I am glad I married a South Indian, says Lara Dutta

Lara Dutta, who recently married Mahesh Bhupathi, says that she is glad that her spouse is a South Indian.

Bangalore: Bollywood actress Lara Dutta, who recently wed tennis ace Mahesh Bhupathi, says that she is glad that her spouse is a South Indian, as she is a Punjabi girl who loves Southern food.

The statuesque beauty who wed Bhupathi in a sunset ceremony in Goa, said that she is a foodie, who loves both pani-puri and idli-dosa. "I am a big foodie. Being a Punjabi, I love street food, especially chats, pani-puri, dahi-papdi, you name it and I love it," said the former Miss Universe who grew up here in Bangalore. "Being a Bangalorean, I also love South Indian food. I am glad I married a South Indian," said Dutta about her husband, a fellow Bangalorean. But despite her love of street food, the actress is known for having one of the best bodies in Bollywood and is now sharing her secrets in a fitness DVD, `Heal with Lara Powerplay - Making Exercise Fun`. "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," she told PTI. The 32-year-old said that she became serious about working out and turned to Yoga, after her entry into Bollywood. "The constant pressure of work and the pressure of keeping the body in perfect shape made me realise that I needed something more than burning out calories. I needed something to restore fitness, rejuvenation of body and mind, which I found in yoga," she said. Subsequently, Lara brought out a DVD on yoga which received an, "overwhelming response, egging me on to work out an exercise which would be effective and sustainable, at the same time great fun and that`s how this DVD came into being". A much sought after former print and ramp model, Lara feels Bangalore has come a long way since she left the city after her schooling. "It has evolved so much as a fashion hub. One can see a treasure trove of talent here. The boys and girls here not only carry themselves with elan but can also speak very well. It is a combination of both beauty and the brain", she said. PTI