‘We used to call her mom’: Priyanka Chopra and Dia Mirza were once guided by Miss India rival Lara Dutta; how helping others can strengthen your performance

Lara added that moments of helping others matter to her more than trophies: “You know you get very few moments in your life when you reach out and do something for someone and those are the moments that meet life. And if I can’t do that then I am not living and I don’t want any of it because that’s the most important thing for me.” 

Priyanka Chopra, who was 17 at the time, had previously shared how much she valued Lara’s support, saying, “I looked up to Lara quite a bit, because she’d had so much experience. Dia was 18, and I was 17, and we were like these little babes. We used to call Lara ‘mom’. I wouldn’t know what to wear, or how my makeup was. And I remember one time she took me to the bathroom, and she showed me the right makeup to use for my skin. Totally look up to her for that.”

Priyanka Chopra, who was 17 at the time, had previously shared how much she valued Lara Dutta’s support (Source: Express archive photo)

So, why do some people choose to extend kindness to others even when they’re in direct competition?

Psychologist Rasshi Gurnani tells indianexpress.com, “As a psychologist, I see Lara Dutta’s approach as a classic example of high emotional intelligence at play. Some people choose to extend kindness in competitive situations because they operate from a mindset of abundance rather than scarcity. They believe there’s enough room for everyone to shine, and that someone else’s success doesn’t automatically diminish their own.”

She adds that this reduces anxiety, keeps them grounded, and allows them to perform with clarity instead of fear. “Such behaviour is also linked to intrinsic motivation, when the goal isn’t just the trophy but also the integrity with which you achieve it, you naturally make space for compassion.”

How helping others in high-pressure situations can strengthen your own confidence

“Helping others in high-pressure scenarios can actually boost confidence,” notes Gurnani, adding that when one extends support, they reinforce their own sense of capability — if they can lift someone else while carrying their own weight, they start to trust their own resilience more deeply. “Psychologically, acts of kindness trigger positive emotions and reduce stress hormones, creating a calmer, sharper mental state. This can give you a performance edge because you’re operating from stability, not survival mode,” states the expert.