Virat Kohli has often said Anushka Sharma changed the way he looked at food, health, and animals. The cricketer turned vegetarian after health concerns, but he also credited Anushka’s compassion for animals for shaping his choice. The couple, who married in 2017 and are parents to daughter Vamika and son Akaay, continue to follow a vegetarian lifestyle while still enjoying food across India and abroad.
Virat Kohli credits Anushka Sharma for lifestyle change
In a 2020 interview with Vogue, Virat spoke about Anushka’s influence on his life and food choices. “Anushka has given me a new lease on life. I was not the most understanding or balanced person before I met her. She has inspired me to be a better human being and I feel blessed to spend my life with the most amazing woman I know.”He also said Anushka’s love for animals changed his view on eating meat. “Anushka has been vegetarian for four years, while I turned to it two years ago for health reasons. I can never eat meat again because of her love for animals—it made me look at things differently,” he said.In an Instagram Live session, Virat said he became a vegetarian for health reasons and later called it the “best decision” he ever made. “It made me feel why I didn’t do it before,” he said.
Anushka Sharma’s vegetarian journey and food stories
Anushka turned vegetarian in 2015. In a 2017 interview with Elle India, she said, “It was difficult for me to turn vegetarian, but it was a conscious choice I made.” She added, “My love for animals and spiritual reasons brought on this lifestyle change.”She also said the shift helped her health. “I’ve noticed that since I’ve switched to vegetarianism, I don’t fall sick as often. Also, I’ve become more conscious about the environment. I want to set the right kind of example as a human being,” she said.Their food choices have followed them on their travels. A 2023 Vogue profile said the couple enjoyed Tendril in London, where their favorite dishes included Chinatown purple potatoes, carrot with tahini and pomegranate salad, Nduja squash tostada, and cauliflower moilee with pita bread.Chef Harsh Dixit told The Hollywood Reporter India that he once made pho for their anniversary dinner. “There’s chicken and beef in the broth. But they were eating gluten-free at the time, so we went with rice noodles, which are traditional in Pho and gluten-free,” he said. He also served snake gourd as playful “snakes” for the vegan meal.In 2022, Anushka found Delhi-style chole bhature for Virat at Delhi Se in Mumbai. The Indian Express reported that her post gave the struggling restaurant new attention. Pinkvilla Biz later reported that fans blocked the road when the couple visited Bengaluru’s CTR, one of Anushka’s favorite college-day spots.
