Dia Mirza recently opened up about a harrowing experience she had while filming ‘Kaafir’, a 2019 web series that has now been re-released as a film. Starring alongside Mohit Raina, Dia played the emotionally intense role of Kainaaz Akhtar — a Pakistani woman who mistakenly crosses the Line of Control and finds herself imprisoned in India.
In a candid interview with News18, the actor reflected on the emotional toll of filming one of the most distressing scenes in the project — a rape sequence.
Dia Mirza recalls filming rape scene in Kaafir
“I remember when we shot the rape scene, it was so hard. I was shaking physically after we got done with filming that scene. I remember throwing up. I vomited after we finished rolling that entire sequence. That’s how emotionally and physically demanding those situations were. When you take your entire body into the truth of that moment, you feel it. You feel it in its full extent,” Dia shared.
The 43-year-old actor explained that the only way to truly connect with a character is through empathy. This, she said, is what helped her fully commit to the story and portray her character with honesty and emotional depth.
“I think the first and most important thing one needs to feel as an artist is empathy towards the character that you’re playing and embodying. So that when you play, you’re absolutely true to the story and to everything within it. Playing Kainaaz actually made me a mother much before I became a biological mother. It was because of the kind of intensity and ferocity and love and protectiveness I felt for her while working on the show,” she said.
About Kaafir
‘Kaafir’ is inspired by the real-life story of Shehnaaz Parveen, a Pakistani woman who spent eight years in Indian custody after unknowingly crossing the LOC. The film follows the emotional journey of Kainaaz and her daughter, who was born behind bars, as a journalist (played by Mohit Raina) fights for their justice and dignity.
