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Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Dia Mirza opens up about her most terrifying midnights in hotel rooms during her early Bollywood days
Dia Mirza began her cinematic journey not as a star but as a background dancer in a Tamil film. Her rise in the Indian film industry has been anything but straightforward. Born outside the glitzy circles of Bollywood, she fought her way into the limelight. Her breakthrough moment came when she clinched the Miss Asia Pacific International crown in 2000, a turning point that led her to her Hindi film debut in Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein , where she starred opposite R. Madhavan. Her early years in the industry were marked by both hope and heartbreak. Despite her talent, Dia often found herself sidelined. Many opportunities she deserved were handed over to those with powerful family connections or industry alliances. For an artist without a well-connected background, the struggle was both professional and personal. She recounted how, to ensure her own safety, she would share her hotel room with her hairdresser to prevent unwelcome intrusions during shoots and travels. It wasn't a glamorous life, but it was necessary for survival. Dia grew up facing hardships early on. Her parents separated when she was just four, and she lost her father when she was nine. While many female actors had the comforting presence of a parent guiding and supporting them through the highs and lows of showbiz, Dia had to build her own support system. She leaned heavily on her team—her hairdresser, makeup artist, and spotboy—who became more than colleagues; they were her extended family, her fortress. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like O carro de Paolla Oliveira choca o mundo inteiro, a prova em fotos! Boite A Scoop Undo One of the constants in her life was her spotboy, Prasad Anna, who stood by her throughout her career until his passing during the Covid pandemic. Similarly, her hairdresser remained by her side for nearly two decades, starting from her very first film. This group of dedicated professionals became her shield against the chaos and unpredictability of the industry. She never felt the need to replace them, as their presence gave her the emotional and physical safety many take for granted. Dia acknowledged that her path as an outsider was daunting, filled with emotional and logistical challenges. But her resilience was born out of necessity. She didn't have parents to navigate the system for her or manage her career moves. What she lacked in industry clout, she made up for with determination and loyalty to those who stood by her. Recently, Dia was seen in the Netflix release Nadaaniyan, alongside rising stars Ibrahim Ali Khan and Khushi Kapoor. Her continued presence in the industry stands as a testament to her perseverance, strength, and the unbreakable bond she formed with those who helped her survive a world that wasn't always kind or welcoming.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Dia Mirza recalls ‘hard, terrifying' years of sharing room with her hairdresser to ward off unwanted midnight knocks on door: ‘Had to find a way to survive'
Dia Mirza, who started her film journey as a background dancer in a Tamil film, has had her own share of ups and downs as an outsider in the industry. After winning the title of Miss Asia Pacific International title in 2000, she marked her debut in Hindi cinema with Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein, alongside R. Madhavan. She has often shared losing several films because the opportunities were offered to others with industry backing. In a recent interview, Dia revealed that she had to share her room with her hairdresser to avoid unwanted knocks at night. The actor, whose parents got divorced when she was four and father passed away at nine, also spoke about how female actors in the industry had parents to support them, but she didn't. During a conversation with Official People Of India, Dia was asked about navigating her path as an outsider in the film industry. 'I'll have to write a book about that someday. There's so much, there are so many layers to that question. But, if I have to be simple, it was hard and terrifying,' she smiled and replied. She went on to reveal sharing her room for the longest time. 'My hairdresser used to share my room with me for many years to ward off unwanted visitors. It was really hard. I myself look back now and think I don't know how I managed.' ALSO READ | 'Priyanka Chopra had solid support from parents…me and Lara Dutta ate instant noodles because we had no money', recalls Dia Mirza It was Dia's team that stood strong with her at all times. 'A lot of the women in the industry have always had some parent around. Somebody's father or mother have always been a very active participant in their film career. I never had that. My team – hairdresser, makeup artist, and spotboy were my safety net. Which is why I never changed those technicians and that support group for years,' she said. The actor continued, 'Prasad anna was my spotboy for all of the years that I worked until he passed away. I lost him during Covid. My hairdresser worked with me for 16-17 years straight, from my first film. That kind of created a safety net for me. We have to find out own ways to survive.' Talking about how women characters today are better developed by female writers than how men wrote their roles years ago, she said, 'There are so many things that I have done as scenes or the kind of characters that I have played in my earlier films, without even realising how regressive some of that was or how I was being objectified, or how patriarchal the mindset was in the projection of the character. All of that only becomes something that you learn about and become aware of, therefore you can make better choices later.' On the work front, Dia Mirza was last seen in the Netflix film Nadaaniyan, with Ibrahim Ali Khan and Khushi Kapoor.
India Today
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
India's 1st ever victory: Sushmita Sen celebrates 31 years of winning Miss Universe
Actor Sushmita Sen's latest Instagram post is a nostalgic treat you shouldn't miss. On May 21, Sen marked 31 years since her historic win as India's first Miss Universe in 1994, along with a heartfelt celebrate the milestone, Sushmita Sen shared a series of nostalgic photos from her Miss Universe journey. The photos captured iconic moments from her win including standing confidently among fellow contestants and striking graceful poses to the unforgettable moment she held her face in disbelief and joy after being a look at the post here: She captioned the post, 'A historical win that introduced an 18-year-old Indian girl to the Universe!!! Opening up a world of possibilities, highlighting the strength of hope, the power of inclusion, the generosity of loveTo travel the world & to have the privilege of meeting some of the most inspiring people life-defining for sure!!! Thank you God, Maa @subhra51 & Baba @sensubir (sic).' 'Happy 31st Anniversary of India's first-ever victory at Miss Universe!!! To have the honour of representing my country, I will proudly cherish forever!!! Happy 31st also to my loved ones in the #Philippines & to you my darling @carogomezfilm #thinkingofyouall & #celebratingyou Here's to dreams, the impossible kindsfor I know, the UNIVERSE conspires in our favour!! (sic),' she added. advertisementReacting to the post, Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu, who brought home the Miss Universe crown in 2021, commented, 'Forever,' along with two red heart emojis. Dia Mirza, who won Miss Asia Pacific International in 2000, added, 'Will never ever forget what you made me feel and believe. Love you! (sic).' Meanwhile, on the work front, Sushmita Sen was last seen in the biographical drama 'Taali: Bajaungi Nahi, Bajwaungi', which is based on the life of transgender activist Shreegauri Sawant. She made her comeback in movies with 'Aarya' series. Trending Reel
NDTV
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Throwback Gold: Sushmita Sen Celebrates 31 Years Of Winning Miss Universe Title: "A Historical Win..."
New Delhi: Sushmita Sen's latest Instagram post is a throwback gem you simply can't miss. Today, May 21, marks 31 years since she made history by becoming India's first-ever Miss Universe in 1994. Naturally, the occasion called for a heartfelt post – and Sushmita delivered just that. To mark the milestone, the actress shared a series of pictures from her Miss Universe journey. The photos include iconic moments – standing tall among fellow contestants, striking elegant poses, and of course, that unforgettable winning moment when she clasped her face in disbelief and joy. In her caption, Sushmita Sen wrote, '21st May 1994 #Manila. A historical win that introduced an 18yr old Indian girl to the Universe!!! Opening up a world of possibilities, highlighting the strength of hope, the power of inclusion, the generosity of love…To travel the world & to have the privilege of meeting some of the most inspiring people…life defining for sure!!!' Thanking her parents, the actress added, 'Thank you God, Maa Shubra & Baba Subir Happy 31st Anniversary of India's first ever victory at Miss Universe!!! To have the honour of representing my country, I will proudly cherish forever!!!' The actress also expressed her gratitude to first runner-up Carolina Gomez of Colombia, whose hands rose in celebration the moment Sushmita was crowned Miss Universe. Sushmita wrote, 'Happy 31st also to my loved ones in the #Philippines & to you my darling Carolina Gomez #thinkingofyouall & #celebratingyou.' The star signed off with the words, 'Here's to dreams, the impossible kinds…for I know, the UNIVERSE conspires in our favour!! I love you guys!!!' Reacting to the post, Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu, who brought home the Miss Universe crown in 2021, commented, 'Forever,' along with two red heart emojis. Dia Mirza, who won Miss Asia Pacific International in 2000, added, 'Will never ever forget what you made me feel and believe. Love you!' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sushmita Sen (@sushmitasen47) Sushmita Sen was last seen in the show Taali: Bajaungi Nahi, Bajwaungi. The biographical drama is based on the life of transgender activist Shreegauri Sawant.
India.com
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meet actress who had a Christian father, Hindu mother, uses a Muslim surname due to..., married twice, her name is....
This actress once one India a pageantry crown (Instagram) There lies a sense of beauty in the cultural diversity of a nation. When you come from a culturally diverse backgrounds, a person maybe entwined with varied perceptions and a unique worldview. This is the story of one such Bollywood actress who hails from Hyderabad and traces her roots with diverse cultures due to her parents. The actress was born to a Christian father who was a German graphics and industrial fair designer while her mother is a Bengali Hindu interior designer. The actress was crowed the Miss Asia Pacific International in 2000s. Today she strongly promotes eco-friendly sustenance to life and is one of the most renowned actress in the industry. Her name is Dia Mirza. Diverse Cultures and Personal Life Dia Mirza was born as Dia Handrich. Her father was Frank Handrich and her mother's name is Deepa. Her parents got separated when she was only 4-years-old and unfortunately her father passed away when she was 9-years-old. Mirza once shared how she never saw her parents fight in front of her but after their separation, she would spend weekends with her father. Later, her mother married Ahmed Mirza from Hyderabad. After the demise of her biological father, Mirza grew close to her stepfather who treated her well and established an organic relationship of friendship first. In an old interview with Bollywood Hungama she revealed why she changed her surname from Handrich to Mirza. 'We shared a beautiful relationship that started with friendship. As I grew older, I realised that I had spent so many years of my life with him. He became like a father to me. That's why, when I participated in Miss India, I adopted his surname.' Life gets extremally unfair at times. For Mirza, fate had a similar thing written. She lost her stepfather at the age of 23 leaving her shocked. She was miserable after losing two fathers in one lifetime. Career and Marriage Dia Mirza started as marketing executive then switched to modelling and did TV commercials for Lipton, Wall's Ice Cream, Emami etc. She bagged her debut film in 2001 with Gautham Menon directed Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein. Mirza is deep down for social welfare, peacekeeping and eco-sustainability. She was the United Nation Environment's Goodwill Ambassador for India in 2017 and later her term was further extended till 2022. In 2014, she got engaged to filmmaker Sahil Sangh but announced separation in 2019. In 2021 she married a businessman Vaibhav Rekhi and welcomed a baby boy Avyaan Azaad Rekhi. She also has step-daughter Samiara Rekhi. On the work front, she was last seen in Khushi Kapoor and Ibrahim Ali Khan starrer Nadaaniyan on Netflix.
