What’s cooking in the life of an actor-athlete? Eight years of vegan living, fitness and a personal recipe for well-being.

A film set comes with its own wardrobe, makeup kit and meals. For actor and basketball player Arvind Krishna, each raises a question: how was it sourced?

Eight years into veganism, his choices extend from food to cosmetics, footwear and car interiors, reflecting a philosophy rooted in health and compassion.

“The one thing I’ve always advocated for is being true to who you truly are inside,” he says.

His journey into acting was equally unexpected. Having worked in the corporate sector at the Satyam School of Leadership, Arvind was spotted during auditions for It’s My Love Story, a film that marked his entry into cinema.

“I had never planned to be an actor, to be honest,” he recalls.

ROOTED IN CHOICE

For Arvind, food carries meaning beyond nutrition.

His first experience with veganism came while attending boarding school near Boston, where he was also playing basketball. Under pressure to perform, he eventually returned to a non-vegetarian diet. Years later, he decided to give veganism another chance.

“I noticed that my recovery between exercises and games was getting far better,” he shares.

He also noticed changes in his physique, skin and hair, and gradually began connecting his dietary choices with his spiritual and ethical beliefs.

“Imagine the suffering an animal might have gone through to be on your plate. Is that suffering not likely to affect you at some level?” he reflects.

“All the products I use are from vegan brands because I also feel that how you source the product is equally important,” he shares.

Film costumes sometimes require compromises, but he values effort over perfection.

“We don’t have a vegan purity meter on our foreheads saying someone is 80 per cent vegan or 70 per cent vegan. The effort matters,” he explains.

His commitment to conscious living has also brought recognition, including the Vegan Voice of India Award in 2024.

FUEL FOR THE FRAME

As an international basketball player and actor, Arvind adjusts his nutrition to suit demanding roles and training.

From his debut in It’s My Love Story to superhero film A Masterpiece and the upcoming mythological Karmastalam, his career spans varied roles.

For S.I.T., where he played a police officer, Arvind weighed 92 kg and consumed approximately 3,300 calories daily. Preparing for his superhero role required a different approach, bringing his weight down to 80 kg with an intake of around 1,800 calories.

“The timing of your food intake matters a lot. The timing of your carbs matters a lot. There is an entire science behind this,” he explains.

Knee injuries interrupted filming, making his return to fitness an uphill climb. He believes plant-based living supported his recovery.

The experience was particularly demanding because his superhero character appears without a mask, making it difficult to rely on a double.

“Trust me, I gave this project my everything,” he shares.

During rehabilitation, he admits there were moments when he considered abandoning his vegan diet. Instead, he researched plant-based alternatives and continued with his chosen lifestyle.

“I’ve seen the entire curve now: being at the peak of my fitness, falling down to the lowest, and then coming back up again,” he reflects.

WHAT’S ON HIS PLATE?

His plant-based staples.

• Comfort Food: Tofu or tempeh masala.
• Grain of Choice: Quinoa.
• Energy Fix: Oats and dry fruits.
• Dietary Choice: Vegan and gluten-free.

THE EVERYDAY COMMITMENT

Maintaining his dietary choices is not always straightforward, especially while travelling or working on film sets.

“It is hard. I’m not going to lie about it,” he admits.

His family has been supportive, often preparing his meals separately. Alongside veganism, he follows a gluten-free diet for personal health reasons.

For Arvind, consistency comes from understanding his nutritional requirements, tracking his intake and finding alternatives that suit his lifestyle.

VEGAN PASSPORT

His memorable plant-based discoveries.

• Italy: Gluten-free vegan pizza.
• Norway: Vegan dining in Oslo.
• Switzerland & France: Plant-based food discoveries.
• Hyderabad: Vibrant Living and Evoke.

A BIGGER PURPOSE

He is investing in a wellness initiative that envisions clinics, day-care centres and wellness spaces helping people with lifestyle-related conditions develop healthier food and everyday habits.

Arvind also hopes to bring veganism to cinema through storytelling.

“Without sermonising or trying to lecture people, I’d like to talk about how this guy’s vegan lifestyle has helped his life in some way,” he says, imagining a vegan protagonist.

Basketball is another subject he hopes to explore through cinema. He believes the sport deserves greater representation in Indian entertainment and would like to develop a basketball-based film.

“I really want to integrate basketball and make it more mainstream by using it in a movie,” he shares.

His ambitions reflect a desire to bring together the different parts of his life, from sport and cinema to conscious living.

BEYOND PERFECTION

For Arvind, advocating veganism is not about demanding that everyone follow the same path. He believes compassion should extend to people making different choices, including those only beginning to explore plant-based living.

“Please understand that everybody is on their own journey and everyone will have their own calling, whether it is spiritual, physical or emotional,” he shares. Amid film-set costumes, cameras and carefully planned meals, Arvind’s choices reflect a philosophy shaping both the life he leads and the stories he hopes to tell.