Madhavan's co-actress was once called 'panauti' after her films flopped. She took a break at 24. Then, Ranbir Kapoor's movie changed her life

Bollywood actress Dia Mirza, who rose to fame in the early 2000s, recently spoke about the challenges she faced in the film industry, including being once labelled “panauti” after a string of box office disappointments. The former Miss Asia Pacific International 2000 made her debut with the romantic drama Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein (2001), where she starred opposite R. Madhavan. Though the film did not perform well initially, it later gained cult status and remains one of the most loved romantic films of its time.

Dia went on to appear in several films over the next few years, but she revealed that early comparisons with Aishwarya Rai and the pressure of box office expectations affected her career. Despite delivering sincere performances, some of her big-budget projects failed commercially, which, she said, changed how the industry perceived her.

Labelled ‘panauti’ and the struggle for work

In a recent candid chat with The Indian Express, Dia Mirza shared that she experienced a difficult phase in her career after a few of her films underperformed. She said that people who were once keen to sign her suddenly started avoiding her, believing she brought bad luck to their projects. Looking back at that period, she said she managed to break away from the image others had created of her and gradually build her own identity.




"I feel I managed to defy everybody’s idea of me and create my own. When I started off, there were all these comparisons with Aishwarya Rai. I remember impeding accessing an opportunity. Then came box office failures of my so-called big films, and how it, in turn, renders you jobless, because people who were otherwise queuing up to sign you suddenly perceive you as a panauti, bad luck. I have been through all of that," she said.

The actress also revealed that she took a break from films at the age of 24, as work opportunities began to dry up. According to her, the industry can be quick to judge actors based on box office numbers, and failures often lead to actors being sidelined regardless of their talent. She recalled feeling frustrated but remained determined to keep working and proving herself.

How Sanju movie became a turning point

Dia Mirza said that her career saw a major shift years later with Rajkumar Hirani’s 2018 film Sanju, starring Ranbir Kapoor in the lead role. The actress revealed that at the time she was struggling to find meaningful work and decided to directly reach out to the director when she heard he was casting for the film.

Recalling the moment, Dia shared that she personally called the filmmaker and requested him to consider her for any role in the project. She even told him she was willing to audition or do a screen test if required, as she was eager to return to work. Hirani later spoke to Ranbir Kapoor and the rest of the team before offering her the role of Manyata Dutt, wife of actor Sanjay Dutt.



Dia described the opportunity as life-changing, saying that the film helped her regain visibility and credibility in the industry. The role was well received by audiences and critics alike, and it opened doors for more meaningful and performance-oriented projects in the years that followed. She credited Sanju with giving her career a much-needed revival at a time when she felt she was being overlooked.

Since then, Dia Mirza has appeared in films such as Thappad and the web series Kaafir, both of which showcased her acting range and earned her praise for choosing strong, content-driven roles.

On the work front, 2026 is shaping up to be a busy year for the actress. She has multiple projects lined up, including a film with Sunny Deol and Akshaye Khanna, a web series with Nawazuddin Siddiqui, and another project featuring Jimmy Shergill. She is also set to make her debut as a children’s book author, marking a new chapter in her creative journey.