Ahaan Panday’s Bollywood debut with ‘Saiyaara’ has not only made waves for his striking looks and acting skills, but it has also shone the spotlight on his mother, Deanne Panday. Known for her glowing skin, endless energy and dedication to wellness, Deanne is more than just a celebrity mum. She is a respected fitness expert, best‑selling author and wellness coach whose career spans decades. Over the years, she has trained Bollywood stars such as Bipasha Basu, John Abraham, Dino Morea, Jacqueline Fernandez and Preity Zinta. Her expertise in training and nutrition has made her a favourite not just with celebrities, but also with anyone serious about fitness.
Love for fitness started at 11
Deanne’s journey into wellness began early. She embraced yoga and clean eating long before these were popular. Deanne told SME Futures, “I started practicing health and wellness at a very young age. I solicited yoga and practiced eating organic food on a daily basis before these trends even came out in the open..” she said.
Morning routine: water, herbs and healthy bites
In an interview with Hindustan Times, Deanne revealed her daily routine is built around mindful eating. Her mornings start with half a litre of water, followed by a herbal infusion made from nearly 30 ingredients sourced from Kerala. Breakfast is often idli with almonds, walnuts and seasonal fruits. On other days, it’s oats with fruit or Greek yogurt with organic honey.To stay hydrated, she prefers coconut water, green tea and lemon water. She avoids processed drinks and only occasionally has a fizzy one. More than ten years ago, she gave up protein powders and processed supplements, relying instead on whole, natural foods.
Simple lunches with smart carb swaps
For lunch, Deanne sticks to home‑cooked food, vegetables, salads, lentils and her favourite sweet potatoes. When she eats grains, she chooses healthier types like black rice, red rice or quinoa. As mentioned in her SME Futures interview, she follows the 90:10 rule, eating clean 90% of the time and treating herself the remaining 10%.
Local, seasonal and fresh is best
In an interview with Cosmopolitan India, Deanne revealed she believes in eating natural, unprocessed foods such as nuts, pulses, grains, fresh fruits and vegetables. She prefers locally grown, seasonal produce over imported items, which she warns may be treated with chemicals to increase shelf life. Her meals are rich in Indian herbs and spices like turmeric, cumin, cinnamon, fennel and cardamom, which offer many health benefits. Colourful vegetables are a must, both for taste and nutrition.
Smart snacking to avoid boredom eating
She warns against snacking out of boredom, something many struggled with during lockdowns. Instead, she suggests eating smaller portions more often. Her go‑to comfort meal is brown rice khichdi with fresh vegetables, which is gentle on the gut. She is also a firm believer in probiotics like yogurt to keep digestion healthy. To strengthen immunity, Deanne recommends Vitamin C‑rich fruits such as oranges, papayas and gooseberries.
Yoga at the heart of her routine
Yoga has been a key part of Deanne’s life for over 20 years. In her chat with Hindustan Times, she explained, for her, it’s not just about fitness, it’s a lifestyle that improves both the body and the mind. She follows a balanced workout routine that combines yoga, strength training, flexibility exercises and mindfulness. As Ahaan makes his mark in Bollywood, Deanne shines just as brightly, proving that true beauty and energy come from within.
