On A Date with Dia Mirza: Part – 2

I was tongue tied again. Seeing her for a few more moments could’ve made me kneel down and propose to her. But I hold back. Then followed some jokes, some silly ones too, some laughter and then one last serious question, Read More">“Will you forgive someone who double crosses you?” I ask. She answers without aRead More

I was tongue tied again. Seeing her for a few more moments could've made me kneel down and propose to her. But I hold back. Then followed some jokes, some silly ones too, some laughter and then one last serious question, "Will you forgive someone who double crosses you?" I ask. She answers without a hiccup, "I have had bad incidents but I don't hold grudges. I forgive and forget." Now there had to be a better way to end this date. So, I decided to end with a happy note. "What have you not forgotten about this special day?" I question. "If anybody else asked me out today, I'd have probably said 'no'. When I say you bring out the best in me, you really do. You are one of the few people I have immense respect for."

Aged 32, I was still ambivalent about the institution, asking: "Why is marriage the pinnacle for everyone?" People get married for the wrong reasons. So, I make a wish, I guess it was time I started looking at the right reasons or dedicating my life to taking care of a flower... a flower called Dia Mirza. Respect!

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Dia answers all my questions clearly and honestly but doesn’t for a moment pretend this is work. She is enjoying it all and her infectious smile is a proof of what’s in store. I ask, “What if you were to take me out in Mumbai city for a day?” Mirza impresses, Read More">“If I really wantedRead More

Dia answers all my questions clearly and honestly but doesn't for a moment pretend this is work. She is enjoying it all and her infectious smile is a proof of what's in store. I ask, "What if you were to take me out in Mumbai city for a day?" Mirza impresses, "If I really wanted to share Mumbai that I love with you, I'd take you to town and get you to walk around with me through Kala Ghoda, Rhythm House and take you to dine in a restaurant called Trishna where you get Mumbai's best sea food. It's a really small place but it's special. We could probably do some street shopping too."

On screen, having to wait for recognition has made Dia Mirza a realist. "You know I'd cry if I win an award. I promise you I'll cry." To meet Dia on a Woman's Day was quite something. The fact remains that I still didn't wish her. So to surprise her, I left her house while she was attending another interview to promote her next big release Hum Tum Aur Ghost. It was the same interview she left for half way in our chat, remember? I quietly picked up two surprises and kept it behind the pillow I was leaning on. She arrived with no expectations. "A flower for a flower. Here you go Dia, a cauliflower for you", I offer. "Nobody has ever given a cauliflower to me on a date. This is special and will be cooked for dinner tonight", Mirza marks. But before she said anything further, I again surprised her by gifting her five Gerebera flowers - pink, white, yellow, orange and red, colours which define the actress. "A very happy Woman's Day to you Dia", I wish her. She is utterly and happily surprised. "Thank you. These flowers need water but I'm not going to leave your side for a few more minutes", she quotes.

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The only live flesh that’s visible is her delicate hands, with which she gestures frequently, and her naturally enriched butterscotch face. If I was looking for clues of any kind, Read More">it had to be her fingers with the ring. But she wasn’t wearing any. This Dia Mirza isn’t all business and yet has a zeroRead More

The only live flesh that's visible is her delicate hands, with which she gestures frequently, and her naturally enriched butterscotch face. If I was looking for clues of any kind, it had to be her fingers with the ring. But she wasn't wearing any. This Dia Mirza isn't all business and yet has a zero interest in trying to charm. She doesn't try too hard. But I was, "Why are you such a recluse. People forget about you so easily." An honest answer from Dia reminds me of not crossing the limit on a date, "I am a recluse by nature but I am trying to change the habit. I am on a date with you, don't forget. I am not an approval seeking person. I'm more the kind of person who does things to make me happy."

Dia isn't a Bollywood beauty expected to call twenty journalists only to see herself in the newspapers the next morning. Simply put. It's just the choice that Mirza makes about the way she lives. "I think people who like me, one who follows my work and follow me as an individual know enough about me."

Hearing her talk made me think that I should've booked two BA tickets back to London. She is a gem who's in the wrong place. On the Regent Street shopping with Mirza can't get better. "I love shopping. I wouldn't say no if you take me to London for shopping because you know the city more than I do." Then a moment spent with her on the London Eye's privately booked capsule. She replies, "I wouldn't mind the London Eye too. You know London so well that you'll be able to point out the fun stuff; things that I never imagined existed. You'd really be able to show me London from the London Eye like nobody else would."

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Dia doesn’t hold back. She says, “What I meant was that these people have their own space. They do not intrude in each other’s privacy. Their privacy is just one imaginary wall.” As soon as Dia’s answer got over, the angel on my right shoulder murmured something in my ears – ‘Go ahead Dev, Read More">askRead More

Dia doesn't hold back. She says, "What I meant was that these people have their own space. They do not intrude in each other's privacy. Their privacy is just one imaginary wall." As soon as Dia's answer got over, the angel on my right shoulder murmured something in my ears - 'Go ahead Dev, ask her'. The devil on my left said, 'Do not even think about it'. I listened to nobody except my heart and asked Mirza, "If I am serious about any celebrity and if I want to ask her out or confess my interest for her, how should I go ahead with it?"

The angel answers, "Be straight about it. Just say it." But angel wasn't on my shoulder then. It was sitting right in front of my eyes, except that she didn't have wings but wisdom. Thank you Dia! She suggests, "If you really like someone, you should go up to her and ask her out. Take the risk of getting 'no' for an answer and ask."

But now as a part of the strategy to seek balance in my life, I had to go that extra mile and say, "If there is one celebrity I'd get married to, it has to be you - Dia Mirza." To my surprise, she wasn't surprised and replied, "That's what all the men say."

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It’s shortly after 2.30 pm and we are fifteen minutes into our conversation when I hear, “Ok, I’ll have to attend a quick interview with some other guys. So, I’ll be back in a while. By the way, Read More">you were fifteen minutes late too.” It took Dia another twenty minutes to come back which remindedRead More

It's shortly after 2.30 pm and we are fifteen minutes into our conversation when I hear, "Ok, I'll have to attend a quick interview with some other guys. So, I'll be back in a while. By the way, you were fifteen minutes late too." It took Dia another twenty minutes to come back which reminded me that our synchronicity seems extraordinary.

Dia's had small parts in big movies but that's what brings her up the ladder of success. And then on meeting her in person, you notice that she is happier on the outskirts of fame too. She wants to be known as an actor than a celebrity. The more you look at her, the better your afternoon gets. So I try this, "What if we were to sit on the rocks of the sea shore on the Bandstand area for a date". She was ready and how, "Right now?" Dia asks me. In the same breath she continues, "I thought people who don't have a place to go, go there. Majority of the people sitting on the rocks facing the sea side don't have a budget to go out on a date. I've never seen any educated or an upper middle class part of the society going and sitting there. It's sad but it's the truth."

In person Dia's smaller, slighter than you'd expect, as though her image were the result of some chemical reaction between her face and the movie camera. She talks like a parrot sometimes. In between our conversation, Dia uses the 'Hyderabadi' word more than she uses my name. To know more on my thought of sitting on the rocks with her, I ask "What went through your mind when you saw these romantic couples sitting on the rocks for the first time when you came to Mumbai?" Dia's Hyderabadi nature comes to the fore, "I was shocked. I was a Hyderabadi girl. I'd never seen people openly making out in public." See what I meant?

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