Bollywood actress Bhumi Pednekar / @psbhumi via Instagram

Every time you hear of a newbie prepping up for her big Bollywood debut, you picture her spending hours at the gym, working up a sweat, or making the rounds of the dietician to shed the last few kilos. Not Bhumi Pednekar.

As soon as she signed on the dotted line for her first film, Bhumi was on a strict all-you-can-eat diet so that she could put on the whopping 30 kilos that the script called for. Few girls would agree to do that; fewer actresses would agree to do that. However, for Bhumi it was a no-brainer.

"As a girl, the thought of gaining weight wasn't easy, but when I thought as an actor, I was very sure. That gave me confidence," she was quoted as saying during the pre-release interviews.

She burst onto the scene in 2015 with YRF's 'Dum Laga Ke Haisha,' playing the unapologetically real Sandhya—a character far removed from Bollywood's glamorized heroines. Her weight not only defined the storyline of the film but also garnered her more attention than any newcomer can hope for. She even snagged the Filmfare Award for 'Best Female Debut' that year.

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In an industry that often thrives on predictability, Bhumi has made a career out of being anything but. Bollywood Insider takes a look back at a decade of bold choices, transformative roles, and a voice that refuses to be boxed in.

Unconventional childhood

Born and raised in Mumbai, Bhumi grew up in a household that celebrated strong women. Her mother, Sumitra Pednekar, was a fierce advocate for education and independence. "Women have always been celebrated in my house. My parents always told me that we won't get you married until you are independent," she had shared.

Unfortunately, Bhumi got a taste of responsibility earlier than she would have thought after her father passed away when she was in her teens. This loss shaped her deeply, and she admits that it was losing her dad that made her grow up faster.

"It made me more responsible, more aware of the world around me," she added.

While she lost out on an opportunity to study at Whistling Woods International due to low attendance, she didn't let it shatter her filmy dreams. No sooner had she turned 18 than she joined Yash Raj Films as an assistant casting director.

Talking about this hurry to get a job, she said, "I was obsessed with cinema. I didn't want to be famous—I wanted to be part of the process. Little must she have known that the behind-the-scenes experience she would garner as an assistant casting director would give her a rare insight into the craft of acting and the workings of the industry.

An ally for life

A quick peek at Bhumi's Instagram account will leave you thoroughly confused because her sister, Samiksha, makes numerous appearances on it, and it is quite difficult to tell the two apart. If Bhumi is the fire, her sister is the spark that keeps it burning. The two share a bond that's equal parts sisterhood, friendship, and business partnership.

"Samiksha is three-and-a-half years younger than me, and I was always very maternal towards her. We've been inseparable since the beginning," she had recalled fondly in an interview.

Their childhood was filled with shared clothes, makeup battles, and TV remote wars. In fact, it was makeup that was like a bonding ritual for them since both loved glamming up from an early age. Even now, you will catch the two playing with their makeup palettes, dolling up themselves or each other for a good dose of sibling revelry.

Samiksha is also very fond of her elder sister and believes it was Bhumi who walked so she could fly. "Bhumi fought the battles, so I could follow in her footsteps. She made my life easier," Samiksha once shared.

Bhumi Pednekar with her sister Samiksha / @psbhumi via Instagram

A career with a cause

From portraying a small-town girl fighting for her dignity in 'Toilet: Ek Prem Katha' to a fierce survivor in 'Sonchiriya,' Bhumi's filmography reads like a manifesto of social consciousness. In 'Bala,' she played a dark-skinned lawyer challenging colorism. In 'Saand Ki Aankh,' she transformed into a 60-year-old sharpshooter.

You'd almost think she turned actress to raise awareness—and you wouldn't be entirely wrong. Bhumi once admitted, "I want to be a part of films that have some kind of social comment and that will help people evolve." However, if you think acting is incidental for her, you couldn't be farther from the truth. Bhumi is passionate about acting to the point of being introspective about her craft.

"Acting, for me, is a process of metamorphosis. It's about forgetting who I am and becoming someone entirely new. I don't want to be typecast. I want to surprise people with every role," she shared.

Her co-stars echo this sentiment. Ayushmann Khurrana, who has shared screen space with her multiple times—including in her debut venture—once said. "Bhumi is fearless. She dives into her characters with a kind of honesty that's rare. She doesn't act; she becomes."

Making a difference

Beyond cinema, Bhumi has emerged as a passionate environmental advocate. Her initiative, 'Climate Warrior,' has gained traction among youth and celebrities alike. She has used her platform to raise awareness about climate change, sustainability, and eco-conscious living—proving that her activism isn't just limited to the screen.

However, there's more to Bhumi than meets the eye. If her onscreen persona and off-screen activism have you believing that she doesn't know how to let her hair down, you are highly mistaken.

The actress has confessed, "I've always had a strong personality—I know who I am outside my work, and I'm nothing like the characters I portray. I am a modern-day girl, and of course I have dated many guys. I just go with the flow."