The actress reflects on her early days in Bollywood and comparisons with Priyanka Chopra and Lara Dutta
March 12, 2025: Dia Mirza, former Miss Asia Pacific 2000, opened up about the early days of her career and the constant comparisons with her Miss India co-finalists, Priyanka Chopra and Lara Dutta. While Priyanka and Lara quickly found their footing in the film industry, Dia faced a tougher journey, navigating financial struggles alongside Lara Dutta.
Also Read: Throwback: When Priyanka Chopra Was Rejected from a Hollywood Role for Being ‘Too Ethnic’
Dia on Financial Struggles With Lara Dutta
In an interview with Zoom, Dia reminisced about how Lara and she had to be self-reliant in Mumbai, living frugally while trying to establish their careers.
“Lara was already living here because of her modeling career, and she opened her heart and her tiny apartment to me. It was the size of a matchbox. We used to share Wai Wai noodles because paise nahi the (we had no money). We only used what we earned from modeling gigs. There were days when our savings ran out, and payments were due. We’d return from fancy events in expensive gowns but could only afford instant noodles,” Dia revealed.
Priyanka Chopra’s Different Journey
Priyanka Chopra, who won Miss World the same year, had a different trajectory. “Priyanka had strong support from her parents. She was doing extraordinarily well right from the beginning, and I was in awe of how effortlessly she excelled. I often thought, ‘If I was half the actress she is, how much further I could go,’” Dia admitted.
While Priyanka’s journey had its own set of challenges, she had her family actively involved in her career, unlike Dia and Lara, who had to navigate Bollywood on their own.
Finding Their Own Paths
Despite the initial comparisons, Dia acknowledged that over time, each of them carved their own space in the industry. “Lara and Priyanka got their breakthrough with Andaaz, while I was still struggling. But eventually, we all found our place, and the comparisons stopped,” she added.
Dia Mirza’s Recent Work
Dia was recently seen in Nadaaniyan, playing Ibrahim Ali Khan’s mother in the Netflix film. The movie, which also starred Khushi Kapoor, Suniel Shetty, and Mahima Chaudhry, received mixed reviews upon its release on March 7.
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Dia Mirza, Priyanka Chopra, Lara Dutta, Bollywood, Miss India 2000, Miss World, Miss Universe, Miss Asia Pacific, Struggles in Bollywood, Bollywood Journey, Andaz, Nadaaniyan