Dia Mirza is an Indian model, actress, producer, social worker, and beauty queen who won the Miss Asia Pacific 2000 title. She might be better known for her social work than her acting and Bollywood career. Let’s learn more about her life, career, and earnings.
Early Life
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On 9th December 1981, in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India, Frank and Deepa Handrich welcomed their daughter Dia Handrich into this world. Her father was a German graphics and industrial fair designer, architect, artist and interior designer, who lived in Munich. Her mother was a Bengali interior designer, and a landscaper who volunteered to help alcoholics and drug addicts. Her parents separated when she was just four years old. When her mother married a Dakhini Muslim man from Hyderabad, Ahmed Mirza, she adopted her step-father’s surname and was no longer Handrich. In 2003, her step-father died. Mirza attended Vidyaranya High School, but later on was enrolled in a girl’s day school in Khairtabad, Nasr School. She graduated from Ambedkar Open University, Hyderabad with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Career
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During her college years, Mirza was working as a marketing executive for a media firm, Neeraj’s Multi-media Studio. Meanwhile, she was also modeling for print and TV commercials for brands like Lipton, Wall’s ice cream, Emami, and others. Her modeling career took a step forward in 2000, when she was the second runner-up in Femina Miss India and following that, the won the title of Miss Asia Pacific in Phillippines, which made her the first Indian to accomplish that in 29 years. Because of her busy modeling assignments, traveling and training, she wasn’t able to complete her graduation at that time. Mirza’s acting debut was in 2001 with the Indian Hindi-language romantic drama film Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein. After that, she made appearances in films including Dum, Deewanapan, Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge, Tumsa Nahin Dekha – A Love Story, Parineeta, Dus, Lage Raho Munnabhai, and Salam Mumbai. In 2018, she appeared in one of the highest-grossing Indian films, the biographical film Sanju.
In 2016, Dia Mirza made her debut television appearance in the show called Ganga – The Soul Of India.
Along with her now ex-husband, Mirza has started a production company under the name of Born Free Entertainment. They have produced films like Love Breakups Zindagi and Bobby Jasoos.
As a social activist, her work towards charities and the environment has been greatly appreciated by the media and other organizations. In 2012, she was honored with the Green Award for her contribution towards a green environment. Mirza was made the Environment Goodwill Ambassador for India by the UN.
Private Life
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In 2014, Dia Mirza married her longtime business partner Sahil Sangha. The marriage lasted for five years, and in 2019 the couple separated.
Net Worth
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Dia Mirza’s net worth is estimated at up to $2 million. It initially started expanding when she won beauty pageants. Another source of her earnings are Bollywood films in which she appeared. Endorsement deals are also part of her earnings. It is believed that her net worth will grow with the years to come.
