Athlete, beauty queen, actor, social activist, politician, army wife and doting mother. Nafisa Ali Sodhi is the original boss lady.
It is late afternoon when I reach Nafisa Ali Sodhi’s home in Defence Colony, Delhi, and there is a somnolent heaviness in the summer air. I let myself in (there is no doorbell to announce my arrival) and find Ali Sodhi reposing on the sofa with a book. She looks relaxed and every bit as radiant as I had expected her to be, a head of grey hair and a few lines doing little to detract from her luminous beauty. There is no makeup on her face, her hair is tied in a casual updo, and the overall atmosphere is happy and laidback. “I never go to the beauty parlour. I have never had facials, pedicures, manicures… nothing. I just massage my face with cream after I bathe and that is it,” says the legendary beauty, who was crowned Femina Miss India in 1976 and was second runner-up at Miss International in 1977. “I have always been fit and athletic, but now that I have got thyroid, I have become fat and I feel bad about it.”
Champion’s league
Ali Sodhi is far from fat, but we must remember that she was an accomplished sportsperson, and her standards of fitness are very different. Born in Kolkata on January 18, 1957, to renowned photographer Ahmed Ali and Philomena Torresan, she was an outstanding athlete in school, who went on to become West Bengal’s swimming sensation in the early Seventies and a national swimming champion in 1974. Ali Sodhi was also a jockey for a while at the Calcutta Gymkhana in 1979. “I had an idyllic childhood in Kolkata. We used to stay in a lovely colonial bungalow on Jhowtala Road. I learnt swimming when I was very young. I used to be called the ‘sizzling water baby’ in those days because I would win all the swimming championships.”
Natural star
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
THE GOODNESS OF GHEE
What: The Pure Cow Ghee range for babies with sensitive skin from Himalaya Babycare
Hello Hyderabad!
The Kaftan Company makes its debut in Hyderabad with a physical store
A COSMIC CULINARY JOURNEY
Located in the vibrant heart of Kolkata, That Place Bowl & Bar aims to be something out of the ordinary
BIG ON THE SCREEN
Writer-director INDIRA DHAR is no newcomer to international film festivals, but a standing ovation at Cannes for her latest film was an unforgettable experience. She talks to Shraddha Kamdar about the inspiration, her love for films and more
COMMAND RESPECT EFFORTLESSLY
Try these strategies if you hate not being taken seriously.
FIND CALM IN CHAOS
Deal with difficult situations using the principles of stoicism.
GREENER IN THE CUP
Samiksha Bhowmik details why a cup of matcha needs to be part of your diet
THE BEST OF TWO VIBRANT WORLDS
LYLA, in Mumbai's BKC, seamlessly blends Central American vibrancy with Californian flair
A Melange Of the Middle East & Indian Spices
Bringing contemporary twists to tradition, MERCHANT & ME is a youthful urban space for cuisine and cocktails in Pune
10 REASONS WHY SEYCHELLES COULD BE YOUR DREAM DESTINATION
Seychelles hits all the high notes on the romance roster whether you're on honeymoon or a love break.