"I Held My Ground...": Dia Mirza On Power Of Women Telling Their Own Stories

At the Fabulous Over Forty festival, the stage turned into a space of candour and conviction when actor-producer Dia Mirza sat down with Shaili Chopra to talk about the importance of women telling their own stories. Their conversation was a reminder that behind every successful woman lies a journey of resilience, risk, and reinvention; and that women themselves are often the best narrators of these journeys.

Dia Mirza recalled a pivotal moment in her thirties when she decided to step into film production. The industry, she said, was quick to remind her of its biases. “When I decided to become a producer, I was told I wouldn’t get acting roles anymore—and for a while, I didn’t,” she shared. The message was clear: women who expand their creative boundaries often face resistance, especially when age and gender stereotypes collide.

But Mirza refused to let the industry’s limitations define her. Over time, she proved she could wear both hats. With grace and grit. “I held my ground and made sure the industry knew I could do it all...acting and producing. There was no age barrier to either,” she said, drawing loud applause from the audience.

A Journey Built on Sacrifice and Conviction

Her path, however, was anything but easy. Mirza recounted how she had to mortgage her own home to produce her first film, which starred Vidya Balan in the lead. It was a bold gamble, but one that she was determined to pursue on her own terms. “I gave Vidya her full price and ensured we made the film ethically and creatively,” Mirza emphasised.

In an industry where women often face pay disparity and are asked to compromise on creative integrity, Mirza’s decision was both radical and reaffirming. It wasn’t just about making a film; it was about making a statement that women can lead, invest, and tell stories that matter without cutting corners.

Storytelling as Power

For Shaili Chopra, founder of SheThePeople and the force behind Fabulous Over Forty, this moment embodied the very essence of the festival: women reclaiming their voices and telling their own stories with authenticity and courage.

Mirza agreed. “When women tell stories, they do it with nuance, depth, and empathy. That’s what makes these narratives so powerful,” she said.

Their conversation highlighted a truth often overlooked: that women are not just participants in culture and media, but powerful architects of it.

The Broader Message of Fabulous Over Forty

The exchange between Mirza and Chopra tied into the larger themes of the festival: identity, reinvention, and the refusal to be rendered invisible. Just as women across industries struggle against the stereotypes of age and gender, Mirza’s experience in cinema mirrors the broader cultural landscape.

Panels at the festival circle from Identity & Image to Work, Worth & Wellbeing and echoed the same message: midlife is not a moment of decline but of assertion, growth, and self-belief. Mirza’s story stood as proof that women are rewriting the rules not just for themselves but for generations to come.

The Call for Self-Care and Visibility

Beyond her professional journey, Dia Mirza also touched upon the deeply personal. She spoke of how women often put themselves last, burying their own needs beneath layers of responsibility. Her words resonated in a room full of women who had gathered to claim exactly that—visibility, voice, and validation.

Reimagining What’s Possible

As their conversation closed, what lingered in the air was not just admiration for Mirza’s courage but a collective recognition of the power of storytelling. When women narrate their own lives, they shift the lens, from invisibility to presence, from stereotype to substance, from silence to solidarity.

At Fabulous Over Forty, Dia Mirza’s journey served as both inspiration and blueprint: hold your ground, embrace risk, and tell your story—because no one can tell it better than you.