Key facts
- Dia Mirza says she worked 28 hours non-stop in her early career
- Describes Deepika Padukone's entry as a 'dream debut'
- Calls the disparity her 'sore spot'
- Deepika Padukone debuted in Om Shanti Om (2007) opposite Shah Rukh Khan
Dia Mirza has opened up about what she calls her 'sore spot' — the stark difference between her own grinding early career and what she describes as Deepika Padukone's 'dream debut' in Bollywood. Speaking to The Indian Express, Mirza revealed that she worked 28 hours non-stop during her early days, a sacrifice that she feels went largely unacknowledged compared to the smoother trajectory enjoyed by some of her contemporaries.
Mirza, who debuted in the early 2000s after winning the Miss Asia Pacific title, was part of a cohort of actresses who entered Bollywood at a time when the industry's machinery was far less transparent about how opportunities were allocated. Her comments implicitly highlight how debut films, production backing, and marketing investment varied dramatically depending on factors not always in an actress's control.
Deepika Padukone made her Bollywood debut in Om Shanti Om (2007) opposite Shah Rukh Khan — a launch pad that few debutantes in any era could match. Mirza's framing of this disparity as a 'sore spot' rather than bitterness is notable; she appears to be contextualising her own path rather than attacking Padukone's success.
The remarks arrive at a moment when conversations about gender equity in Bollywood — from pay gaps to how debut opportunities are structured — have become more mainstream. Mirza's willingness to name the imbalance personally adds weight to what has often remained an abstract industry discussion.