At 19, fresh from winning the Miss Asia Pacific International crown in 2000, Dia Mirza made her Bollywood debut opposite R Madhavan in Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein (2001). As the film, which initially failed at the box office before gaining cult status, completes 25 years this month, the 44-year-old actor reflects on being sidelined after her early films failed and how the experience shaped her career.

“When my films didn’t work at the box office, I was honestly bunked from feature films. And that can be a huge emotional setback to a young and aspiring actor,” she says.

By 2004-05, Mirza had stopped chasing stardom, choosing instead to focus on stories she believed in and work with people who made her feel respected. “I’ve pursued meaning over material. For me, what really matters and has continued to matter even more progressively through the years is what is the substance that I’m getting behind? What is the reason for telling a story? The why really matters to me,” she says.

That conviction also led her to venture into film production early in her career. “I had the audacity to turn film producer at the age of 24. I released my first independent film at 26 as a producer,” she says. Through her production house, which backed Love Breakups Zindagi (2011) and the Vidya Balan-starrer Bobby Jasoos (2014), she created space for stories she believed in. “If I’m not going to get a seat at the table, I’m going to build my own table. I am going to create space for what I truly believe in and what I believe I can add value to.”

Over the years, Mirza says, the industry’s perception of her has evolved. She credits the web series Kaafir (2019), in which she played Kainaaz Akhtar, with marking a turning point. “Up until then, I would hear people say, ‘You’re so beautiful, underutilized, you should be doing more.’ But after Kaafir, I’ve not heard it. I’ve not heard it even once,” she says.

Her performances in Sanju (2018), in which she played Maanayata Dutt, and as Maneka also opened up new opportunities. “I feel like Sanju was a major turning point. And playing Maanayata, because I think finally it kind of really opened up opportunities that hadn't opened up for a very long time,” she explains.

Mirza says she has never measured a role by its length or whether she gets to play the central character. “I’ve never pursued length. I’ve always pursued depth.” She is drawn to layered, flawed and complicated women, looking beyond characters who merely serve a limited purpose in a story. “What matters most to me is why does this character exist? What is this character trying to help the story navigate? And where does this leave us as people when we’ve experienced this character?” she says.

Reflecting on the portrayal of women in cinema, Mirza believes the understanding of patriarchy and misogyny has evolved considerably over the past 10 to 15 years. “Women are better informed and we’re able to make better choices,” she says, pointing to filmmakers such as Anubhav Sinha, whose Thappad explored these issues with sensitivity.

Having navigated professional setbacks and changing opportunities, Mirza believes longevity depends on an actor’s willingness to keep learning rather than chase visibility or stardom. Her advice to young actors entering the industry is clear: “There is no shelf life. You decide how long you want to work for. As long as you are willing to grow and work and learn and bring your best effort and your integrity to a path, you will always work.”

Addressing the issue actor Dia Mirza told us, “I have never charged any money for any public service campaigns. No idea who has been paid hefty amounts. The point is, celebrities are willing to work with civil society and governments if there is a priority to solve the very solve-able issue of pollution. Every time we speak up against cracker use we get attacked. I have been focusing on drawing attention on air quality for over a decade. It is a sustained effort to draw attention to the pollution and solutions. If you check my Instagram status you will see a daily update on AQI. UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) has made strategic efforts to mobilize and support efforts to combat air pollution. Something I have been a part of. The problem is government agencies don’t coordinate and work together."

For Dia Mirza Rekhi, 2026 is a special year. She marks 25 years as an actor, and was seen in Ikka with Sunny Deol and Akshaye Khanna and opposite Anil Kapoor in Alpha. She also has web series Operation Safed Sagar in the offing.

And it all started thanks to her co-star. “AK (Anil) is responsible for convincing me to become a part of films,” the 44-year-old reveals, adding, “He met me right after my Asia Pacific pageant (in 2000). He and Anupam Kher were very keen that I do the film that they were working on, and they were the ones who helped me get my first film.”

For Dia, starring opposite Anil “felt like a beautiful full circle moment”: “The first time I met him in the lobby of a hotel in Hyderabad, he had told me, “You have so much grace, you would be so beautiful on screen, you must become an actor’.”

Dia is also all praise for Sunny and Akshaye. “I’ve done some films with Akshaye’s father (late veteran Vinod Khanna) and we shared a very special bond, and I’ve known Rahul (Khanna, Akshaye’s brother). I’d actually approached Akshaye to act in a film that I was producing, but that didn’t work out. So, it was cool to finally work with him,” she shares.

Their film also featured a scene of her slapping Akshaye. “I was terrified, and then Sunny sir was quick to jump in and say, ‘Listen, you’re playing my wife, so you shouldn’t be scared’. And I was like, ‘Have you seen Khanna sa’ab’s fan following?’” she laughs, adding, “It’s only in the last eight years that I have been appreciated and my films have done ridiculously well at the box office. The last 25 years have been preparation for what is to come.”

The year 2026 promises to be a milestone one for actor Dia Mirza Rekhi, as she balances multiple projects, including the film Ikka with Sunny Deol and Akshaye Khanna, another film with Rahul Bhat, and web series’ alongside actors Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Jimmy Sheirgill, while also preparing to launch her first series of children’s books.

The 44-year-old shares, “I have four incredible stories that I’ve already shot, all lined up for release, along with films we’ve produced and scripts we’re preparing to take forward in the coming year. I’m also excited to see my children’s books reach young readers.”

She adds, “I’m keen to continue learning, especially around storytelling for impact, sustainability, and emotional well-being. I also want to return to quieter, nourishing practices: reading more, spending more time in Nature, and reconnecting with creative disciplines that bring calm and clarity.”

Despite her professional demands, Dia says she is committed to being present for her family, especially her four-year-old son, Avyaan. “In 2026, I wish for our children to grow up in a country where their health is a priority: cleaner air, water, healthier soil and food,” she ends.

In the first four months of the year, Dia Mirza had a release in Nadaaniyan, and saw her acclaimed series Kaafir being re-released as a film. But it’s the next step that has her excited about 2025. The actor, who had turned producer with Love Breakups Zindagi in 2011 and has backed two more projects since, is set to return to production after six years.

“The writing [on my next] has been on in full swing. Hopefully, we’ll begin the project soon. I am looking for diversity, representation of powerful, incredible women in unique stories. If nobody is making it, I will make it,” she smiles.

There is no dearth of acting offers for Mirza, but the lack of inspiring parts pinches her. Today, her nos are more frequent, more decisive even. With a 24-year career behind her, she doesn’t feel the compulsion to give her nod to everything that comes her way.

“I came from a humble background and moved to Mumbai at a young age. When you’re seeking financial independence, at that stage of your life, you say yes to everything. It takes a certain kind of security to reach a point where you recognize that you have more than you need, that you can continue to hone your craft and don’t need to say yes to crap,” she says.

Her recent movies reflect not only her career principles, but also her personal activism and ideology. She reflects, “It comes from the understanding that being an artiste is about driving change. I’m perhaps a better actress today as many of my life experiences taught me to empathize more deeply with my characters.”

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Call it a quirk of fate or irony, but Dia Mirza’s Kaafir (2019) was initially written as a film. After six years of streaming as a web series, the Zee5 offering has now been trimmed to a movie. Smiling at the turn of events, Mirza says, “It was first written as a film, but it was stuck for many years. Then Zee5 came along and said they will make it as a series. So, Bhavani Iyer [writer] rewrote it. Now, [as it streams in a film format], I was curious to see what would be retained.”

Kaafir tells the story of a woman from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, who ends up as a prisoner in India. It fits seamlessly in Mirza’s filmography that, over the last few years, has seen diverse stories—from Thappad (2020) to Dhak Dhak (2023) and IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack (2024). But finding such opportunities hasn’t been easy.

The actor shares, “For me, Dhak Dhak was a clarion call. It changed my perception of how life would be in my 40s. The industry had made me believe that by my 40s, I’d be obscure.”

Even as she credits OTT for opening doors for female actors, she notes that author-backed roles are hard to come by. “OTT has opened up [opportunities] for female parts. But again, stories like Dhak Dhak are rare. It takes a lot of sifting and sometimes also hurting egos [to find the right projects]. I say more nos than yes.”

The actor recently worked alongside Ibrahim Ali Khan and Khushi Kapoor in Nadaaniyan. With the two actors having been trolled for their performances, Mirza says she empathized with them, as it reminded her of the “vicious” attack she received in her early years.

“We didn’t have social media then, but I was burnt at the stake. So, I empathize with how hard a personal attack can hit. The only privilege I had was that I was a beauty title holder. Beyond that, I didn’t have any support system.”

While she started her film journey as a background dancer in the Tamil film En Swasa Kaatre (1999), Dia Mirza hasn’t acted in any Tamil film so far. “I have no idea why I haven’t done a Tamil film yet; I would love to work here,” states the Bollywood actress, who was recently in Chennai. She speaks to us about her wish to be part of Tamil films, making her debut in Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein (RHTDM) alongside Madhavan, the backlash against her recent film, Nadaaniyan, and more…

Addressing the backlash directed at Ibrahim Ali Khan and Khushi Kapoor for Nadaaniyan, Dia, who was also a part of the film, states, “I have never been in favour of personal attacks and find them extremely disrespectful. Everyone is free to have an opinion, but it shouldn’t be expressed at the cost of somebody’s mental health. I’ve been concerned, especially for the younger actors, about the harshness of what’s being said. I feel there’s a culture of ‘eat the privilege’, which is harsh, because people have their own stuff to deal with.”

Sharing about her recent interaction with director Mani Ratnam, Dia says, “Mani Ratnam sir is one of my all-time favourite directors. We were recently on a flight together, and I was awestruck by him. I went up to him and said, ‘I don’t want to lose this opportunity to tell you how much I admire you.’ It was interesting to see how awkward he is with praise. His cinema impacted my childhood and influenced my perception of storytelling.”

The actress was part of IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack that featured actor Arvind Swami. Speaking about him, she says, “I didn’t get to share a scene with Arvind (Swami) sir, but I have a deep regard and respect for him. He is a phenomenal artiste. Another artiste I admire from here is Siddharth, who is phenomenal. I watched Chithha, a film he produced and acted in, and what a powerful film it was! The entire cast was so compelling.”

Dia is also all praise for actor Nagarjuna, who acted opposite her in her Telugu debut, Wild Dog. “COVID-19 had just started when we did the film, and we were all terrified. But Nag sir made the experience very easy, which says a lot about him. It can be extremely intimidating when you are working with a superstar, but he was the most accessible co-actor. He was so warm and kind. I also spent a lot of time with Amala ma’am. I’ve always admired her and love the work that she’s done for animal care,” she shares.

Speaking about how her idea of success has changed over the years, Dia says, “When I started out, my idea of success was connected more to box office and material gains. Over the years, I’ve realized that success is about showing up every moment with preparedness and an understanding of the medium that you are a part of. It’s about being able to offer your best self to the opportunity.”

Talking to us about her first film, a remake of the Tamil film Minnale, which starred Madhavan and was directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon, Dia shares, “Working with them was wonderful. I would attribute a big part of the love the film continues to receive to Harris Jayaraj’s music. Zara Zara (Vaseegara in Tamil) evokes an indescribable feeling. I’m still in touch with Maddy, but not with Gautham sir. As a teenager, I used to watch Maddy’s TV shows and had the biggest crush on him.”

When Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein (RHTDM) first hit the screens in 2001, the movie, which marked Dia Mirza Rekhi’s Bollywood debut, failed to create magic at the box office. However, even two decades later, the film continues to get love from the audience and is now being re-released in theatres. Dia, who shared screen space with R Madhavan and Saif Ali Khan in the film, speaks to BT about losing projects after the movie’s failure and how it eventually went on to find a deep connect with the audience:

While Dia enjoyed shooting the film, she was devastated upon its release. The actress remembers, “We were all devastated! I remember being dropped from many projects.”

However, the film’s popularity grew once it was screened on television and, many years later, got a further boost on social media. This, Dia says, was a revelation for her.

“The film attained a cult status purely due to the extraordinary love the audience continues to give the film. It helped me discover how little box office matters to a film that genuinely connects with people. It’s a gift that keeps giving,” she says.

Dia, who was new to the film world when she began shooting for it, says that her co-star Madhavan was like a mentor on set. “Maddy had already done the movie in the south (the Tamil film Minnale). He knew his character arc well. I often felt like he was a mentor on set, guiding, advising and generally being the gentleman he is. Today, we share a bond that has grown over the years,” she shares.

About her other co-star, she says, “Saif was always making me laugh. I loved spending time with him. He instantly put me at ease with his candour and humour.”

Fans of the film often chat on social media about how they want to see a sequel to the movie, and Dia is aware of it. She says, “A sequel would mean an extension of Maddy and Reena’s (the characters played by Madhavan and Dia) story. The fanbase insists it should happen. Maddy and Reena’s core values are sound. There are a few things they would definitely do differently. But what continues to connect with people is how rooted the story is.”

Shabana Azmi, Dia Mirza, Urmila Matondkar and Tanvi Azmi visited new parents Ali Fazal and Richa Chadha at their Mumbai residence on Monday to meet the duo’s daughter. The couple welcomed their first child on July 16.

Sharing photos from the evening, Richa wrote, “An evening drenched in rain and love, with piping hot khaalas/maasik and sabudana wadas. I think the tea was too cold for @tanveazmi apologies! How lucky is this little girl to be blessed and touched by the most loving and the very best! How happy is Guddu Pandit! How pampered is the mom!”

She added, “Thank the heavens for bonds like these! A big thanks to Dia, for sorting me out… I mean A to Z pregnancy wise! Forever indebted and grateful! Love you all!!! (sic).”

Shabana Azmi too shared some photos from her visit and wrote, “With the khala/masis of the new mum and baby (sic).”

At a recent event, actor Taapsee Pannu highlighted how small films struggle for a proper release. Referring to her own production, Dhak Dhak (2023), she revealed that the co-producers lost enthusiasm and didn’t push for a proper release once they recovered their money before the movie hit theatres. She also mentioned that her co-actor Dia Mirza Rekhi helped her out in difficult times.

Ask Rekhi about this, and she shares, “It’s Taapsee’s generosity that she has publicly acknowledged what us standing by her and our film meant to her.”

The story revolves around a group of women who set out on a road trip, which results in their self-discovery. Rekhi adds, “Filmmaking is a collaborative, creative process. It takes the strength, will and fortitude of an entire crew to tell a story like Dhak Dhak. We were filming in extreme temperatures, in treacherous terrain and travelling to several locations.”

The reason she could further relate to Pannu’s struggle was because she, too, had undergone a similar situation while producing her film Bobby Jasoos (2014). “I will never forget what it took for me to produce Bobby Jasoos, when I was all of 28, and what it meant to have (actor) Vidya Balan’s unwavering support. When Taapsee, Pranjal (Khandhdiya, co-producer) and team were struggling, it felt personal. So, we did all we could, including hosting private screenings and interviews to lend our support,” she says.

As for the debate around the rising film costs, while small films struggle for just a proper release, Rekhi feels that actors should “support the process, so that stories like this (Dhak Dhak) are told more often. No production should ever be burdened by the weight of its cast. If anything, the cast should lend the story their might and magnanimity”.

A vocal champion of environmental responsibility on the global stage, actor-producer Dia Mirza feels that sustainability should now enter film sets. “With foreign producers and platforms now working a lot in India, they have strong mandates [against plastic use]. But, far more intervention is required across industries. And it is totally possible and doable,” says the Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Environment Programme.

“I try to bring environmental change wherever I am. On sets, where I see the use of single-use plastic, I gift eco-friendly items to the set. I urge producers to place dispensers of water so people can refill their bottles, drink from them and minimize waste,” says the actor.

An active eco-investor, who was a speaker at the Oxford India Forum recently, Mirza intends to “engage with the film industry as well — with the producers’ guild, and associations who matter”.

The 42-year-old says that one could learn from the past. “If you look back, 50 years ago, film sets were entirely sustainable. Even during the early phase of my own career, we were using reusable cutlery and the like. There was absolutely no single-use stuff used on the sets and we did successful shoots not only in India but all over the world,” says Mirza, adding, “If we don’t change the way we live and do business, and re-evaluate our relationship with Nature, things will get worse.”

Sanjana Sanghi reunited with her Dhak Dhak co-actor Dia Mirza in Delhi to shoot a short video on ecosystem restoration. Sanjana, who is the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India Youth Champion, joined Dia, who is the UN Environment Programme Goodwill Ambassador, to mark World Environment Day on June 5. Sanjana took some time after the shoot for a brief chat with us talking about adopting a sustainable lifestyle.

Shooting in the sweltering Delhi heat reminded Sanjana of her Dhak Dhak shoot schedule. She says, “It was peak summer, and we were shooting somewhere in Uttar Pradesh on bikes. It was really tough as we were riding along a highway.”

Talking about climate extremes and how challenging it is to work outdoors, she adds, “Working outdoors in the heat can take a toll on the physical health. Our bodies are not used to 50-degree temperatures outdoors, and one can suffer a heatstroke. I am drinking more electrolytes and salts than I ever did. If I am outside for a while, I try not to get into an air-conditioned room immediately after, and I avoid icy cold water.”

The actress shares that she has introduced small changes in her daily life to adopt sustainability. “One major change that I have introduced in life is to avoid plastic. If you walk into my house, it will be very hard for you to spot something that is plastic. I carry my own bottle so that I don’t pick up a new water bottle every time I am travelling. As actors we do have to eat at different places, and I have this small eco-friendly cutlery box that I use,” she says.

About working towards youth education and empowerment, the actress says, “When it comes to working towards social change, sometimes it may feel like a small effort, but all efforts count when you are trying to bring about a change.”

She adds, “My one main grief is that we are not taught about adopting sustainable practices in school. As I am working on youth education, I realize that you can’t tell some 18-year-old that they have to shut the shower or tap when not in use or to avoid plastic. These things have to be taught to a toddler. I am thankful to my grandmum as I used to see her being strict about not using plastic. If she saw you using a plastic bag or bottle she would scold you. I never understood it as a kid, but I am grateful now that the lesson is ingrained in me. However, it is not ingrained in our education system.”

About upcycling her clothes, Sanjana says, “Upcycling is an important part for me for living a sustainable life. Luckily when you grow up as a regular middle class girl in India, upcycling is in your veins. We are next level jugaadu when it comes to reusing fabrics. I have grown up with that habit. As an actor, I don’t take the burden of wearing a new outfit every time I step out. If you will put together ten of my papped images you will see me repeating outfits. I just style them differently. All my friends are getting married and I have too many weddings to go to. So I have used my nani’s bandhani saris to make a lehenga or a blouse or kurta. It matters to me not because it is upcycling but because those saris are precious and special to me.”

Dia Mirza Rekhi has been advocating for a greener planet for quite a few years now. On World Environment Day today, the actress talks about the efforts that film crews can take to reduce plastic and other waste while shooting.

Dia is also a producer and shares that a lot of production houses have already taken some positive steps towards making a greener change.

She explains, “The good thing now is that a lot of the platforms are bringing sustainability into their mandates for production. So, more and more productions are eliminating single-use plastic products on set. They have stopped printing paper and are managing their waste. But I think beyond the realm of these collaborations, if every producer just ensures that there is no food waste and that all the waste that is generated is managed and disposed of scientifically, it will be a big step towards maintaining a greener environment.”

The actress says that even when film crews travel for outdoor shoots, it is their responsibility to keep the surroundings clean.

“It is especially important to keep our surroundings clean when we go for outdoor shoots to faraway, pristine places. It is our responsibility to make sure that we don't pollute these places. Also, on set, one must ensure that the entire crew drinks water from dispensers. Reusable cutlery must be used. I think we should function like we did 25 years ago on a film set. In that era, big sets functioned without consuming so much mindless plastic. Film sets can exist in a similar way even now.”

Last month, actor Dia Mirza Rekhi attended the sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) in Nairobi. With an initiative to realise the dream of 500 million trees by 2032, Rekhi, who is also the Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), says, “The UNEA gave me a chance to meet some of the most inspiring people. Most of them were people who really care for the environment. The most exciting thing for me was the World Restoration Flagship, which were the awards given to countries who were taking initiative to improve the health of the environment.”

The Dhak Dhak (2023) actor adds, “Another interesting opportunity was engaging with young changemakers. I have known some of them for almost eight years. It’s all about engaging with passionate people who really care about bringing a change. It is the first global platform where I saw so many women in leadership places.”

The 42-year-old feels “we need to start planting trees, avoid pollution and take steps on the ground level”. She adds, “If we don’t start acting now, it will be too late. My two-and-a-half-year-old son (Avyaan Azaad Rekhi) goes to school and 90% of his classmates have breathing issues. It’s scary.”

Last week, Dia Mirza, India’s Goodwill Ambassador for United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UN Secretary General’s Advocate for Sustainable Development Goals, attended the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) in Kenya. The actor-producer was joined by Kenya’s First Lady Mama Rachel Ruto, and Inger Andersen, executive director of the UNEP, at an afforestation event at Karura Forest in Nairobi.

Mirza says that at the assembly, India sponsored a resolution on sustainable lifestyle. “Member states recognised the potential of behavioural changes in contributing to the [goal] of sustainable development. At UNEA, governments also passed a resolution on promoting regional cooperation on air pollution to improve air quality globally.”

Poor air quality has been a major discussion in India over the past few months. In Mumbai, the air quality index (AQI) reached as high as 400 in January. Emphasizing the need to increase our green cover, she says, “It is our avarice and ignorance that [makes us believe] that by afforestation, we can get away with axing old trees and destroying biodiversity. This is far from the truth. Urban spaces need more green cover. It is critical to protect existing biodiversity. New plantations cannot deliver what old forests can.”

Another oft-discussed question is: are we doing enough to save the planet in the post-COVID world? The actor believes that awareness has grown about the crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.

“COVID brought a mindset change, especially in individuals to redirect their over-consumptive lifestyles towards making conscious choices. More people are connecting with nature. Wish I could say the same about big companies and governments.”

It’s been 22 years since actor Dia Mirza stepped into films, but she’s always been selective about the work she does. Having done movies such as Bheed and Dhak Dhak last year, the actor clearly doesn’t run after commercial potboilers. Ask why she takes on less projects, and Mirza says, “It (doing fewer films) is a combination of the kind of roles I get and me being choosy. I’ve still not cracked what it takes to get more projects (laughs).”

The 42-year-old adds, “I am not part of any group, clique or circle. I do my work and go home. I work with people who make me feel safe. I get to work with some of my directors again and again. But, I have no idea why more people don’t cast me.”

The actor, however, also adds that she has never been the one to go out and mingle for work. “I have kept to myself. There is a part of me that is so engaged in my entirety of existence, which isn’t defined only by my film work. There is so much else I do. I am greedy to gain more experience to be able to be on ground, work with real people. I feel my activism in various causes has made my art better. Sometimes I have refused to be part of some projects... if it is going to deprive me of the chance [to do other things], I wanted to be outside of being committed to longer periods of work,” she ends.

Amid grand celebrations, festive gatherings and exchanging gifts, making sustainable choices may be challenging for most people. However, for Dia Mirza, every day is about making mindful choices and she says that it’s even more important during festivals. “When you choose to live mindfully and consciously, all your choices are impacted, even how you celebrate festivals,” she says.

Reminiscing about her childhood days, Dia says, “I am lucky to have been raised by a mother who’s always been earth-friendly. As a kid, I used to light mitti diyas on Diwali. While I was in school, I discovered that many children were involved in making crackers and I didn’t want to burst any crackers. At that time, air pollution wasn’t a point of discussion, today it is. We are living in an over-consumptive world and the exploitative nature is causing a complete imbalance in the natural world, severely impacting human health, peace and progress.”

Dia’s son Avyaan’s eco-friendly birthday party set an example for how big days can be celebrated responsibly, including festivals. Talking about how any festive gathering can be plastic-free, Dia says, “We must celebrate the birth of our loved ones, but I don’t understand why we would include something that harms life, like a balloon. There are small measures that one that we can take up like finding alternatives to the usual decor, using reusable cutlery, celebrating in natural settings and minimizing waste.”

Adding, she says, “Special days, weddings and festivals can be celebrated minimally, sustainably and without harming anyone. I feel, if the intention is to be sustainable during the festive season, we all can find a way.”

“For me, Diwali is about lighting people’s lives and making a difference. It has always been about being generous and supporting people and communities. Diwali is about gifting other people happiness and bringing joy. For years, I used to gift handmade diyas made by Cancer Patients Aid Association for Diwali. Now, I either gift experiences to friends and family members or I plant a tree in their name for festivals or special days.”

Fatima Sana Shaikh recently revealed that she suffered an epileptic seizure on the set of her recent road-trip buddy drama Dhak Dhak. “It’s not a big event for me because I live with it. I have seizures and then I carry on with work. Of course, it’s difficult for somebody else to see — they care about me. Not many people have seen it happening, so, for them, it can be very traumatic,” says Shaikh, adding, “I am touched that Dia (Mirza, her co-star) cared because a lot of people don’t have the awareness. The person who goes through the episodes knows how difficult it is.”

Stressing that even though people on set were supportive, Shaikh says that the seizure struck when she insisted on finishing a shot without a break. “But if I had taken a break, we wouldn’t have gotten the shoot done. Woh location chala jata,” explains the Ajeeb Daastaans (2021) actor.

Asked if the condition has ever caused a major problem for her at work, and the 31-year-old shares, “I’ve never faced it in the film industry. People have been extremely supportive. You tell them that you have a problem and they will help you. Beyond anything, your craft is most important. Everybody has some baggage or injuries and they keep showing up.”

“I was super excited when I heard I had to ride a motorbike in Dhak Dhak. It would mean that I could overcome a fear, and also fulfill a lifelong dream,” says Dia Mirza, who at 41, learned how to ride a geared two-wheeler for the road trip movie.

In the film, which released last week, four women set out on a journey of self-discovery through the highest motorable pass in the world, Khardung La in Ladakh. The cast also includes Ratna Pathak Shah, Fatima Sana Shaikh, and Sanjana Sanghi, and has been produced by Tapasee Pannu.

Striding the two-wheeler revived memories of Mirza’s late father. She was born in Hyderabad to a German father and a Bengali mother; Frank Handrich passed away when she was just nine years old. “I remember sitting with dad on his bike, holding him,” she says, “I was very young then, and ever since he passed, I’ve wanted to ride. But I’ve never even tried… maybe I was scared. So, this was an opportunity I couldn’t miss. It was also a powerful story about women searching for freedom, so it all tied in well together.”

In his cult 1974 book, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, author Robert M Pirsig writes, “The real cycle you’re working on is a cycle called yourself.”

Mirza would concur. “We learnt how to find our centre of gravity, handle the weight, the theory of brake and clutch, how to shift the gears… but it’s been a lot about inner work [too].”

The first day Mirza faced the machine, a Royal Enfield 350 cc, she was intimidated by its size. Understandably. It weighs about 180 kg. “As a part of the script… I play a mechanic… I had to lift the bike to put it on the main stand. Fatima had to do it to. It took a lot of strength, and I had aches and pains for a while. I even strained my wrist. I discovered muscles I never knew I had,” she laughs.

She’s never been more grateful to her fitness regimen. “Yoga and strength training are important if you want to even attempt this,” she says, “Flexibility and strength. Ratna has been doing yoga for years now, so whenever she fell, and she fell a lot, she would spring back [up]!”

Soon, the entire cast got the hang of it. “Once you are on the bike, balance comes naturally. We started riding in 48 hours, but trained for a month and kept riding every chance we got. We had to get used to the traffic, bumps… It’s all about building confidence.”

Process aside, Mirza links taming the motorcycle to your state of mind. “The first thing is to overcome anxiety,” she says, “Balance depends on your heartbeat—if its slower, you balance better. So one needs to just believe.”  And of course, the whole cast always wore safety gear

We have to ask here—once all is done and they are riding—does it feel meditative? “You said it,” she responds quickly, “It was meditative. We were in Ladakh, surrounded by infiniteness, feeling extremely finite. There’s a sense of oneness with nature…. I would think that’s how you feel when you fly. It’s an open experience… all the elements are accessible to you. You feel the wind, rain, and terrain… it’s humbling.”

Mirza says the whole adventure of getting atop a bike is different for women. “It’s always been linked to masculine strength. When we get on a motorbike, I feel we are overcoming intergenerational inequality and fear. It’s just so liberating. I think everyone who watches this movie should draw inspiration to [overcome their fears and] pursue their potential. Anything is possible at any age, at any stage. Nothing empowers you more than yourself.”

Twenty years ago, if someone had told Dia Mirza that, at 41, she would star in an all-woman biker drama, she wouldn’t have believed it. But life has a way of surprising us. Amid Bollywood’s larger-than-life actioners comes Dhak Dhak, Taapsee Pannu’s production featuring Ratna Pathak Shah, Mirza, Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sanjana Sanghi.

“That a studio backed it and this movie got made, shows that we have come some way. It’s a harbinger of times to come,” beams Mirza.

Tarun Dudeja’s directorial venture revolves around four women on a journey of self-discovery. The actor says that the movie will shine because of its intent.

“It’s a balanced story that celebrates authenticity, reveals layers about people and does so gently. I don’t want to be disrespectful to the feminist movies being made, but when we depict progressive women, there is a certain brazenness used. Sometimes, there is disrespect to the country’s cultural and religious ethos. Only a few storytellers—Hansal Mehta, Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti—have the aesthetic to represent progressive Indian women the way they are. In Dhak Dhak, the women seek agency but that has nothing to do with their cultural rooting. It might be written from the lens of men, but it is such a strong feminist narrative.”

Dhak Dhak also underlines the power of sisterhood, she says. “A lot of patriarchal mindsets are shaped by women. So, we have to show women pushing each other up. For too long, we have watched saas-bahu bickering. Movie promotions [are sometimes] hinged on two leading ladies not getting along. These narratives have to change because they can’t be farther from the truth. I’ve had more fun on this film than I’ve ever had and that’s because I was with three cool women.”

Despite it being a film that she believes in, Dhak Dhak was barely promoted until its release week, which may affect its commercial success. But Mirza believes that the movie’s fate on a Friday cannot take away from its larger impact.

“Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein [2001] is called a cult film today, but it was a box-office dud. I am detached from the [commercial] success and failures of my work because an honest film will reach people sooner or later.”