Dia Mirza opens up about anxiety, pressure and stepping away from the noise: ‘I didn’t have the vocabulary to define it’
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Dia Mirza opens up about anxiety, pressure and stepping away from the noise: ‘I didn’t have the vocabulary to define it’
Dia Mirza opened up about dealing with anxiety and pressure, revealing she once lacked the vocabulary to identify it and explaining how stepping back helped her find greater purpose.
Vaishnavi Gavankar
August 28, 2026 / 16:03 IST
Dia Mirza
- Dia Mirza discusses anxiety and industry pressure.
- Stepping back helped her find purpose.
- She now recognizes and manages anxiety.
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Dia Mirza has opened up about dealing with anxiety, pressure and the emotional toll of constantly trying to keep up with expectations. As she completes nearly 25 years in the entertainment industry, the actress reflected on how stepping away from the noise helped her understand herself better and build a life that feels more meaningful
Speaking about the pressure she experienced, Dia admitted that for a long time she did not even realise what she was going through
She said, “It was an inability to deal with pressure. And I don’t think most of us are equipped to deal with that kind of pressure. Many of us break, and we don’t even know we are breaking.”
Dia added that anxiety can quietly affect different aspects of a person’s life, including relationships
“How many of us live with anxiety… how many of us know our relationships are so hard because we are living with constant anxiety, and that comes from being in a system that is not fueling purpose and is not giving you the space to be,” she said
For Dia, stepping back did not mean slowing down professionally. In fact, she believes it allowed her to explore more aspects of herself and her career
She said, “From the moment that I stepped back, I am actually doing much more now than I’ve ever done in my life before.”
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Looking back at her journey beyond acting, Dia spoke about becoming a film producer at the age of 26, writing articles and working closely with several NGOs
She added, “I have such a full-body, textured, nuanced existence that I thrive in. And it’s all self-created. No one told me to do these things. I do them because they give me joy, and they deepen my purpose.”
Dia also admitted that anxiety had been present even when she could not identify it
“And yes, I was anxious; I didn’t have the vocabulary to define it at the time,” she said
The actress also made it clear that anxiety has not completely disappeared from her life
“I get anxious even now. I work in climate and gender parity. I feel all levels of anxiety practically daily,” Dia shared
What has changed, however, is her ability to recognise those emotions and respond to them rather than being overwhelmed by them
Dia believes this awareness has also helped her personally, particularly as a mother. She said, “I think I am a better mother because I’m able to recognise what’s happening with my body.”
Over the years, Dia has expanded her identity beyond acting, becoming associated with environmental causes, gender equality and social initiatives
On the professional front, she has also been receiving appreciation for her recent work in Ikka and Operation Safed Sagar. As she approaches 25 years in the industry, Dia continues to balance acting with the causes and projects that she says give her a deeper sense of purpose
Vaishnavi Gavankar is a senior entertainment journalist with over 8 years of experience covering Bollywood, Television, OTT platforms, and regional cinema.
first published: Aug 28, 2026 04:02 pm
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Vaishnavi Gavankar
