Dr Krithi Karanth: What are your earliest and happiest memories of being in wildlife and in nature?
Dia Mirza: I grew up in Hyderabad when our homes were surrounded by big trees and streams and rocks, and we would take walks or explore lakes and butterflies and birds. During the monsoon, red beetles would come out in the garden, and it was fascinating to discover them. I also went to a beautiful school in Hyderabad called Vidyaranya High School, where classes were held under big banyan and peepal trees, and we would go birdwatching on the hill within the premises. There was a gentleman called Mr Dolphin, who had many pets in the school, and he would put birds in large cages to give them more space to fly. My childhood included immense interaction with nature. We went rock climbing, hiking, trekking and, ironically enough, given how much I love nature and wildlife, I happened to explore a forest for the first time when filming for a show on NDTV in Madhya Pradesh. I cannot describe the magic of it; it was the most amazing feeling. I don’t think anything else has made me feel more alive and mesmerised. I realise now that not everyone feels for nature the same way. But during that time, my only thoughts were why I had waited for so long to visit it; this was my place. This is where I belong. I was in love.
KK: So many people can relate to your stories, because many of us have had a similar childhood. Tell me, when did you go from a passive appreciation for nature to becoming a strong advocate for it?
This story is from the March 2021 edition of Harper's Bazaar India.
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 March 2021 edition of Harper's Bazaar India.
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
Filler Fatigue
With worries about facial distortion and a shift towards the natural, is it time to sav goodbye to these corrective tweaks?
Mind-Skin Connection
Is il possible for your skincare to communicate with your brain:
Tailored for the Game
Fashion meets sports as U.S. Polo Assn. names Sawai Padmanabh Singh of ol Jaipur’ s royal family its global ambassador.
Reimagined Classic
Louis Vuitton launches the Neverfull Inside Out bag, transforming the icon into a fully reversible tote.
Italian Muse
Guecr's new high jew ellery collection isa stroll through the country’s picturesque gardens.
Co Gs Art Post, Gas Art Pas New CELSIOR Net Lay the show Neking ble e dh PATRON An TH Fotal 24 ANAR Romantics
Romcoms might not have prepared me for modern dating, but they offered a timeless sartorial guide to falling in love.
Making a Case for India's Ingenuity
William Dalrymple says The Golden Road is an extraordinary story but also the most challenging book he has written in the last two decades.
On My Playlist
Playback singer turned indie-pop artiste Dhee talks about music, identity, and empowering a new generation.
Explicitly Bold
The latest lipstick range by Nars is designed to empower wearers with colour and confidence.
Art in a Bottle
The Perfume Library founder Jahnvi Lakhota Nandan believes fragrances are meant to be liberated.