Lara Dutta's South Indian connection

After she was caught gorging on the North Indian delicacy, Litti-Chokha, actress Lara Dutta says that she is glad that she married a South Indian (ace tennis star Mahesh Bhupathi) because in spite of being a Punjabi, she dotes on South Indian food all the time and that idlis and dosas top her favourites’ list.

“I am from Bengaluru and I absolutely love South Indian food. I am glad I married a South Indian,” says Dutta. The actress also insists that one can be a foodie and at the same time be conscious about his or her health.

Dutta also confessed that like any true-blue Punjabi foodie, she also dotes on street food, especially chaats. “Being a Punjabi, I love street food, especially chaats, pani-puri, dahi-papdi... you name it and I love it,” says the actress.

But the Bollywood babe also stresses that if one is a foodie, then it is all the more important to follow a strict exercise regime. “Exercise has always been an important element of my life and I think it is necessary to incorporate it into every single day of our lives,” the recently-married actress stresses.

Dutta says that yoga keeps her fit and helps her keep calm during stressful shooting schedules. “The constant pressure of work and the pressure of keeping the body in perfect shape made me realise that I needed something more than just burning calories. I was looking for something to restore fitness, rejuvenation of body and mind — which I found in yoga,” she concludes.