Namita Nayyar:
How has your family contributed to the profession you seem to enjoy?
Harpriya Bains:
I have to give credit to my husband and two daughters for their endless support. Although they are often my punching bag and the centre of my jokes, I must say, they have been sporting enough to take them all with a big heart. My daughters always ask me how many laughs I got in a show and are just waiting for me to make it ‘big’ so I can be rich enough to buy them a house in Miami while my husband patiently encourages me every time I step out for a show by saying “Jaa Simran Jaa, jee le apni zindagi!!” But in case you are wondering if he laughs at my jokes, well you know he’s the quiet kinda’ guy. So, if I waited for him to laugh, I would probably never have a career in comedy.
But honestly, I am glad they are the way they are, or elsewhere would I get my content from? My parents and in-laws are also extremely encouraging and proud of my work and are always there to support me and be there for me and my kids whenever I need to travel for work.
Namita Nayyar:
How do you like to kick-start your day? Any workout routine you follow, please share.
Harpriya Bains:
I believe good health and self-discipline are as much important to success as creativity and intelligence. Although I’m not a hardcore gym person, I do follow a fairly disciplined morning routine to kick-start my day. I’m an early riser and start my day at 5.30 am with a glass of water, soaked raisins, and almonds followed by morning tea with a Parle G biscuit. I usually write my morning pages while having tea. It’s an excellent practice I’ve started very recently and totally love how it clears a lot of clutter in your mind right at the start of the day.
I then pray for about 15 minutes followed by a 10-minute guided morning meditation. After packing the kid’s tiffins and sending them off to school, I then eat fruit and either do yoga or go for a walk for about 30 to 45 minutes. And that’s it! Then I get ready, have breakfast and I’m all set for the day. Of course, I do have my weekend cheat days where I may skip a few steps😊
Namita Nayyar:
What kind of diet do you follow to stay healthy & beautiful? 5 foods you love to eat.
Harpriya Bains:
I love to eat. My portions may be small but I enjoy everything from homemade rajma chawal to a nice chinese or Thai meal. My everyday diet includes eggs, toast, nuts, and green tea for breakfast. In winter, mostly land up eating a nice green parantha or missi bajra/jawar roti instead of toast for breakfast.
Lunch mostly comprises daal/rajma/channa, seasonal vegetables, roti/poori, salad, and curd. One thing which is included in my lunch almost every day of my life is one last roti with ghee & shakkar or white makhan/malai & Shakkar. And trust me, you will always see dollops of ghee or makhan. I am a Sardarni, and shakkar and gud are like a staple diet in our homes since I also have a sweet tooth, I can simply never have enough of ghee shakkar, guilt-free and fearlessly!
Dinner usually includes chicken or fish, stir-fried vegetables or cutlets with rice or pasta or noodles – mostly made as per popular kid’s choice😊
At bedtime, I have a cup of hot water boiled with cinnamon, nutmeg, and fennel seeds which is good for digestion and sleep.
11 am is snack time when I usually have a fruit and nimbu paani and homemade cake or cookies or good ‘ol Parle G biscuits with my evening tea at 5 pm.
My 5 favourite foods:
- Mangoes (Mainly Langra)
- Chicken – any form
- Roti with Makhan/ghee & Shakkar
- Goan Seafood thali
- Kaala Chaana with rice
