Quotes from Dia Mirza

I have always believed that cinema is one of the greatest instruments of positive social change. Stories can be light, engaging and poignant, but they need to say something.

I have always wanted to make a movie, in fact I always wanted to direct someday. But I never thought I would be a producer.

Give me rice, dal and some aachar any day, or a Spaghetti Bolognese.

I've been meditating since 14 years and my mornings are spent in the building garden.

It was extraordinary living in Mumbai, navigating my course, understanding how to manage my finances on my own, mapping out my daily expenses.

I chose to be part of 'Kaafir' because the story called out to my soul, I need to connect with it.

'Kaafir' has come along because I have never been more aligned with my truth.

I grew up on a staple of films where I saw actors like Waheeda Rehman, Smita Patil, Shabana Azmi, Madhuri Dixit, Sridevi playing very powerful parts in films.

I lost my biological father when I was 9, I lost my stepfather at 23. Both men had such a deep impact in my understanding of life.

My stepfather was an exemplary human being. It took me a lot of time to accept him as a parent. But what he did intelligently was he befriended me.

It is critical for us to cultivate consciousness and compassion towards our environment, create awareness, galvanize people, and build sustainable innovations for sustainable development.

Children are my favorite people, because they inspire me with their optimism and spirit.

The one thing I have discovered is that we all have challenges; the challenges vary, but our response to the challenges makes us people we are.

I feel that if you are a creative person, you choose various mediums to give vent to your ideas.

It takes a lot to be a part of a film and as an artist, I want to be a part of subjects that makes me feel happy and that's become a big priority for me.

One doesn't have to be an activist and start a movement.

Fortunately, I have never been a victim of sexual harassment. But there have been instances where I have lost out on work or people have shown disinterest in working with me because I was unwilling to succumb to this unspoken understanding of patriarchy.

I did not set up Born Free because I wanted to see myself in films... I want to take my aspirations to another level.

I have discovered the virtue of patience and I don't quite believe that taking a break for good reason can be a risk.

I am never going to stop evolving and growing.

I have enough make-up to last me five lifetimes.