Hum Tum: Bonding through exercise
Fitness guru Dinaz Vervatwala tell us about her unbreakable bond with Bhuvaneswari Chandrababu Naidu.
Friends come and go, but to have a lifelong friendship is a blessing, and Dinaz Varwatwala and Bhuvaneswari’s friendship has only become stronger over with years.
It was in 1995 that Dinaz was called to Bhuvaneswari Chandrababu Naidu’s house to train her, which was the turning point in her career.
Known for her work, as a fitness instructor, Dinaz does what she does best — to sculpt people. Their relationship has developed slowly, but now there is a special connection. “I am a professional and I was there on work so I took a long time to open up with her. We share a special bond without really expressing it,” says Dinaz, who has also trained Pullela Gopichand, Saina Nehwal and VVS Laxman.
Test of trials
Best friends are there for each other through thick and thin. Dinaz was once broke and out of action for three months, but Bhuvaneswari was there for her.
In 2006, Dinaz met with an accident that left her with 45 per cent burns. But this incident only strengthened their friendship. “Bhuvaneswari used to visit me everyday at the hospital on her way back from work for almost 21 days,” says Dinaz, adding that no matter how busy they get, they always make time to hang out together.
“I have never ever abused my friendship with her. She would take me out for private lunches often and even called me for all her family functions,” says the celebrity fitness instructor.
Charging Ahead
They have been friends for almost two decades. “Exercising together brought us great joy and sharing a room when we travelled was so comfortable because we understood each other space,” explains Dinaz.
Walking us through her bonding experience, she says, “Bhuvaneswari would talk nonstop and I would be a silent listener most times. We were friends during my working hours so we didn’t need to spend hours together.”
Heart to Heart
How do they cope with distance between them now? She says, “Nothing has changed. She enjoyed my discipline with her and was comfortable because I never crossed the boundaries or went beyond a point.”