Dia Mirza
Mirza in 2023
Born
Dia Handrich

(1981-12-09) 9 December 1981[1]
Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh (now in Telangana), India
Occupations
  • Actress
  • producer
Spouses
Sahil Sangha
​
​
(m. 2014; div. 2019)​
    Vaibhav Rekhi
    ​
    (m. 2021)​
    Children2
    Beauty pageant titleholder
    TitleMiss Asia Pacific 2000
    Femina Miss India Asia Pacific 2000
    Years active1999–present

    Dia Mirza Rekhi[2] (born Dia Handrich; 9 December 1981) is an Indian actress who works in Hindi films. She won the title of Miss Asia Pacific International in 2000 after being crowned Femina Miss India Asia Pacific 2000. She made her acting debut with the film Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein (2001).

    She subsequently featured in films including Dus (2005), Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006) Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. (2007) and Sanju (2018). She co-owned a production house, Born Free Entertainment, with her ex-husband Sahil Sangha. Their first film, Love Breakups Zindagi,[3] was released on 7 October 2011. After their divorce, she launched her own production house, One India Stories in 2019. She also starred in the web series Kaafir in 2019.[4]

    Early life

    Mirza was born in Hyderabad, India. Her father, Frank Handrich, is a German graphics and industrial fair designer, architect, artist and interior designer based in Munich. At the same time, her mother, Deepa, is a Bengali interior designer and landscaper who also volunteers to help alcoholics and drug addicts. When she was four-and-a-half years old, her parents got divorced.[5][6][7] After her mother married Ahmed Mirza, a Muslim man from Hyderabad, she adopted her step-father's surname. He died in 2004.[5]

    After initially attending Vidyaranya High School, a co-ed school, Mirza was enrolled into Nasr School, a girl's day school in Khairtabad. She then attended Stanley Junior College before graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from Ambedkar Open University, Hyderabad.[8]

    Career

    Modelling

    Mirza worked while in college as a marketing executive for a media firm, Neeraj's Multi-media Studio.[9] At the same time, she modelled for print and TV commercials for brands such as Lipton, Wall's ice cream, Emami and many more. She was the second runner-up at the Miss India pageant in 2000 and then went on to win the Miss Asia Pacific title in 2000.[10][11]

    Acting

    She made her debut in Gautham Menon directed Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein, a remake of Menon's Tamil film Minnale.[12] She then appeared in films such as Alag, Dum, Deewaanapan, Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge, Tumsa Nahin Dekha: A Love Story, Parineeta, Dus, Lage Raho Munna Bhai and Salaam Mumbai. In 2018, she appeared as Sanjay Dutt's wife Manyata Dutt in the biopic Sanju, which ranks among the highest grossing Indian films. In 2020, she appeared in Thappad, which went on to win the Filmfare Award for Best Film.

    She appeared in the ZEE5 web series Kaafir in 2019.[4] Set in Kashmir, she starred opposite Mohit Raina in the series.[13]

    Producer

    In 2011, she started Born Free Entertainment, a production house with her ex-husband Sahil Sangha. She has also produced Love Breakups Zindagi, Bobby Jasoos[14] and a sitcom web series titled Mind the Malhotras, streaming on Amazon Prime Video. The series stars Cyrus Sahukar and Mini Mathur in the lead.[15] In December 2019 she announced she was forming a new production house "One India Stories" to create original content.[16]

    Humanitarian causes

    Mirza lent her voice to a snow leopard called Layla for an environmental podcast of Run Wild, which is a collaboration between Runtastic, the UN Environmental Programme and the Internet of Elephants.[17]

    She has written articles for Hindustan Times and other publications.

    Titles

    Mirza was the second runner-up at Femina Miss India 2000 and was subsequently sent to Miss Asia Pacific 2000, where she won. She also won Miss Beautiful Smile, Miss Avon and Miss Close-Up Smile in Miss India. When she won the Miss Asia Pacific title on 3 December 2000 in Manila, the Philippines, she became the first Indian since Tara Anne Fonseca to win this title in 27 years.[18] She completed the hat-trick of India winning international pageants in the year 2000; Lara Dutta won the Miss Universe title and Priyanka Chopra won the Miss World title in the same year.[19]

    Community services and activism

    Mirza has been involved with the Cancer Patients Aid Association and Spastics Society of India, and has worked extensively with the government of Andhra Pradesh to spread HIV awareness, prevention of female foeticide, PETA, CRY and most recently the NDTV Greenathon – an effort to find tangible solutions against pollution and the book, "Deke Dheko" by Radio Mirchi (a campaign initiated to collect books for underprivileged children). She is on the board of the Coca-Cola Foundation which works towards development in rural India. She is associated with campaigns such as Sanctuary Asia's Leave Me Alone and Female Foeticide.

    In 2010 she adopted two cheetah cubs at the Prince of Wales zoological park in Lucknow.[20][21]

    Mirza, along with Aamir Khan, publicly expressed support for the Narmada Bachao Andolan, a group protesting the building of a dam. This aroused the ire of political activists from the Bharatiya Janata Party, who led a protest march against the actress.[22] She won the Green Award at IIFA 2012 for spreading awareness about environment-related issues.

    Along with these, Mirza has endorsed The Body Shop for their stand on a ban on animal testing and propagation of recycled packaging and natural products.[23] She is the Eco-Ambassador for Panasonic.

    Mirza at an event for World Environment Day in 2018

    Mirza has been felicitated at award functions for her active involvement in social and environmental issues.[24]

    She has been named the ambassador for the Swachh Bharat Mission's youth-based 'Swachh Saathi' programme. As an ambassador, the actress would interact with school and college students from across the country through awareness sessions, community cleaning activities and motivational videos.[25]

    She joined Save The Children India as their first-ever artist ambassador.[26]

    On World Environment Day 2017, she was appointed brand ambassador for the Wildlife Trust of India.[27] She has lent her support to WTI's wildlife conservation endeavours for several years and is a founder-member of the organisation's Club Nature initiative,[28] also supporting a campaign to raise awareness about the shrinking space for wild elephants in the country.[29]

    She was also appointed as the UN Environment's Goodwill Ambassador for India in 2017 and on 7 May 2020, her term was further extended till 2022.[30][31] She was appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations as an advocate of Sustainable Development Goals.[32] She also turned into a blogger to save the environment and create awareness.[33] She hosted United Nations Champions Gala 2019 with Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin.[34] She attended the 14th UN Conference of the Parties and hosted the finale reception.[35]

    Mirza initiated a cleanliness drive at Juhu beach on Independence Day 2019[36] and another at Mahim beach on 26 January, to make the beach free from single-use plastic.[37]

    Mirza supports Ramky's BIG Green Ganesha and felicitated the winners with Tree Ganeshas in 2019. She has also been featured by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in its 11th edition of BBC 100 Women List 2023, listing her as one of the four Indian women featured.[38]

    Personal life

    In April 2014, she became engaged to her longtime business partner Sahil Sangha, and they were married on 18 October 2014 at his farmhouse in Chattarpur on the outskirts of Delhi.[39] In August 2019, Mirza announced their separation.[40][41]

    On 15 February 2021, Mirza married businessman Vaibhav Rekhi in Bandra, Mumbai.[42][43][44]

    On 1 April 2021, she announced that she was expecting her first child.[45][46] On 14 July 2021, she announced that she had a premature birth to a baby boy, Avyaan Azaad Rekhi on 14 May and he was in NICU for 2 months.[47][48] Mirza also has a step-daughter, Samaira Rekhi from Vaibhav Rekhi's first marriage.[49]

    Filmography

    Films

    YearTitleRoleNotes
    1999En Swasa KaatreDancerTamil film; Extra[50]
    2001Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil MeinReena Malhotra
    DeewaanapanKiran Choudhary
    2002Tumko Na Bhool PaayengeMuskaan
    2003DumKaveri
    Praan Jaye Par Shaan Na JayeSaundarya
    TehzeebNazneen Jamal
    2004Kyun! Ho Gaya Na...PreetiSpecial appearance
    Tumsa Nahin DekhaJiya
    Stop!Shama
    2005BlackmailAnjali Mohan
    My Brother…NikhilHerselfSpecial appearance
    Naam Gum JaayegaNatasha/Gitanjali
    Koi Mere Dil Mein HaiSimran
    ParineetaGayatri
    DusAnu Dheer
    2006Fight Club – Members OnlyAnu Chopra
    PrateekshaReena BrownTelevision film
    Phir Hera PheriItem DancerSpecial appearance
    AlagPurva Rana
    Lage Raho Munna BhaiSimran
    2007Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.Shilpa
    Shootout at LokhandwalaMeeta Mattoo
    CashAditi
    Heyy BabyyHerselfSpecial appearance
    Om Shanti Om
    Dus KahaniyaanSia
    2008Krazzy 4 Shikha
    2009Luck by ChanceHerselfSpecial appearance
    Jai VeeruAnna
    KisaanPriya
    Acid FactoryMax
    Fruit and NutMonica Gokhale
    KurbaanRehana
    2010Hum Tum Aur GhostGehna Sinha
    2011Love Breakups ZindagiNaina
    2012Paanch AdhyayIshitaBengali film
    2014Bobby Jasoos – Producer
    2016Salaam MumbaiKarishmaIranian-Indian film
    2018SanjuManyata Dutt
    2020ThappadShivani
    2021Wild DogPriya VermaTelugu film[51]
    2023BheedGeetanjali[52]
    Dhak Dhak Uzma [53]

    Web series

    YearTitleRole NotesRef.
    2019KaafirKainaaz Akhtar [13]
    Mind the Malhotras Producer[15]
    2021 Call My Agent: Bollywood Herself Episode 1 [54]
    2023 Made in Heaven Shehnaz Season 2

    Television

    Year Title Role Ref.
    2016 Ganga – The Soul Of India Herself [55]

    Music videos

    Year Title Performer(s) Role Album Ref.
    2004 "Pal Do Pal Pyar Ka" Adnan Sami Unnamed Teri Kasam

    Music song

    • 2003:Hum Ko To Hai Poora Yakeen made by MSN Cricket and sports MSN India on The Indian Cricket team for the ICC Cricket World Cups in 2003

    Awards

    2002

    2012

    • IIFA Green Award for Contribution Towards a Greener Environment

    2016

    2019

    • Best actor OTT female (critics) for Kaafir at Gold Awards 2019
    • woman of style & substance at Filmfare glamour & style awards 2019

    2022

    • Dia Mirza honoured with 'Mother Teresa Memorial Award' by the Governor of Maharashtra.[56]

    2023

    References

    1. ↑ "Turning 30 is the fabulous: Dia Mirza". The Indian Express. 9 December 2011. Archived from the original on 29 August 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
    2. ↑ "Dia Mirza changes her name to Dia Mirza Rekhi, makes it official on Instagram". Times of India. 15 January 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
    3. ↑ "Love Breakups Zindagi – Sweet and honest sans drama". indiaglitz. Archived from the original on 14 August 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
    4. 1 2 Singh, Anvita (15 June 2019). "Kaafir first impression: Dia Mirza and Mohit Raina's web series seems promising". The Indian Express. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
    5. 1 2 "I took my surname Mirza from my step-father: Dia Mirza". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 30 August 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
    6. ↑ "Dia Mirzas Wedding to be a Private Affair – NDTV Movies". NDTVMovies.com. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
    7. ↑ "Dia Mirza is tracing her German roots on a trip to her 'fatherland' and sharing family pics". Hindustan Times. 22 September 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
    8. ↑ "Dia Mirza – 2000-1991! – Miss India Winners 2009-1964 – Archives – Femina Miss India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 2 June 2011.
    9. ↑ "Plan your expenses & trust instruments you have invested in: Dia Mirza". DNA India. 2 September 2019. Archived from the original on 5 November 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
    10. ↑ "Dia Mirza: Lesser known facts". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
    11. ↑ "Dia Mirza Reminisces 20 years Of Miss India Pageant Days When She Shared Stage With Lara Dutta, Priyanka Chopra". News18. 20 May 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
    12. ↑ Mirza, Dia (18 October 2001). "Face to Face: Dia Mirza" (Interview). Interviewed by Bharati Dubey. Mumbai: Rediff. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
    13. 1 2 "Kaafir trailer: Dia Mirza, Mohit Raina star in this intense web series set in Kashmir". The Indian Express. 28 May 2019. Archived from the original on 3 June 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
    14. ↑ "Appalling I haven't worked enough with women directors: Dia". Business Standard India. 2 June 2019. Archived from the original on 8 June 2019. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
    15. 1 2 "Dia Mirza-Produced Mind the Malhotras Is Amazon's Next Indian Series". NDTV Gadgets 360. Archived from the original on 29 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
    16. ↑ "Dia Mirza announces new production house 'One India Stories' on birthday". The New Indian Express. 9 December 2019. Archived from the original on 29 January 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
    17. ↑ "Dia Mirza lends voice for environmental podcast". Outlook the news scroll. Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
    18. ↑ "Enduring Beauties". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 25 April 2010. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
    19. ↑ "Miss India Winners 2000 – 1991 – Indiatimes.com". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 29 March 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
    20. ↑ "Actress Dia Mirza adopts leopard cubs". The Times of India. 13 April 2010. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
    21. ↑ "Latest picture of Dia Mirza in Kenya". Condé Nast Traveller India. 25 July 2018. Archived from the original on 19 September 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
    22. ↑ "BJP blasts Dia Mirza for anti-dam stand". Rediff. Archived from the original on 14 May 2006. Retrieved 24 May 2006.
    23. ↑ "Dia Mirza appointed Body Shop's brand ambassador". The Navhind Times. Archived from the original on 27 March 2014.
    24. ↑ Pioneer, The. "Dia Mirza campaigns for protection of snow leopards". The Pioneer. Archived from the original on 25 May 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
    25. ↑ "Dia Mirza named ambassador for 'Swachh Saathi' programme". ABP Live. 6 June 2016. Archived from the original on 7 June 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
    26. ↑ "Dia Mirza joins 'Save The Children' as Artist Ambassador". savethechildren.in. 9 December 2016. Archived from the original on 18 April 2017. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
    27. ↑ "Need infrastructure that supports green recovery: Dia Mirza on India heading towards climate catastrophe". Times Now. 11 November 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
    28. ↑ "DIA MIRZA NAMED WILDLIFE TRUST OF INDIA'S BRAND AMBASSADOR". Mumbai Mirror. 5 June 2017. Archived from the original on 30 June 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
    29. ↑ "'Gaj Yatra' to secure elephant corridors launched in Mumbai". The Indian Express. 14 August 2017. Archived from the original on 18 January 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
    30. ↑ "Dia Mirza Is Now UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador For India". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 30 November 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
    31. ↑ "UNEP extends Dia Mirza's term as Goodwill Ambassador till 2022". The Economic Times. 7 May 2020. Archived from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
    32. ↑ "Actor Dia Mirza Gets Appointed As An Official Sustainable Development Goals Advocate By UN Environment". swachhindia.ndtv.com. 13 May 2019. Archived from the original on 23 July 2019. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
    33. ↑ "Dia Mirza to turn blogger for environment's sake". 18 July 2019. Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2019 – via PressReader.
    34. ↑ "Dia Mirza, Alec Baldwin host UN's Champions Gala again". The Hindu. 28 September 2019. Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
    35. ↑ "Dia Mirza in Delhi for UN conference". thequint.com. 9 September 2019. Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
    36. ↑ "Independence Day: Dia Mirza participates in clean-up drive at Juhu beach". The Times of India. 15 August 2019. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
    37. ↑ "Dia Mirza, Pragya Kapoor host beach cleaning drive in Mumbai". The Times of India. 27 January 2020. Archived from the original on 27 January 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
    38. ↑ "BBC 100 Women 2023: Who is on this year's list? - BBC News". BBC. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
    39. ↑ "Inside Dia Mirza, Sahil Sangha's Wedding". NDTV Movies. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
    40. ↑ "Dia Mirza Announces Separation From Husband Sahil Sangha on Social Media". News 18. August 2019. Archived from the original on 1 August 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
    41. ↑ "Dia Mirza And Sahil Sangha Announce Separation After 11 Years Together: 'We Remain Friends'". NDTV. August 2019. Archived from the original on 1 August 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
    42. ↑ "Dia Mirza-Vaibhav Rekhi wedding: First pictures of newlyweds are here". Hindustan Times. 15 February 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
    43. ↑ Basu, Nilanjana (15 February 2021). "Dia Mirza And Vaibhav Rekhi Are Married. See Pics Of The Newlyweds". NDTV. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
    44. ↑ "Dia Mirza ties the knot with Vaibhav Rekhi; looks lovely in a red sari". The Indian Express. 15 February 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
    45. ↑ Sharma, Divyanshi (1 April 2021). "Dia Mirza pregnant, expecting first child with Vaibhav Rekhi. See pic". India Today. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
    46. ↑ "Dia Mirza expecting first child with husband Vaibhav Rekhi: 'Blessed to cradle this purest of all dreams in my womb'". Hindustan Times. 1 April 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
    47. ↑ IANS (15 July 2021). "Dia Mirza, Vaibhav Rekhi announce premature birth of son Avyaan Azaad Rekhi". Sify. Archived from the original on 15 July 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
    48. ↑ "Inside Dia Mirza's gorgeous home that she shares with husband Vaibhav and son Avyaan: 'My sanctuary'". The Indian Express. 23 November 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
    49. ↑ "Dia Mirza and 'bestie' stepdaughter Samaira wear matching outfits for Sunday shenanigans, watch". Hindustan Times. 19 July 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
    50. ↑ WildWest Studios (13 November 2016). "A. R. Rahman Hit Tamil Song Jumbalaka Jumbalaka -En Swasa Kaatre". Archived from the original on 15 December 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2018 – via YouTube.
    51. ↑ K, Janani (29 August 2020). "Nagarjuna turns 61: Wild Dog team unveils new poster on actor's birthday". India Today. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
    52. ↑ "WATCH: Dia Mirza and Vaibhav Rekha's son Ayaan Azaad excitedly talk to plants in a heart-melting video". PINKVILLA. 3 February 2022. Archived from the original on 12 August 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
    53. ↑ Khan, Lubra (27 September 2023). "Dhak Dhak poster OUT: Ratna Pathak, Dia Mirza, Fatima-Sanjana ooze swag; Taapsee Pannu unveils release date". Pink Villa. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
    54. ↑ "Real-life Bollywood manager fact-checks Netflix series Call My Agent: 'This would never happen'". The Indian Express. 10 November 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
    55. ↑ "This Dia Mirza video on Ganga, the soul of India will give you goosebumps!". India.com. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
    56. ↑ "Dia Mirza honoured with 'Mother Teresa Memorial Award' by the Governor of Maharashtra". Femina. 14 July 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
    57. ↑ "BBC 100 Women 2023: Who is on the list this year?". BBC. 23 November 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
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