When Dia Mirza Called Out Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein for 'Sexism,' 'Stalking': 'People Were Thinking...'

R Madhavan and Dia Mirza’s Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein is set to re-release this weekend. The film, which also stars Saif Ali Khan in a pivotal role, was released 2001 and was loved by many. However, over the years, the film has left cinepiles divided. While many continue to love the film, a section of film lovers have also confessed the film ‘glorifies’ stalking. Coincidentally, Dia had also called out the film for its sexism and did not appreciate the stalking aspect of the film.

In two different interviews, Dia Mirza shared her candid thoughts about RHTDM. Speaking with Brut India in 2021, Dia said, “People were writing, thinking and making sexist cinema and I was a part of these stories… Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein has sexism in it… I was acting with these people. I was working with these people. It’s crazy. I will give you small examples. A makeup artist could only be a man, could not be a woman. A hairdresser only had to be a woman… When I started working in films there were at best about four or five women on any given crew with a unit strength of over 120… sometimes 180 people.”

In an interview with Outlook in 2023, Dia confessed she would not do Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein in today’s day and age if the script did not rectify a few issues. “If I was offered that film, I would question certain aspects of the film and hope that the writers would change it. I internalised some aspects of that film and realised that had to do with the right propagation of love. I am strongly against stalking. I think it is a terrible thing to do,” she said.

Addressing the discussion around the glorification of stalking in the film, Dia said, “Not only does Maddy’s character stalk Reena, but he also lies to her. Of course, she breaks off the relationship with him once she discovers the truth, only to then realise that he is remorseful and genuinely loves and cares for her. But there is no justification in this world for stalking, lying is bad, and stalking is worse.”

She added, “I guess as a society, we don’t perceive stalking as a bad thing. I feel our films are responsible for spreading that sense of falsehood as the right thing.”