Dia Mirza was born on December 9, 1981, in Hyderabad, India, to an interracial family of German and Bengali descent. Her father, Frank Handrich, was a German graphic and industrial fair designer, architect, artist, and interior designer, while her mother, Deepa, was an interior and landscape designer who now volunteers as a counsellor at addiction centers.
Dia's upbringing and education at the J. Krishnamurti School instilled in her a sense of inclusivity and a willingness to challenge conventional norms. She was encouraged to pursue her passions and dreams from a young age, which led her to model and participate in beauty pageants.
In 2000, Dia won the Miss India Contest and later the Miss Asia-Pacific Pageant, becoming the first Indian woman to do so in nearly 29 years. This success led to her entry into the film industry, where she began her training as an actor in theatre workshops conducted by acclaimed director Feroz Abbas Khan.
Dia made her film debut with Vashu Bhagnani's Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein (2001) and went on to appear in several notable films, including Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006),Parineeta (2005),Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. (2007),Shootout at Lokhandwala (2007),Kurbaan (2009),Dus Kahaniyaan (2007),Tehzeeb (2003),Sanju (2018),Thappad (2020),and many more.
In addition to her acting career, Dia has also ventured into regional cinema, producing films such as Paanch Adhyay (2012) and Bobby Jasoos (2014) under her production house, Born Free Entertainment. She has also produced the web series Kaafir (2019),which received critical acclaim.
In 2016, Dia made her television debut with the show Ganga: The Soul of India, and in 2019, she launched her new production house, One India Stories LLP, which aims to create meaningful content across different formats and mediums.
As an actor, producer, and climate change-maker, Dia has made unconventional choices and has been recognized for her work. She is a UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador and United Nations Secretary-General Advocate for Sustainable Development Goals.
