Life gave me an opportunity to define who I am today: Dia Mirza

I don’t give in and I don’t believe in giving up. This comes naturally to me, I know no other way,” says actor Dia Mirza. She credits her mother for this indomitable spirit, who inspired her with “strength, fortitude and resilience to bring a change.” She says: “I’m who I’m, because of her. She brought me up to be very independent and wanted me to be able to do things on my own, right from my formative years. I have seen her pick herself up through challenges, fights and make things happen.”

The 35-year-old actor, who is the artist ambassador for Save the Children, was in the Capital recently to see the kind of work the NGO is doing for the community here. She says her never-say-die spirit came with a fair share of struggles. She was 18-year-old, when she left home for Mumbai.“Coming from a non-film background, I didn’t know much about films, there were different people trying to push me in various directions. So being out in the world, navigating it, based on my values made me more formidable. I can say, life gave me an opportunity to define who I’m today. To be able to hold my own and carve out my space based on my passion, and make choices then define me today,” says the actor who embarked on her Bollywood journey at the age of 19.

A propagator of issues concerning the environment and women equality, Dia believes in working tirelessly for causes close to her heart. “Children are my favourite people, because they inspire me with their optimism and spirit. They symbolise purity and hope. Every child must have a childhood they deserve. But unfortunately, millions of children are deprived childhood and their dreams crushed under the burden of poverty. I am doing my bit through my association with Save the Children and their campaign called Every Last Child,” Dia says.

She adds, “Every person has the ability to influence change. I am grateful that my voice counts, and I am able to influence change. But more than that, there is a certain amount of activism that is engrained in me. I cannot ignore the challenges that the country and world is facing. I believe in active citizenship.So, my message to all women out there, be your own person, make your own choices, never be afraid to stand up for what you believe in.”

About her Delhi visit, she says, “The visit to Delhi was truly special as I saw the work Save the Children does with community. I visited community managed toilets in the slums of Okhla where these amazing bunch of women have led the action on hygiene and sanitation. And it fills you with amazement that how a simple thing like toilet can impact such transformation for women and children. On the second day, I visited a government school in Lajpat Nagar — a school Save the Children has been working with.”