Poetic Justice

An Actor, Producer, Activist, Writer And Influencer, She Refuses To Be Contained In A Box. We Spoke To Dia Mirza In Her Warm, Books-Filled Home About Her Multi-Faceted Life. 

- Nandini Banerjee

I am too free-spirited to be contained. I just need to flow,” says Dia Mirza, as we sit down to talk about her life and work at her Pali Hill home in Mumbai. It’s a balmy evening and the last rays of the sun illuminate Dia’s face, free of makeup. We sit surrounded by her innumerable books and plants, and it’s easy to see how her words reflect in her work and home. Behind that beautiful face lies a closet writer and poet, a vocal social activist and an actor who has essayed unconventional roles. Her apartment, brimming with subtle colours, natural light, bird feeders and books, is a haven that contains everything Dia holds close to her heart.

THE WRITER’S ROOM

It is also a space, which she shares with her husband, producer Sahil Sangha, and is one where she has lived for 16 years, ever since she bought it at the young age of 19. The space went through a renovation after her wedding a few years ago, to highlight the couple’s journey and interests. For the bibliophile, the home also presented the opportunity to showcase her love for books. “I have more books at Hyderabad. Since, I don’t limit to a single genre, you will find all kinds of books here. Of course, Sahil too has added to the collection. I feel a home shouldn’t look too perfect, like a hotel. It needs to be lived in and have a happy clutter. I am a forest girl and wanted to live amongst nature. Hence, you see plants all around the apartment. Every room has a window garden, even the kitchen! I wanted my home to have a London vibe, with lots of art and mood lighting—basically an eclectic space where my and Sahil’s interests merge,” says Dia.