Dia Mirza is marking her birthday this year with a new creative milestone, as the actor and producer prepares to debut as a children’s author. She is currently working on a collection of five books aimed
at young readers, with further details expected to be announced closer to their release in 2026.
Confirming the development, Mirza shared that working on stories for children has been a deeply personal experience for her. “This milestone means the world to me but creating for young minds has been one of the most meaningful experiences this year. My son Avyaan is too excited. I have read the stories to him and can’t wait for him to see them with the illustrations done. I’ll be able to share more when the publishers are ready,” she said.
The actor is also celebrating a professional high on the production front. Her film Panha recently won Best Indian Short Film at the All Living Things Environmental Film Festival (ALT EFF). Reflecting on the achievement, Mirza said, “I’ve produced two beautiful films. Panha has begun its journey with awards and special jury mentions, and our second film is now making its way to festivals. This year reaffirmed a simple truth for me: when your choices reflect your values, life becomes deeper, kinder, and far more rewarding.”
Mirza’s journey in cinema began with an uncredited appearance in the Tamil film En Swasa Kaatre (1999). She made her official acting debut in 2001 with Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein, directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon, opposite R. Madhavan and Saif Ali Khan. While the film underperformed initially, it went on to achieve cult status after its re-release. Her performance earned her a Filmfare nomination for Best Female Debut, though critic Taran Adarsh noted, “Dia looks like a doll and goes through the mandatory dance movements gracefully, but needs to polish her acting skills.”
The same year, Mirza appeared in Deewaanapan opposite Arjun Rampal, followed by a series of films through the early 2000s that struggled commercially. These included Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge, Dum, Praan Jaye Par Shaan Na Jaye, Tehzeeb, Kyun! Ho Gaya Na… and Tumsa Nahin Dekha: A Love Story, among others.
She found major box office success in 2005 with Parineeta and Dus, the latter emerging as one of the highest-grossing films of the year. This momentum continued with Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006), which ranked among the year’s biggest hits. Mirza also delivered notable performances in ensemble films such as Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. and Shootout at Lokhandwala.
After a period marked by several commercial setbacks, Mirza received renewed acclaim with roles in Paanch Adhyay (2012), the Iranian-Indian film Salaam Mumbai, and later the 2018 blockbuster Sanju, where she portrayed Manyata Dutt. Commenting on her performance, Filmfare’s Devesh Sharma said, “Dia doesn’t have a lengthy role but make sure she adds to the film.” Her later work includes Kaafir, the ZEE5 series set in Kashmir, and Thappad (2020), which won the Filmfare Award for Best Film.
Beyond acting, Mirza has built a solid presence as a producer. She co-founded Born Free Entertainment in 2011 and has backed projects such as Love Breakups Zindagi, Bobby Jasoos and the web series Mind the Malhotras. In 2019, she announced her independent banner, One India Stories, aimed at developing original content.
