Dia Mirza Rekhi: There have been times when my male co-actors have said ‘oh, ye to activist hai, andolan wali hai’
Dia Mirza Rekhi on Navigating Public Criticism and Patriarchal Expectations
Bharatmorningnews.com – Now celebrating her twenty-fifth year in the entertainment business, Dia Mirza Rekhi continues to thrive professionally. Recent projects include appearances in the movies Alpha and Ikka, alongside her role in the television series Operation Safed Sagar. Beyond her performances, she remains a prominent voice on societal matters. This year alone, she faced scrutiny on two separate occasions—once for connecting climate change to patriarchal structures, and again when discussing her son’s perspective on environmental issues.
Understanding Intent Behind Criticism
When asked whether negative reactions to her statements discourage her, the actress shared her approach to evaluating feedback. She explained that she considers the motivation behind every comment she encounters.
When I hear somebody speak or I read a news item, I always ask myself what is the intention behind this? And if the intention is good, and it comes from a good place, it is to inform, educate, help and show care, then it’s not something that offends me or should offend anyone. But I think most people have stopped doing that. It’s so important to examine why, what is the intent of what is being said and then perhaps decide whether you want to be offended by it or not.
She further elaborated on her personal growth in handling opposition. Having always spoken from a place of compassion rather than resentment, she no longer feels uneasy when facing pushback. Instead, she approaches criticism with curiosity, questioning whether it stems from genuine concern or external sponsorship.
I know now that when I speak up and everything that I have stood for or have said, has come from a place of care, and it doesn’t come from a place of anger and hate. So, I don’t feel uncomfortable when some of the times where there has been an opposition or a backlash or criticism. I’m actually curious to understand if there is a criticism, why is it directed at me, where is this coming from and what is the origin of it? Is it sponsored or genuine? I’ve had instances where all kinds of things have been said about me, and all kinds of lies have been spread and a lot of it has been sponsored. So, it’s always important to understand where this is coming from and why.
Gender Dynamics in the Spotlight
Dia Mirza Rekhi noted that female voices often face harsher judgment than male counterparts when addressing identical topics. She observed that audiences tend to react more strongly to women’s opinions, even when men express similar views without drawing attention.
It’s interesting to see how people get offended when a woman speaks about something and it’s not always true when men speak up. But it’s also because perhaps in the entertainment industry, women are not often expected to or are allowed to be vocal. Its deep patriarchal conditioning, and the way people receive it, respond to it also kind of comes from that conditioning even within the industry.
Co-Actors’ Reactions and the Purpose of Art
She recalled numerous conversations with male colleagues who made remarks about her activist nature. These comments, she pointed out, were rarely intended as praise.
I’ve had so many interesting instances where my male co-actors have said things like ‘oh, ye to activist hai, andolan wali hai’. And it was not said as a compliment. It’s just something that a lot of people are learning that there are too few people who have used their voice in their position to speak up, and I hope more and more people do so. It is such a privilege to be an artiste and if our art is not used to bring change, then what is the point of our art or our artistry or the positions that we have been granted by society. We must make something of that love.
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