Dia Mirza, who married businessman Vaibhav Rekhi in 2021, often shares heartwarming glimpses of her family life on social media. Recently, she candidly opened up about her relationship with her stepdaughter, Samaira Rekhi, humorously recalling the unique “stepmom” title Samaira has given her, which comes with a witty and sassy twist.Challenging fairy tale biasesIn a recent interview with Official People of India, Dia reflected on her own experience growing up with a stepfather, Ahmed Mirza. She shared that her limited exposure to traditional fairy tales actually helped her avoid common biases against step-parents. According to Dia, these stories often perpetuate the notion that “stepfathers and stepmothers are always evil.”This personal reflection immediately brought to mind her stepdaughter, Samaira Rekhi. Dia revealed, “Which brings me to Samaira, who has saved my number on her phone as – Dia, not yet the evil stepmother. That’s what fairy tales do, right? I wonder if she’s changed the description under my name.” This playful revelation highlights how Samaira is playfully navigating the conventional, often negative, stereotypes associated with step-parents.A moving bond with her own stepfatherThe Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein actress also shared a poignant memory with her own stepfather. She recounted how, as a child, she instinctively began calling him ‘abba’ soon after her mother married him, embracing him wholeheartedly.Dia shared that her stepfather was not overtly expressive or physically affectionate. However, she noted that they eventually “turned him into a hugger.” She movingly recalled their last meeting before his demise in 2003. “I remember the last time I met him in Hyderabad before I went to an overseas shoot, during which time he passed away. I’ll never forget the hug he gave me and the tears he had in his eyes as he said goodbye,” she shared, underscoring the deep emotional bond they shared.
