floor, draw abdominals in tight. Pause for 2 seconds at the top of the movement, squeeze glutes tight and return slowly to ground. Do not hyper extend your back and do not jerk into this movement. It needs to be done smoothly and with control.
Repeat: 8 to 12 times
Sets: between 1 and 3

<< 2 >> Modified Push ups
On hands and knees, hands are a little wider than shoulder width apart, abs are drawn in tight throughtout the range of movement. Inhale and slowly lower your torso towards the floor. Do not lower too far down when you first start as you will not have the strength in your arms to push yourself back up and might end up placing too much strain on your lower back as you struggle back up. Keep the range of movement small to start with and then progress as you grow stronger. Inhale on the way down exhale on the way back up. Make sure you keep your abs drawn in tight through the entire range of movement.
Repeat: 6 to 12 times
Sets: Between 1 and 3

<< 3 >> Full Plank
Body weight is supported on elbows and toes. This is a fairly difficult exercise and needs to be done with good form to be truly effective. This is an excellent core strengthening exercise since it works your entire torso and core musculature. Do not let your lower back sink to the floor. Your body needs to be held in a straight line from shoulders to toes. If any strain is felt in the lumbar spine, be sure to raise your hips slightly and then return to the straight line. This is an isometric exercise, which means you will hold this position stationary without movement. Hold for 10 seconds at a time and work your way up to holding for 30 seconds.
Sets: 3

<< 4 >> Squats
Keep knees hip distance apart, or a little wider, toes facing forward. Maintain the natural curve of the lower back as you sit behind into a squat. Do not let your knees jut past your toes; that would put a lot of strain on your knees so be careful with correct form. Do not let yourself drop too low either as this is not advised. As with all exercise routines, keep your abdominals braced, inhale going down and exhale coming up.
Repeat: 8 to 15 times
Sets: Between 1 and 3

<< 5 >> Lunges
Take a wide leg staggered stance and lower the back leg towards the floor. Knee of the front leg should not bypass the toes, your weight should be in the heel of the front leg and not on the toes. Push the heel into the ground to push yourself back to the starting position.
Repeat: 8 to 12 times per leg
Sets: Between 1 and 3