Dia Mirza: I am a seeker

Every once in a while you come across a person whose warmth and wisdom stay with you long after the interaction is over. Actor and winner of the Miss Asia Pacific title, DIA Mirza is such an individual. Not only is she beautiful, but she is also warm, wise and articulate. One interaction with her and you realise that the glow that she exudes doesn’t just emanate from her beauty, but from her highly evolved being. Here are some excerpts from a very enlightening chat Dia had with MANOJ Khatri

Manoj Khatri [MK] Where do you place health in the list of your priorities? Do you think good health is overrated or do you believe that health is true wealth?

Dia Mirza: ‘Health is wealth’ is not just a saying that we have heard over the years; it is the biggest reality of life. Unfortunately, it is in times of ill-health that we realise the importance of health.
There's a song called the Sunscreen Song, which says that your body is the greatest instrument you will ever have. But I think it can only be your greatest instrument if it is well. Good health is key in every kind of purpose you might want to meet in life—it is important to be healthy in order to think clearly, to make rational decisions, to be able to function at your optimum, to be able to execute your ambitions, dreams and desires. Good health is also essential to be able to support the ones you love. It is the key to sustenance… the key to everything. It is the one thing that empowers.
 I think most humans are selfless by nature. But as much as we care for the ones around us, we don’t care for ourselves. We do not pay attention to what we eat or how we live. We do not concentrate on what is good for us and all this takes a toll on our basic wellbeing.

MK: Exercise plays an important role in maintaining good health. You too had undergone rigorous training for a movie…

Dia Mirza: That was for Acid Factory. The film needed extensive action and I had to train for it. In fact, my countdown for filming the movie was pretty regimental in terms of exercise. There was an optimum level of fitness that I had to achieve. But more than my fitness levels, it was about increasing my endurance levels. I needed to gain a lot of strength and flexibility in order to carry off the stunts.

MK: Are you calorie-conscious when you eat?

Dia Mirza: I am aware of the basic parameter of 2,000 calories a day and I am conscious about it. To achieve optimum energy, you need to give your body enough natural sugar. Your body also needs enough nutrients to function well.
The basic idea when I eat is to eat more fatty food in the first half of the day and reduce the carbohydrate intake by the evening.

MK: Are you equally sensitive towards personal successes and failures in life?

Dia Mirza: To me, no failure is big or small. I feel that failures are more important than success. And I am a big believer in this. Failures take you inward. They bring about a great sense of realisation, understanding, discipline and respect for whatever it is that you do. Great passion always arises out of failures.
Success is a high. It’s something that you feel and enjoy. It’s quickly forgotten. But failures have a deep imprint on your mind and they make you a stronger person. Failures are the biggest gift from the universe to us and it is important to treat them such. Understand that every time you fall, it is only to rise up stronger. That's how I look at every failure.

MK: When you don’t get something that you badly want, how do you react?

Dia Mirza: Well, the instant reaction is disappointment, and then determination to work harder and ensure that I get what I want [laughs].

MK: Advice to CW readers

Dia Mirza: Well, if you are reading this magazine, then you are already on the right path [laughs].