Dia Mirza recalls working 28 hours without scripts as a newcomer in Bollywood: ‘Seedha 5 picturon mein kaam karne bhej dia’
Today, conversations about work-life balance in the film industry are increasingly common, but things were very different for newcomers in the early 2000s. Actress Dia Mirza recently spoke about the demanding schedules she endured at the beginning of her Bollywood journey, revealing that she would often work continuously for more than a day and signed multiple projects without even receiving complete scripts.Speaking during a candid conversation with director and choreographer Farah Khan, Zia reflected on her formative years in cinema and the challenges she faced entering the industry at a young age.
Dia Mirza’s hard hit in Bollywood
Farah Khan, while visiting Dia Mirza’s house, praised the actor’s performance in films like ‘Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein’ and ‘Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge’. She noted that Diya looked remarkably confident on screen and never gave the impression of being a first-time actor.Responding to the praise, Diya spoke about how her experience was different from that of many actors who undergo extensive training before their debut. “The people you say you fired, when I used to hear stories about the level of love, care and attention you gave them. I never had anything like that.
“(I made them attend workshops, enrolled them in acting classes, taught them proper etiquette and what acting really means, arranged dance practice sessions for them, and even gave them elocution coaching. I had none of these opportunities.)The actress revealed that she was immediately thrust into multiple projects at once, leaving little time to prepare or learn the craft in an organized manner.“Seedha 5 picturon mein kaam karne bhej dya, din ke 24 ghante, 27, 28 ghante non-stop.
(I was immediately assigned five films at once and found myself working endlessly, often stretching into 27 or 28 hours without a break.) I used to always tell you, once you work with Pooja Films, you are ready to work with any production house in the country. Because we worked hard. Didn’t get any text. Bas online sunaya aur bola yeh superhit hone waali hai, isco carlo bass.
(They would simply tell the story over the phone and say, “This is going to be a hit, just sign it,” and that was enough.)Diya’s comments offer a glimpse into an era when hectic shooting schedules and back-to-back assignments were often considered part of the struggle of a newcomer in the Hindi film industry.
The film that introduced Dia Mirza to the audience
Diya made her acting debut in 2001 with Gautham Vasudev Menon’s romantic drama Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein, produced by Pooja Entertainment. The film stars R Madhavan, Saif Ali Khan and Dia Mirza in the lead roles and tells the story of a young man whose deception complicates his romance with an unsuspecting woman.Although the film failed to make a significant impact at the box office upon its release, it gradually developed a loyal fan base and is now considered a romantic cult classic.
Her next release, ‘Deewaanapan’, backed by Vashu Bhagnani banner, also suffered commercially despite generating interest among audiences.
Dia Mirza’s next release
On the professional front, Dia Mirza will next be seen in ‘Ikka’, a courtroom drama directed by Sidharth P Malhotra and produced by Alchemy Films. The project explores a complex legal battle where questions of justice, morality and personal relationships become increasingly intertwined.The film features an ensemble cast including Sunny Deol, Akshaye Khanna, Tilotama Sumi, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Shishir Sharma and Akansha Ranjan Kapoor along with Dia Mirza. “Ikka” is scheduled to be released on Netflix on July 10.
