"I stuck chewing gum on guest' chairs"

If you had seen Jassi's Pari when she was a bespeckled child, you would find it difficult to believe that this child would one day grow up to become the ultra sexy, and stylish Maninee Mihir Misra. Her vivacious nature and friendly attitude has stolen many a heart and after the latka jhataks she exhibited in Nach Baliye, the lady is surely on her way to stardom. In a very candid chat with Chikita Kukreja, Maninee spills the beans on her exciting childhood memories. What was your childhood like? No one will believe it; I was very shy, a back bencher and a bookworm. I started writing poetry from the age of seven. I love dancing and had an OCD problem; I use to clean my house before going off to sleep so that all could fine every thing in place in the morning. My mom use to take me to plays and exhibitions every now and then. I had a mixed kind of childhood; one was very feminine and use to shorten my skirt every morning on my way to school and the other was a typical tomboyish, in which I use to go and fight for my brother. Do you have any siblings? Yes, I have a younger brother. And believe me we are the best of friends. I thank god that I don't have a sister or else we would be fighting over clothes most of the time. Not that I never fought with my brother, we use to have wrestling and pull each others hair but the fun part was great. Were you a pampered brat in childhood? Not at all. My dad was a real Hitler in the house. He never let me put red lipstick and leather skirts. My parents brought us up with great discipline and there was no room for being pampered. My dad taught me to be punctual where ever I am. Tell us about your childhood memories, incidents and pranks? My brother and I use to stick chewing gums on the chairs of the guests visiting us. We use to have an after dinner session whenever anyone came to our place in which I mimicked all aunties, and we would laugh till we cried. How were you as a student academically and in extra-curricular activities? I loved English and history and scored the highest in them. I invented my own mathematics; I wrote an English poetry in my maths paper and secured 3 of 20. I was always very fond of doing something creative, I participated in dramas, dances, debates, elocution and the like. What about your family and friends? My family is very open minded and friendly, I was always told that your ambition should be such which interests you and pays you at the same time. Whenever I am in trouble I call just three people, my mom, my husband and my brother, I know they will always be there and give me the right advice. My daughter is my biggest critic and tells me when I am not looking good or fat. How were your growing up years, ambitions and did you have crushes? I had too many crushes to remember, but yes my first one was my class mate and my neighbour, he was very intelligent and looked very sweet and chocolaty. As far as my ambitions are concerned I wanted to be an archeologist since I was 12. How did marriage happen then? It just happened. I always liked men who did not speak much and were intelligent. We had a love marriage and I found that Mihir was the man who is a complete package and that is what I loved about him. How did you get into media? All, in school told me to get into modeling, but then I use to look horrible with big spectacles and curly hair and felt that people just made fun of me. Later, my English teacher inspired me to try the same. Once in my boutique, a choreographer came in and asked me to enroll myself for Miss Delhi in 1993 and I won the title of 'Face of Delhi'. Then, my friend, Sushmita Sen forced me to go in for Miss India too and I stood sixth there. From there my journey started with Mansi in 1997. Then of course Jassi... was a great break and I am really grateful to Diya and Tony for the big break.