The year I competed in the Miss India contest, Aishwarya Rai was a hot favourite. Some 25-26 kids refused to enter the pageant because she was competing and everyone believed her to be a sure shot winner, including me, by the way. I was about to turn 18. I came back home and told my ma that I will go next year. She asked me why. I said, “Ma, you know that Pepsi ad girl Aishwarya Rai is entering the contest and it’s a bad idea this year.” My mother first sulked and did not speak to me the entire day. I couldn’t do with my mum not talking to me. So I asked her why she was so upset. Finally, she sat me down and said, “You can’t be my daughter. You cannot be someone, who just gives up without trying. I don’t care, who is competing. If this child (Aishwarya) is the most beautiful thing you have ever seen, that is all the more reason you should participate. Lose to her if you have to. What is this ‘andhon mein kaana raaja’ attitude that you will go when there is no competition? I told her, if it’s that bad, I will sign in. She told me not to do it for her but for myself, or else I will never know if I can be an upset to somebody.