Dia Mirza opens up about beauty pressures in Bollywood, says men told her to ‘inject your lips’ Actor Dia Mirza has candidly spoken about the beauty standards she encountered during her journey in the film industry, revealing that she was repeatedly advised to alter her appearance. The ‘Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein’ star shared that suggestions to undergo cosmetic enhancements never came from women, but consistently from men.Speaking to She The People, Dia reflected on the unrealistic expectations placed on actresses and admitted that such remarks often left her questioning her own appearance despite her accomplishments.”I’ve never had a woman sit me down and say, ‘Go inject your lips, your lips are too thin,’ or ‘Enhance your bre@sts, they are too small.’ It is always a man who tells you to do that,” she said.
The actor questions today’s beauty culture
During the conversation, Dia expressed concern over society’s growing obsession with physical perfection. According to the actor, discussions around wellness have become increasingly centred on outward appearances while emotional and mental well-being continue to receive far less attention.”We live in a very material world, where everything we are told is external. There is so little focus being given to the internal geography that makes up our body and mind,” she said.The ‘Sanju’ actor explained that true wellness cannot be achieved by focusing only on physical fitness or cosmetic changes. She pointed out that practices such as exercising or doing yoga lose their deeper purpose if they are disconnected from inner peace and self-acceptance.
Dia Mirza raises concerns over cosmetic procedures
Dia also addressed the increasing popularity of cosmetic enhancements, describing the trend as worrying. She believes many women are persuaded to change their appearance because they are first made to feel inadequate in their natural form.”The drivers of that industry are men, and they drive it through fear,” she remarked.According to Dia, the cosmetic industry often capitalises on insecurities instead of encouraging self-confidence. She suggested that while aesthetic procedures may promise happiness and confidence, they do not necessarily address the emotional struggles that lead people to seek them in the first place.
Ageism remains a challenge
Apart from beauty standards, Dia also touched upon ageism in the entertainment industry. The actor noted that even well-intentioned compliments can reflect society’s discomfort with ageing.She explained that remarks such as, “You look the same,” may appear complimentary but also reinforce the expectation that women should constantly fight the natural ageing process. Through her reflections, the ‘Thappad’ actor called for greater acceptance of natural beauty and a stronger focus on inner well-being over external perfection.