Ruhaanika Dhawan, who became a household name as a child actor with Yeh Hai Mohabbatein, has opened up about a difficult phase of her childhood that she rarely speaks about publicly. The actor was only 11 when she gained weight during the COVID-19 lockdown and began hearing comments about her body.
In a recent interview with Zoom, Ruhaanika spoke honestly about how those comments affected her at such a young age. She also opened up about her fitness journey and how her relationship with her body has gradually changed over the years.
Before the lockdown, Ruhaanika had always been an active child. She was professionally involved in swimming and regularly participated in competitions. However, when the pandemic forced everyone to stay indoors, her routine suddenly changed.
Ruhaanika Dhawan Gained Weight During Lockdown
Looking back at that period, Ruhaanika admitted that comments about her body did affect her.
“If I’m being honest, anything with my body early does bother me because I used to be… I did gain weight in lockdown,” she said, recalling that she was only around 11 years old at the time.
She explained that she had previously been extremely active because of swimming, but lockdown changed her daily routine completely. With schools moving online and outdoor activities coming to a halt, she found herself spending most of her time at home.
“I have always been an active kid. Pre-lockdown, I was doing swimming professionally, like competing and everything. I think I was only 11 years old. Of course, we were bored. Our online classes happened. There was nothing… I was eating, I was studying, I was eating, I was studying,” Ruhaanika recalled.
For a child, dealing with changes in the body can already be difficult. Hearing comments from other people made the experience even more challenging for the young actor.
Her Mother Helped Her Get Active Again
Ruhaanika’s fitness journey began when her mother encouraged her to become active again. She initially started working out at home by following exercise videos on YouTube.
She began with basic workouts and HIIT exercises before eventually discovering martial arts. What started as part of her fitness routine eventually became a sport that she continues to practise.
“I discovered where I worked out for one hour a day, doing these exercises. Then I switched to martial arts, which is a sport that I still have on now,” she said.
Rather than turning to extreme diets or quick solutions, Ruhaanika said she gradually changed her lifestyle. She became more conscious about what she was eating and started cutting down on biscuits and sugary foods while including lighter meals and more protein.
Six Years of Fitness
Ruhaanika has now been following a consistent fitness routine for around six years. She said she lost the weight through what she described as a “clean” approach involving regular exercise and healthier eating habits.
However, the experience also left her more conscious about her body.
“I lost all the weight, but I did it clean. Now it’s been six years that I work out and I eat clean,” she said.
While fitness became an important part of her life, Ruhaanika acknowledged that the comments she heard as a child continued to affect the way she viewed herself.
“Comments on my body still… I feel a little bad about, but I’m learning to give more love to myself,” she added.
Learning to Love Herself
Ruhaanika’s story highlights how deeply comments about appearance can affect children, especially when they are still growing and developing their sense of self.
For the actor, her fitness journey has now become less about simply changing her appearance and more about maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle. Martial arts remains a part of her routine, while she continues to focus on healthier eating habits.
Her experience also shows that body confidence is not something that changes overnight. Even after years of fitness and discipline, old comments can sometimes stay with a person.
Ruhaanika is now trying to approach herself with more kindness and understanding. Instead of allowing other people’s opinions to define how she feels about her body, she is learning to appreciate herself and give herself the love she believes she deserves.
The actor’s candid admission is a reminder that children should not have to carry the pressure of meeting unrealistic expectations about their appearance. For Ruhaanika, the journey has been about becoming healthier, stronger and, most importantly, learning to feel comfortable in her own skin.
