Dia Mirza exposes age bias in Bollywood and explains how only men get old enough for romance
Dia Mirza addressed ageism in the Indian film industry. They discussed their latest projects, and highlighted the need for a more inclusive industry, where men and women are given equal opportunities without age bias.
Dia Mirza talks about the age difference between male and female actors in Indian cinema. While preparing for her return to the romantic genre, Mirza, who is an actor, producer and UN Goodwill Ambassador, reflected on the persistent biases in the industry, even as she continues to balance her work as a filmmaker and environmental advocate. Her comments come at a time when conversations around gender equality and representation in film are gaining momentum, but age-related disparities remain a major concern.
Speaking at the We The Women event recently, Dia Mirza shared her experiences on working with older male actors in romantic roles. At the age of 40, she described feeling “more focused, faster and doing some great work” in her career, highlighting both her personal growth and the lack of change in industry casting practices.
Mirza raised questions on the standard romantic couples seen on screen. “I find it interesting that I get cast opposite actors in their 50s, 60s and even 70s – and we get to be seen as romantic counterparts on screen,” she said, drawing attention to the absence of equal opportunities for younger men as well as older female actors.
He added, “Yet you never see a 60 or 70-year-old woman playing a contemporary romantic role opposite a 40-year-old man.” Mirza’s comments highlight how ageism in casting is limiting the roles available to women, even as progress has been made in other areas of representation.
Mirza said, “That pairing just doesn’t exist for women. Not because it lacks credibility – but because our industry still struggles to treat women as desirable, relevant and central beyond a certain age.” She pointed out that it is not just a matter of male actors aging, but also female actors being denied visibility and complexity in mature roles.
According to Mirza, “It’s not about men aging, it’s about women being denied the right to age with visibility, dignity and complexity on screen.” His comments were made after he completed shooting for an upcoming untitled romantic drama with director Kanwal Sethi, marking his return to a genre where audiences have long been associated with his performances.
Along with his acting, Mirza has also worked as a producer for over a decade. His Marathi short film Panha, produced under his banner One India, is set to be screened at the All Living Things Environmental Film Festival (ALTEFF) this year. This project reflects his commitment to stories with social relevance and environmental consciousness.
