This actress was only 4 years old when her parents divorced, and at the age of 9, her father passed away. Yet, she still uses a Muslim surname. Let’s uncover the truth.

This actress gained fame for her beauty and made a name for herself worldwide before entering Bollywood. Her debut film was fairly successful, but it was the songs from the film that became huge hits and are considered cult classics today. This actress made her Bollywood debut in 2001 and celebrates her birthday on December 9. Born in Hyderabad, Dia’s father, Frank Handrich a German graphic designer and architect while her mother is a Bengali who worked as an interior designer. Today we are talking about actress Dial Mirza. For the unknown Dia’s father was Christian, and her mother was Hindu. In an interview, Dia explained why she uses the Muslim surname “Mirza.” Read on to find more details.
Why did Dia change her surname to ‘Mirza’?
When Dia was just 4 years old her parents got divorced. At the age of 9, her father passed away. During an interview with Bollywood Hungama, Dia explained why she changed her surname from Handrich to Mirza. She shared that her stepfather Ahmed Mirza had treated her very well. “We shared a beautiful relationship that started with friendship. As I grew older, I realised that I had spent so many years of my life with him. He became like a father to me. That’s why, when I participated in Miss India, I adopted his surname (sic),” she said.
When Dia Mirza lost her father
Dia also revealed that she was 23 years old when her stepfather Ahmed Mirza passed away. His death was a huge shock to her, as he had treated her like a father. She mentioned, “I lost two fathers in one lifetime. It was a very tough time.” In 2000, Dia won the Miss Asia Pacific International title, the same year that Priyanka Chopra was crowned Miss World.

Dia Mirza’s biological father (left), stepfather Ahmed Mirza (right)
Personal life
In February 2021, Dia married Vaibhav Rekhi, and they have a son named Avyaan. This was Dia’s second marriage. Previously, she was married to businessman Sahil Sangha, but they announced their separation in 2019.
Also Read: