As the feather-brained boy-crazy Pari from Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin, she?s hard to miss. Manini De, who first won notice in the hit Sony soap that has now become a household name, was a history student who always dreamt of becoming an archaeologist and then probably doing something in literature. But then the acting bug bit her and she landed a role in Jassi.... Now Manini can be seen in The Great Indian Comedy Show on Star One and her upcoming serials include Maya and Bal Bal Bachke. She has also nabbed a role in the Hrithik Roshan-Preity Zinta-starrer Krish, the sequel to Koi Mil Gaya.

Better known as the doctor in Star Plus? Sanjeevani, Manini?s husband Mihir Misra was working in Delhi?s GE Capital before trying his luck in acting. His role in the hit series Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa is over and he has some projects in the pipeline that will be on air by the year end.

Manini on Mihir

My marriage with Mihir can be summed up as a product of destiny. When I met Mihir, I was just focusing on two things ? my career as an actress and my daughter, Dianoor, from my earlier marriage. I was in fact, very cynical about relationships and commitment at that stage. I had met Mihir two years earlier at a CPAA event but the romance started a few days before our marriage ? in fact, to be precise, just four days.

Mihir had hurt his leg and was shooting at the same place as I was. I?m a softie, so I offered to help him. He was touched and that is how our whirlwind romance started. He discovered the ?little girl? in me and pursued that. We met over dinner and spoke about everything under the sun ? philosophy, films, karma, children, art. It was great to meet a guy, who could converse intelligently.

I?m a very enthusiastic person who loves to exchange information and am very curious about things. These are the very same qualities I found in Mihir. He has an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and is willing to extend himself to get that knowledge. Post-marriage, things have only become better. Since we got married in four days, we didn?t get the time to romance, date or do stuff normal couples do ? we do all that now.

Our friendship has become deeper and the romance is great. The courtship wasn?t conventional, so why would the marriage be? We surprise each other with gifts, flowers and candlelight dinners. Also, being from the same profession, we share a lot in common ? friends, gossip and other stuff. Since we didn?t tell anybody, it took some time explaining things to family and friends. His parents were livid but now they have taken it in their stride.

The most wonderful thing is the way Mihir has adjusted to being a father to my five-and-a-half-year-old. Explaining to my daughter was the toughest task. I sugarcoated the entire episode by telling her that she can have two dads and how lucky she is. I?m very fortunate that she understood and accepted the situation so gracefully.

Mihir, on his part, has been wonderful to Dianoor. He makes it a point to balance his role. He?s a disciplinarian when it?s needed and an indulgent parent when he wants to be. In fact, these days, the two of them gang up against me, but yet, when Dianoor misbehaves, he?s the first to reprimand her. I must have done some good karma in life that God?s given me such a great family today.

Mihir on Manini

Having a whirlwind marriage is the best way to get married. I recommend this to everyone I meet. I was just out of a long relationship and everyone asked me to relax. Chill out, go meet women, basically, have fun. But I?m not the kind of guy who can use a woman as a rebound board. Slowing down with Mana would have killed the relationship.

Relationships don?t have a formula. What works, works! In fact, my first thought was ? I don?t want to miss the bus. Why waste time when everything looks perfect about this relationship? Before I realised what was happening, we were married.

Everything about Mana is perfect. She?s a great friend, a perfect partner and soulmate to me. I knew about her earlier marriage and Dianoor but marriage is a package and you have to take it all in. Unlike other couples, we are still discovering each other and haven?t had a real fight. We fake fights so that we can be considered normal. We taunt each other just for fun. The problem is we don?t have any bones of contention or at least haven?t found any. Yes, she doesn?t like me smoking.

About being a father to Dianoor, I couldn?t have been luckier. I don?t feel any difference not being her biological father. She?s very much mine and showers the same amount of love and affection on me. I?m not saying I was prepared but we didn?t get into it with our eyes closed either. We?re mature individuals, who decided to give love a chance.