We are at Scarlett House, Bandra West, on a Friday afternoon, sipping mocktails. Amrita Arora, who we all have known for years from the big screen and from being a VJ, looks happy and excited. It’s the festive season and, as she says, she has stepped out after a while. The actress, and now restaurateur, says she mostly prefers hanging with her husband on their terrace these days. She looks good — back in shape just in time for Diwali. 

It’s been a challenging three-four years for Arora, who one day found herself in an unhealthy space —  mentally and physically.  “So for me, I think the journey was pretty tough. I used to eat healthy, and I used to gym, but then I think I just fell off the wagon around 2022. We were going through COVID and everybody was in a different mind state. After COVID, Shakeel [Ladak, her husband] went off to work, the kids started school, and that was my tipping point. Because, I almost became like an empty-nester. But there came a point when I was like I have to do it, I have to get healthy. My son said, ‘Mama, come on, let’s all do it’. Almost a year ago, he set up a challenge. He said, ‘In December, we’re all going to do a photo shoot. And let’s be the fittest versions of ourselves’. I said, come on.”