Dia Mirza’s ‘Panha’ Screening Leaves Audience Emotional, Actress Attends with Shabana Azmi

Mumbai

Dia Mirza-backed and produced Marathi short film Panha is currently being showcased on screen, telling a poignant story about a family of mango farmers living in Maharashtra’s orchards.

On Friday, the actress shared a series of photographs from the film’s screening on Instagram. The images featured members of the film’s team along with several special guests. Veteran actress Shabana Azmi, a close friend of Dia Mirza, was also present at the event.

Sharing the pictures, Dia wrote, “Last week, Panha was screened at GFA, where we experienced a beautiful evening filled with cinema, meaningful conversations, and genuine connections. This film is incredibly close to my heart. It has been produced by One India Stories, an initiative I started with my childhood friend Ananya Rane.”

Talking about the inspiration behind the film, Dia said, “The project began with our belief that stories help people understand the world better and inspire empathy, awareness, and positive change. Set against the backdrop of development and displacement, Panha explores the impact of the bullet train project on farming communities through the eyes of a child. It is a story about home, belonging, memories, and the voices that are often lost between progress and loss.”

She further expressed her gratitude, saying, “Seeing audiences connect with and appreciate Panha, followed by meaningful discussions after the screening, made the evening even more special. Sakshi, we are so proud of you. I am sharing a few glimpses from this wonderful evening and would like to thank everyone who helped make it possible. A heartfelt thanks to our partners who believed in this project and supported us throughout the journey. To everyone who stood by Panha from its inception to the screening—your encouragement and support made this moment possible.”

The screening reportedly received an emotional response from viewers, with many appreciating the film’s sensitive portrayal of displacement, community, and the human cost of development.