"Web Series Dispels Stereotype Of Ageism", Says Dia Mirza

Bollywood actress Dia Mirza who is known for her super romantic hit films like Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein and Lage Raho Munnabhai. The actress was recently seen in the web series called Kaafir. 

Dia Mirza feels that ageism does not matter in today’s digital era. The makers of the web series are not actor’s age as a consideration of their roles.

“It (web) dispels the age-old stereotype of ageism that we were subjected to for the past 15- 20 years. Many women are getting the opportunity to play fantastic parts on the web like Huma Qureshi in Leila, Shefali Shah in Delhi Crime and so many others".

“It allows those who are not getting the work that they desire to do because of their age. So the web is doing social service,” Dia said. The actress added that she does not endorse the label of women-centric films.

“In the last ten years, there has been a shift as the audience has loved watching many stories that have had women central to the theme. I don’t like to call it women-centric films as we do not call films as male-centric, so why calm women-centric films.”

In the earlier days, Dia Mirza said, female actors played strong and meaty parts but they were later reduced to props in movies.

“I grew up on a staple of films where I saw actors like Waheeda Rehman, Smita Patil, Shabana Azmi, Madhuri Dixit and Sridevi playing very powerful parts in films. But when the industry started making male-dominated stories and narratives women were reduced to being a catalyst, not being a central part to the theme, I was part of many of those stories. ”

The actor said she always looks for stories and characters that connect with her. “It has been a desire to be part of compelling storytelling that connects with me as an individual. I chose to be part of Kaafir because the story called out to my soul, I need to connect with it.

On her decision to play a Pakistani character in Kaafir, Dia said, “This show is trying to address prejudices that we have in our society. When people ask me, 'Weren't you afraid of playing a Pakistani character in the show?' I say that I feel that our show is trying to question that fear and we are trying to remove that fear from people's mind".

"I feel really happy to be part of this show which talks about humanity and I hope that people will appreciate our effort. There is a problem all over the world that we see people from unfortunate lenses which include lenses of culture, country and caste and I feel these are very unfortunate ways to view humanity. We shouldn't be prejudiced against people because of religion, caste or place that they belong to. That is precisely what Kaafir addresses and I hope after watching this show, people will get their answers".

The actor, who made her digital debut with Kaafir, will be seen next in another web series titled Mughals by Nikkhil Advani along with Ronit Roy and Shabana Azmi.

Dia Mirza who will be seen essaying Babur's sister Khanzada said that while the character is well-documented in Baburnama and Humayun’s memoirs, most history textbooks tend to omit her presence.

Dia even said that while reading up on Khanzada, she discovered the powerful person she was, adding that she was looking forward to working with Shabana Azmi, who she fondly refers to as Amma.

“I consider myself fortunate to call her family and even more so to be able to work with her. She has had a deep impact on my life and my choices. I know I will learn a lot working with her again," Dia told Mumbai Mirror.

Shabana will be playing Babur's grandmother Esan Daulat, who took charge and crowned Babur asking at 12 years of age, after his father Umar Shaikh's death.

Mughals are going to be a screen adaptation of Alex Rutherford’s six-volume historical fiction novel Empire of the Mughals, which begins with Babur and ends with the reign of Aurangzeb.The screenplay has been penned by Bhavani Iyer. Kausar Munir has written the dialogues.