Dia Mirza never believed in competition

Actress Dia Mirza shot to fame with the Miss India pageant back in 2000, but says she never believed in competition. "It feels almost surreal to look back 20 years. I was so young when it all happened," she reminisced on an experience that made the young Hyderabad girl a household name.

"The year 2000 marked a new millennium, bringing with it a sense of hope, promise and excitement", she added. Interestingly, Dia was never one who dreamt of winning a beauty pageant.

"I happened to be spotted by a modelling agent who offered me a part-time job at 16. Everything happened very quickly after that -- advertising campaigns, fashion shows, editorial shoots. One thing led to another and I was selected from Hyderabad for the Miss India pageant," she recalled.

"I remember my mother being really surprised that I wanted to take part!" Dia, who had never left Hyderabad before in her life, vividly remembers adapting to life in Mumbai.