Mumbai, April 16, 2025: Actress Dia Mirza opened up about the emotional toll of shooting a rape scene for her critically acclaimed series Kaafir, which has now been adapted into a feature film. In a recent interview, the actor revealed that the harrowing sequence left her physically shaken and vomiting after the shoot.
The 2019 series, which also stars Mohit Raina, follows the story of Kainaaz Akhtar, a Pakistani woman who accidentally crosses the Line of Control (LoC) and is wrongfully imprisoned in India. Dia’s powerful portrayal of Kainaaz, a mother raising her daughter behind bars, was widely praised.
During an interview, Dia recounted the intensity of filming one of the most emotionally demanding scenes in the series — a rape sequence involving her character.
“I remember when we shot the rape scene, it was so hard. I was physically shaking after we got done with filming that scene. I remember throwing up. I vomited after we finished rolling that entire sequence,” she said. “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 in its full extent.
Now 43, Dia reflected on the importance of empathy and authenticity in acting, noting that immersing herself in Kainaaz’s trauma deeply affected her both as a performer and as a person.
“The first and most important thing one needs to feel as an artist is empathy toward the character you’re playing. That’s the only way to be absolutely true to the story,” she explained. “Playing Kainaaz actually made me a mother much before I became a biological mother — because of the kind of intensity, ferocity, and protectiveness I felt for her while working on the show.”
Kaafir, based on a true story, has resonated deeply with audiences for its portrayal of human rights, identity, and motherhood amidst political conflict. Its cinematic adaptation is expected to bring renewed attention to the powerful narrative and performances at its core.
