‘I’VE WORKED HARD TO BE WHERE I AM’
Dia Mirza shares the struggles that she had to face in her career. Says, filmmaking is a passiondriven industry
Dia Mirza is a woman of multiple talents and interests. Apart from acting she has always been actively involved with environmental causes as well as producing films. The actor had mentioned earlier that she has declined some offers that came her way, because she wanted to follow her choices in life. So, in an industry with aplenty advice at disposal, how did she streamline her life? “It’s challenging,” says Dia. “Fear is something that people generate easily and very frequently around us. There is so much insecurity in our industry. I remember people would ask me, ‘How do you keep saying no to films?’, and keep using phrases like ‘Out of sight is out of mind’. But I wanted to work on things that I believed in. I am privileged because I have the security of money. I made my money. I became financially independent at 16. I worked hard to make the place I have [in the industry] and that’s why I am able to say no to things that don’t matter to me. There has been no mathematics or strategy involved. I am honestly purehearted and that’s the only way I’ve ever lived. However, along the way I’ve had my heart broken enough times. But it’s okay, it only strengthens my faith in what I want to do, and pursue my dreams,” says Dia.
Because she started out early, Dia has been able to explore many dimensions of her personality. “Each of the things contributes to who I am and what I want to become,” she says. However, is it a difficult time for film-makers as many big films have failed to impress at the box office lately? “The Indian film industry has had no method to its madness. It’s a challenging phase. We are going through a tough time because taxation is not helping. It does make making and releasing films difficult. There was a time when you set out to make a small-budget film. But by the time you are done making a small budget film, you add publicity and advertising, and tax to it, it ends up becoming an expensive film. And we have the piracy problem, which is big in our country. It’s a daunting task for all involved to make films. But then again, it’s a primarily, a passion-driven industry, whether it’s the makers or investors,” says Dia.
We are going through tough times because taxation is not helping. It does make making and releasing films difficult. DIA MIRZA, ACTOR