Dia Mirza Rekhi on Activism, Backlash and Speaking Up: ‘Ye To Activist Hai, Andolan Wali Hai’

Dia Mirza Rekhi is marking 25 years in the entertainment industry, and the actor continues to balance her screen career with her outspoken engagement with social and environmental issues.

After appearing in Alpha and Ikka, Dia was recently seen in the series Operation Safed Sagar. Alongside her acting work, she has remained vocal on subjects close to her, including climate change and other social concerns.

Her willingness to speak openly has also attracted criticism. Reflecting on the backlash she sometimes faces, Dia said she prefers to examine the intention behind a statement before deciding how she feels about it.

Dia Mirza Says Intent Matters

Discussing criticism and public reactions, Dia explained that she often asks herself what the intention behind a comment or piece of information is.

According to the actor, if something comes from a place of wanting to inform, educate, help or show care, she does not believe it should automatically be considered offensive.

For Dia, understanding the motivation behind a statement is an important part of assessing criticism. Rather than reacting immediately, she said she tries to understand where a particular response is coming from.

That approach, she suggested, has helped her navigate the scrutiny that accompanies being a public figure.

‘It Doesn’t Come From a Place of Anger and Hate’

Dia also reflected on the reasons she continues to speak about issues she considers important.

She said that what she has stood for and spoken about has come from a place of care rather than anger or hatred. As a result, she does not necessarily feel uncomfortable when her views generate opposition.

Instead, criticism makes her curious about its origins.

She said she wants to understand why criticism is being directed at her, where it originates and whether it is genuine. She also claimed that she has experienced instances in which false information about her has circulated and suggested that some of the criticism she encountered was sponsored.

The comments underline the challenges public figures can face when their personal views become part of wider online conversations.

Dia Says Women Are Judged Differently for Speaking Up

The actor also addressed what she sees as a gendered difference in the way public figures are received when they express strong opinions.

Dia argued that women can face greater offence or scrutiny when they speak about social issues, while similar comments from men may sometimes receive a different response.

She connected this to what she described as deep patriarchal conditioning, including expectations within the entertainment industry about how women should behave and how vocal they should be.

According to Dia, those attitudes can influence both how women express themselves and how their words are received.

‘Ye To Activist Hai, Andolan Wali Hai’

Reflecting on her own experiences in the film industry, Dia recalled instances when male co-actors have referred to her as an activist in a dismissive manner.

She remembered comments such as, “Oh, ye to activist hai, andolan wali hai,” noting that the phrase was not intended as a compliment.

The remark, she suggested, reflects the perception that speaking publicly about social issues can make an actor stand apart from conventional expectations within the entertainment industry.

For Dia, however, using her public position to discuss issues she cares about is an important part of her identity.

Dia Mirza Says Artists Have a Responsibility

Dia believes artists have a unique position because of the reach and influence that come with their profession.

She described being an artiste as a privilege and questioned what that privilege means if artists cannot use their platforms to contribute to positive change.

Her comments reflect the broader view she has expressed throughout her public life: that visibility can come with responsibility.

Rather than separating her acting career entirely from her social concerns, Dia sees the two as parts of a larger public role.

A Career That Goes Beyond the Screen

As Dia enters the 25th year of her career, her professional journey continues to include both mainstream screen projects and conversations around issues beyond entertainment.

Her recent work in Alpha, Ikka and Operation Safed Sagar comes alongside her continued public engagement with environmental and social subjects.

The criticism she receives has not appeared to discourage her from speaking. Instead, Dia says she remains interested in understanding opposing viewpoints while continuing to communicate from what she describes as a place of care.

For an actor who has spent decades in the public eye, the distinction between celebrity and social voice may have become increasingly difficult to separate. Dia Mirza Rekhi, however, appears comfortable with both sides of that identity.