more dimensions and facets to her creative life and today her body of work
has grown to encompass not just diverse roles but also a production
company, eco entrepreneurship, and far-reaching work with the United
Nations as a (please add designation).
Dia who turns 41 on December 9 says, “Every passing year has added a
sharper nuance and definition to my work and has brought with it new
insights about how I can do more and be more. It has become increasingly
important for me to use my voice to highlight the challenges the planet is
facing and the issues that concern our collective well-being as a race.
This search for meaning and purpose is now also reflecting in my choices as
an actor and an entrepreneur. Apart from my work with the U.N., I have also
now begun to invest in sustainable brands because I believe we all must do
what we can to take better care of the planet.”
Dia is now also being offered roles that truly represent the complexity and
depth that women are capable of and she says, “I now see a thread of
intentionality in my choices as an actor as well. Whether it is ‘Dhak Dhak’
where I play a hijab-clad biker, ‘Kaafir’ where I played a woman caught in
the politics between two countries, or ‘Gray’ where I articulated the
importance of consent as a psychotherapist, I am playing women who think
and feel deeply and act in accordance with their own particular set of
values. It is not incidental either that I am now choosing to work with
creators whose work I truly admire.”
Dia feels, the entertainment industry has undergone a sea change since her
debut and says, “Female protagonists today are no longer one dimensional
and ageism is also receding in the background as strong, well-rounded women
come in the forefront to tell stories from their perspective. I am truly
glad to be a part of this beautiful shift.”
