Believe it or not, Sobhita Dhulipala doesn’t really do skincare

When I meet Sobhita Dhulipala on a busy Thursday at The Four Seasons in Mumbai, she is in no mood to pretend she has the perfect evening routine. The actor—who was last seen in Love, Sitara (2024) and Dev Patel’s critically acclaimed Monkey Man (2024)—has taken a quick beat to attend the launch of haircare brand Nexxus, but most of her days of late have been spent between two simultaneous film shoots. One is in the city, one far from it; she’s clocking 11 pm wrap times and crashing soon after. “It’s like I have these phases of immense work or phases of free time, so there’s no consistent routine,” she says.

There isn’t much room for face masks and self-care rituals in the middle of a production blur. But that doesn’t mean she’s not thinking about it. When she does have a day off, Dhulipala finds herself reading up about health, listening to podcasts, and discovering what actually works for her very thick hair. “I’ve just had a very laid-back approach to all these things,” she says. “But I’m trying to understand it better now.”

Below, she tells us about idlis and hot water (the current MVPs of her nights), her surprisingly non-existent skincare routine, and the podcast genres that won’t keep her up at night.

What time do you usually get home from work?

For the past three months I’ve been getting back home quite late because I’m shooting for two film projects right now. So, I would say, on average, 11 pm. It’s been quite strenuous.

Wow, that’s late. Do you even have time for an evening routine?

Not really. I do have phases of free time where I have to figure out how to fill it. It’s more cyclical than a consistent routine.

What do your evenings usually look like on a free day?

Recently, I’ve been trying to read up on health things. I’ve not exactly been very disciplined with food, working out, or even my skincare. So, I’ve been spending my free evenings reading proactively about what’s good, what’s not good, and what’s happening. It’s like an academic angle to lifestyle.

Do you read online or is it all books?

I read stuff of this kind online. With books, of late I’ve found it difficult to read fiction... Not difficult... Rather, I’m more attracted to nonfiction. Currently, I’m reading The Male Brain by Louann Brizendine.

Very interesting. What’s your dinner situation usually like? And what’s your go-to comfort meal?

For the longest time, it used to be khichdi. But now, I think a comfort meal would be idli.

At night?

Yes. I mean, we have this culture of eating tiffins. In my house, we used to eat tiffins at night. So now, I like idli with lots of ghee, podi, and chutney or something like that.

Do you cook?

I used to. I don’t particularly feel motivated nowadays, maybe because I’m very physically fatigued or mentally occupied because of the volume of shoots I’m doing. Fortunately, I do have help to cook. So, I think I’ll get back to it.

Do you prefer showering in the morning or at the end of the day?

Both. If I don’t shower at the end of the day, I feel like I’m carrying everything of the day on me. It’s almost like I want to shed this layer and go to bed like a clean worm.

What does your shower or bath routine look like? What products do you use?

Actually, I just use facewash. And that’s it.

What about hair care?

I end up using mostly whatever is not over (laughs). But I tried the Nexxus Promend Resurrection oil-in-serum recently and it was incredible. I have very thick hair and it’s very coarse. So, understanding what kind of products work for my hair and simplifying it, I think, has been an amazing next step for me in this journey of enjoying beauty. Otherwise, it can feel like, man, there’s a lot to do. But when you figure out what works for you best, then you’re sorted. And this serum has been amazing for me. I don’t know exactly the formulation—I might get it wrong—but there’s an oil base to it. So, it’s good for hair that’s thick and heavy, like mine.

Do you use it as an overnight leave-in treatment?

That, or even on dry hair, just to kind of give it some shine and body.

What are some other nightly rituals that help you decompress?

I like to sip hot water. Maybe it’s a mental thing, but I feel cosy vibes. I can’t sleep immediately after eating. I need a little time. So, in that time, I sip on some hot water and feel like an intellectual while on the couch. It’s a great bedtime routine.

I agree. Do you have a very elaborate nighttime skin care routine?

No, I don’t. I’ve been very inconsistent with skincare for the longest time. I mean, these things are a little tough to believe, right? Typically, when one reads or hears an actor speak about not having much discipline in these areas, they find it hard to believe. But it has been so. But like I said, I’ve been reading up. I’m trying to understand. There’s an overwhelming amount of information out there. So, I’m just trying to get the basics right. If I enjoy it and if I understand it, I can stick with it. But if something’s just like a cool new thing, I don’t feel motivated to try it out.

So, no LED mask or high-tech skin gizmos at night?

Maybe if I try it, I’ll like it. It just hasn’t happened so far. I’ve not even tried an LED thing—I just see it on Instagram. It looks cool. I just don’t know where to try it!

What time do you usually go to sleep?

That depends on work. For the last 15 years I had been in Mumbai, and I would sleep quite late. Not that I was out there raging. More like, I would just rot in bed until sleep hit me like a truck, and I was gone. So, it would be like 1:30-ish. But now, since I’ve moved to Hyderabad, I’m kind of in a completely fresh lifestyle cycle. I find that on average I’m able to sleep much, much sooner. I’m in bed by 10-ish. And I knock off by 10:30 or 10:45.

What’s the last thing you do before going to bed?

If I’m on my own, without my husband, then I’ll probably want to just get on the ’gram. It’s not even like I’m posting... It’s just random things, like memes. Oh, and podcasts! I’m big on podcasts. I love listening to podcasts, actually.

What kind of podcasts do you listen to?

A variety. Health, espionage. Not horror and not crime. The others are fine.

Is it because it’ll keep you up at night?

I think I have a very vibrant imagination. So, I would like not to fuel it.

What’s your top tip for a good night’s sleep?

I started taking ashwagandha a couple of months ago. It’s amazing. I can’t quantify how well it works, but I do feel that it has been a strong, positive addition. Just a little capsule. But nothing else apart from ashwagandha so far. I’ve also tried those essential oil blends that you just put on your wrist or your pulse points. I tried it at a resort, and I flicked one.