Reena Malhotra from Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein took our breath away in 2001. Dia Mirza made her Bollywood debut opposite R Madhavan for the romantic drama that gradually developed a cult following.

However, it was not the first time Dia Mirza appeared on the big screen.

As Rehna Hai Terre Dil Mein marked its 25th anniversary on October 19, 2026, Dia Mirza recalled how she landed her first three Hindi projects and how quickly she moved from preparing for her first film to juggling multiple productions.

Dia Mirza Appeared In A Tamil Movie Before RHTDM

Two years before Rehna Hai Terre Dil Mein was released, Dia Mirza worked in En Swasa Kaatre, a 1999 Tamil movie directed by KS Ravi. She appeared as an extra in the song Jumbalakka, choreographed by Raju Sundaram, alongside Mink Brar.

In a March interview with The Times of India, Mirza recalled the project and its practical purpose. “I played as what they call an extra in a song. It made me enough money to go and shoot my first professional portfolio,” she said.

Dia also revealed that she went with four or five friends and that the work paid well enough for them to pursue their plans.

Her appearance was uncredited, however.

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Dia Mirza Signed 3 Movies Before RHTDM 

In a recent interview with The Indian Express, Dia Mirza revealed that Om Jai Jagdish and not Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein was the first movie she signed.

Anupam Kher, the director of the movie and Anil Kapoor, the star lead, were in Hyderabad for a shoot when they spotted Dia in their hotel lobby. As Mirza recalls, she was celebrating her Miss India Asia Pacific win in 2000. 

The director and actor approached her with an offer, although Mirza was unsure whether she could begin acting immediately after the pageant. Kher helped persuade her parents to let her pursue the opportunity. 

Dia Mirza also recalled that, after she moved from Hyderabad to Mumbai, he gave her Rs 11,000 as a token amount, which she used to buy the first pieces of furniture for her new home.

She then explained that while preparing for Om Jai Jagdish, she used to attend workshops with theatre director Feroz Abbas Khan. It was during this period that producer Vashu Bhagnani offered her another film, Deewaanapan, directed by Ashu Trikha and starring Arjun Rampal.

Mirza said Deewaanapan was the first film she began shooting. Bhagnani approached her after a situation involving another actor prompted him to seek a replacement.

“My first day on set was with Arjun Rampal,” she recalled, as reported by The Indian Express.

After completing Deewaanapan, she returned to shoot for Om Jai Jagdish. Bhagnani then offered her Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein. 

When asked about how she felt about three consecutive projects, Mirza described the pace of events as overwhelming, particularly because she was unfamiliar with long shooting schedules. “I haven’t even finished one film, and am about to start a third one,” she recalled thinking at the time.

Dia Mirza On Why She Hasn’t Worked With R Madhavan 

Twenty-five years after RHTDM, Mirza expressed disappointment that she and Madhavan did not work together again. In the interview, she said, “I have no idea why. It’s actually quite tragic that nobody has cast us together yet because it doesn’t have to be Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein 2.”

She added that she would welcome another love story with Madhavan, whom she affectionately called Maddy. 

In the interview, Mirza also acknowledged the criticism that the film romanticises stalking through Maddy’s pursuit of Reena. But she also pointed out that the film was written in a different era and said the story would likely be written differently if made today.

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RHTDM remains the film with Maddy falling in love with Reena, ‘a ladki bilkul bijili ki tarah’. With Mirza open to another collaboration with Madhavan, would you like to see the pair reunite in a new love story?

FAQs

Q1. What was Dia Mirza’s first movie?

A1. Dia Mirza first appeared on screen in the 1999 Tamil film En Swasa Kaatre, in the song Jumbalakka.

Q2. Was Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein Dia Mirza’s debut film?

A2. Yes, RHTDM (2001) marked her Bollywood debut in a leading role.

Q3. Which movie did Dia Mirza sign first?

A3. She signed Om Jai Jagdish first, followed by Deewaanapan and Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein.