Dia Mirza sheds light on the disappearing visibility of older women in films and questions long-standing casting norms: "Why do women disappear from screens as they age?"

Dia Mirza has once again used her voice to draw attention to gender inequality in the film industry, pointing out how women often fade from the screen as they grow older. Known for choosing a female priest for her wedding and for speaking regularly on environmental issues, the actor questioned why an industry that praises men as they age still struggles to accept older women as romantic leads.

 

Dia Mirza sheds light on the disappearing visibility of older women in films and questions long-standing casting norms: "Why do women disappear from screens as they age?"

 

At a recent event curated by journalist Barkha Dutt, the Sanju actor reflected on how little casting patterns had changed over the years. Dia Mirza noted that women continue to be paired with male co-stars who were much older than them. “I found it interesting that I was cast opposite actors in their late 50s, 60s, and even 70s, and we were meant to be seen as romantic equals on screen,” she said.

 

She then reversed the scenario to highlight the double standard, pointing out that it was almost impossible to imagine a 60- or 70-year-old woman cast opposite a man in his 40s as a romantic lead, even though the reverse was widely accepted. Her message was clear: the expectations around ageing on screen remained very different for men and women.

 

Dia also spoke about how women were often denied the space to age visibly and meaningfully in films. She explained that the industry struggled to see older women as desirable, relevant, or central to a story, which is why on-screen pairings with older women and younger men were rarely explored. Her concern, she noted, was not about men ageing but about how women were quietly pushed aside. “It was about women being denied the right to age with visibility, dignity, and complexity on screen,” she said.

 

Later, sharing a post about the event, she wrote, “The power years, truly. Women over 40 know their hearts and minds. I don’t believe anyone gets to decide when a woman reaches her peak, when she becomes irrelevant, or when her story ends. We decide that for ourselves. Always.”

 

On the work front, Dia was last seen in Nadaaniyan, released in March 2025, where she played a supporting role alongside debut actors Ibrahim Ali Khan and Khushi Kapoor.

 

Also Read: Dia Mirza welcomes December with ‘hope, positivity and love’: “Do what you love. Love what you do”

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