Dia Mirza Opens Up About Stripping for Tumsa Nahin Dekha Song: ‘I Could Be Completely Unaffected by the Male Gaze’

Mumbai: Actress Dia Mirza has opened up about one of the most personal experiences of her early Bollywood career, recalling how working on the 2004 film Tumsa Nahin Dekha taught her to feel confident and comfortable in her own body while filming a revealing song sequence.

In an interview with Zoom for its Spotlight Sessions, Dia reflected on her experience of working with director Anurag Basu, actor Emraan Hashmi and producers Mahesh Bhatt and Mukesh Bhatt.

The actress said the experience went beyond simply filming a glamorous sequence and helped her understand how she could remain confident without feeling defined or objectified by the male gaze.

Dia Mirza Recalls Filming Revealing Song

Dia recalled a song choreographed by Vaibhavi Merchant, which required her to shed several layers of clothing during the sequence.

She said that her primary concern before filming was feeling comfortable and secure while shooting the sequence, particularly because the set included a large crowd and crew that were predominantly men.

According to Dia, she communicated her concerns to the producers and wanted to ensure that the shoot was handled in a way that allowed her to feel at ease.

The actress said the experience ultimately helped her discover a greater sense of confidence in her body and femininity.

‘I Could Be Completely Unaffected by the Male Gaze’

Reflecting on the shoot, Dia said she learned that she could embrace her appearance and femininity without allowing the presence or perception of men to define how she felt about herself.

She described the experience as deeply empowering and said it helped her understand that being physically exposed on camera did not necessarily have to translate into feeling objectified.

Dia credited the people involved in the production for creating an environment in which she could approach the sequence with confidence.

Dia Credits Vaibhavi Merchant and Tumsa Nahin Dekha Team

Dia specifically recalled the contribution of choreographer Vaibhavi Merchant, saying that the way the song was conceptualised and filmed played an important role in shaping her experience.

She also credited Mahesh Bhatt, Anurag Basu, Emraan Hashmi and the wider team for helping her feel comfortable during the process.

For Dia, the experience demonstrated how the people behind a project can significantly influence an actor’s comfort and perception while filming sensitive or physically demanding scenes.

Tumsa Nahin Dekha Was Initially Directed by Anurag Basu

Tumsa Nahin Dekha was released in 2004 and featured Dia Mirza opposite Emraan Hashmi.

Dia recalled that the film was initially being directed by Anurag Basu and was later completed by Mohit Suri, with Mahesh Bhatt and Mukesh Bhatt serving as producers.

Looking back, the actress said she enjoyed working on the film and learned considerably from the experience.

Dia Mirza’s Bollywood Journey

Dia Mirza made her acting debut with Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein in 2001 and subsequently appeared in several Hindi films.

Over the years, she has worked across films, streaming projects and socially relevant stories, while also becoming known for her environmental and social advocacy.

Her recent screen appearance was in Operation Safed Sagar, where she portrayed Kamalpreet Kaur Dhanoa. The series is currently streaming on Netflix.

Dia’s latest recollection of Tumsa Nahin Dekha offers a glimpse into how an experience from the early phase of her career shaped her understanding of confidence, body image and representation on screen.

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