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Today, conversations around work-life balance in the film industry are becoming increasingly common, but things were very different for newcomers in the early 2000s. Actor Dia Mirza recently reflected on the demanding schedules she endured at the beginning of her Bollywood journey, revealing that she often worked continuously for more than a day and was signed for multiple projects without even receiving complete scripts.

Speaking during a candid conversation with filmmaker-choreographer Farah Khan, Dia looked back on her formative years in cinema and the challenges that came with entering the industry at a young age.

Dia Mirza's tough atart in BollywoodFarah Khan, while visiting Dia Mirza's home, praised the actor's performances in films like 'Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein' and 'Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge'. She remarked that Dia appeared remarkably confident on screen and never gave the impression of being a first-time actor.

Responding to the compliment, Dia spoke about how different her experience was from that of many actors who received extensive training before making their debut. “People whom you say you launched, when I used to hear stories about the level of love, care and attention you gave them. Unke workshops karwaye, classes lagwaye, tameez seekhayi ki acting kya hoti hai, dance classes karwaaye, diction coaching, I had nothing of that sort.” (You made them attend workshops, enrolled them in acting classes, taught them proper etiquette and what acting truly means, arranged dance training sessions, and even provided diction coaching. I had none of those opportunities. )

The actor went on to reveal that she was immediately pushed into multiple projects at once, leaving little time to prepare or learn the craft in a structured manner.

“Seedha 5 picturon mein kaam karne bhej diya, din ke 24 ghante, 27, 28 ghante non-stop. (I was straightaway assigned five films simultaneously and found myself working endlessly, often stretching to 27 or 28 hours without a break. ) I used to always tell you, once you work with Pooja Films, you are prepared to work with any production house in the country. Because we worked hard. Didn't get any script. Bas online sunaya aur bola yeh superhit hone waali hai, isko karlo bas.” (They would simply narrate the story over the phone and say, ‘This is going to be a superhit, just sign it,’ and that was enough. )

Dia's comments offer a glimpse into an era when hectic shooting schedules and back-to-back assignments were often considered part of a newcomer's struggle in the Hindi film industry.

The film that introduced Dia Mirza to audiencesDia made her acting debut in 2001 with Gautham Vasudev Menon's romantic drama 'Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein', produced by Pooja Entertainment. The film starred R. Madhavan, Saif Ali Khan and Dia Mirza in leading roles and told 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 release, it gradually developed a loyal fan base and is now regarded as a cult romantic classic. Her next release, 'Deewaanapan', backed by Vashu Bhagnani's banner, also struggled commercially despite generating interest among audiences.

Dia Mirza's upcoming release

On the professional front, Dia Mirza will next be seen in 'Ikka', a courtroom drama directed by Siddharth 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, Tillotama Shome, Sanjeeda Shaikh, Shishir Sharma and Akansha Ranjan Kapoor alongside Dia Mirza. 'Ikka' is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on July 10.