Delectable Dia

Looks do matter
It is very important for me to be conscious about the way I look so I train, I exercise and I try to eat healthy and think positive.

No excuses
When I am shooting outdoors, I try and squeeze in an hour at the gym or the pool. Strangely enough, however crowded my work schedule is I manage to make the time.
I workout daily for an hour and a half and this includes a cardio workout and a light weight training because I don't need to lose weight. I need to maintain my weight and keep myself toned.

Food principle
I never starve myself. I eat about six to seven small meals in a day. It is basically no carbs and also low on fat and sugar.

Daily dose
As soon as I wake up, I drink a glass of juice. It could be tomato juice or carrot juice or nimbu pani. I include a lot of lime in my diet because it keeps your immune system high. My breakfast consists of egg whites and a glass of juice, a slice of whole wheat bread and a fruit. I think basically you can eat anything as long as it is healthy and free from oil and sugar.

My sins
My favourite cuisine is the most fattening cuisine in the world (smiles). I love Italian food and I love Hyderabadi Mughlai food. If I had my way, I would live on chocolates. I can eat chocolates all the time!

My eateries
In India, there are many places where I love eating but the best Hyderabadi biryani is that of Grand Kakatiya in Hyderabad. Italian food would definitely be in Mumbai. Don Giovanni at Juhu is my favourite. I also love The Exotica in New York and the Ambience in Paris

Cut vegetables to de-stress
I love cooking. I think the best way to de-stress is to cook, especially when you are cutting vegetables. I think it really acts as a catalyst in de-stressing. I can cook just about everything. I can cook regular ghar ka khana to exquisite cuisine. I can create new recipes because I understand masalas. Some of my best innovations are Chicken in Hara Masala, Tala Hua Mutton or Hyderabadi Khatti Dal. My friends enjoy my Hyderabadi cuisine the most.

Dia's Chicken In Hara Masala Chop onion and chillies fine. Make a paste of green chillies, pudina and coriander. Boil chicken to make it tender. Take a little bit of oil and fry the onions light brown. Add teaspoon full of ginger and garlic and fry it well till the smell of ginger is gone. Add chicken pieces to this paste with the onion and fry it a bit until the raw smell of chicken is gone. Add the hara masala, which is, ground coriander, pudina and green chillies. Fry it with the chicken. Add a teaspoon of garam masala to this mixture. Add a little bit of water. Let the chicken cook on sim in this gravy for sometime. It's now ready to be eaten. Dia's tip: It tastes best with rice.

Mom's food is the best
Mom's food is best in the world. My mother makes the most amazing tamatar gosht, khatti dal and chawal and I love it with papad.

Dinner date
Candle light works like magic. A glass of wine with good Italian food is the perfect combination.