Dia Mirza fined for duty evasion

Post the New Year celebrations, everyone is getting back to the yearly grind. And things are no different for our Bollywood celebs either, as they too are returning from their holidays in the overseas. Dia Mirza who too was returning from Bangkok however, landed in trouble at the Mumbai International airport.

Dia was fined over Rs. 1 lakh for carrying undeclared items worth Rs. 2 lakh, upon her arrival at the Mumbai International airport last night. Mirza was returning from Bangkok by a Thai Airways flight. Apparently, the actress was passing through the green channel (used by passengers not having any dutiable goods to declare) when she was stopped and asked to show her baggage.

During the baggage check, the actor was found carrying undeclared items like branded purses and cosmetics worth Rs. 2 lakh, which amounted to duty evasion. Mirza was asked to pay a fine of over Rs. 1 lakh, and was released post the payment was received.

While on the other hand, Dia defends herself claiming that she was not aware of Customs rules about dutiable goods and did not intend to evade duty.

Dia Mirza fined by Customs for duty evasion

Bollywood actress Dia Mirza was today fined over Rs 1 lakh for carrying undeclared items worth Rs 2 lakh upon her arrival at the international airport here, a senior Customs official said.

The actor landed at the airport at around 2 am from Bangkok by a Thai Airways flight. "She was passing through the green channel (used by passengers not having any dutiable goods to declare) when she was stopped and asked to show her baggage," he said.

During checking, the actor was found carrying undeclared items like branded purses and cosmetics worth Rs 2 lakh. This amounted to duty evasion, the official added. Mirza was asked to pay a fine of over Rs 1 lakh. She was allowed to go after she paid the amount, he said.

The 30-year-old model-turned-actress claimed she was not aware of Customs rules about dutiable goods and did not intend to evade duty, the official added.

Not done a movie that proves me as an actress: Dia

She has been in Bollywood for almost a decade and has done over 30 films but Dia Mirza says she is yet to do a movie that proves her as an actress. The 29-year-old, who started her career with 'Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein' opposite Madhavan, says she hasn't had success as an actress but doesn't regret the choices she made.

"I have hardly been part of the cinema that could get me my due in Bollywood. I haven't done any film that proves me as an actress. Although, I am happy to have been part of all the films I have done because they have taught me a lot. "Luck plays an important role. I have worked with some filmmakers who are very honest and had good stories to tell but unfortunately they didn't click at the box office," Dia said.

The actress who later starred in 'Dus', 'Cash' and 'Dum', says there was a time when it got frustrating sitting at home and not getting any calls for new projects. "It gets frustrating when your film flops and you are not getting any calls for work and just sitting at home. I have been through that phase and it breaks your heart. There comes a point where you don't know what to do next and that's the reason I always kept my options open and wanted to learn everything," she added.

Producing films a conscious decision: Dia

Actress-turned-producer Dia Mirza, who is enthusiastic about her maiden production venture, has said it was a "conscious" decision to make a romantic film as a producer due to logistics involved. Dia joined hands with actor Zayed Khan and Sahil Sangha to form 'Born Free Entertainment Pvt Ltd'. The first film of the company--'Love, Breakups, Zindagi' stars Dia and Zayed in lead roles.

  

"There are several reasons that determine to make a movie. When you tell the story of heart it becomes a simpler story to tell because it is a film about performances about nuances...it is simpler to handle logistically. When you get into a big scale film, like if you do an action film the logistics are compelling and lot of things happen around it," Dia told PTI in an interview.

  

"I don't know if we would have been able to ride as smoothly as on the film as we did for 'Love, Breakups Zindagi'. It was a conscious decision to go with a film as logistically more doable as a first time producer. And it is always safer to go with something that is from heart," she said. 'Love Breakups Zindagi', a romantic movie, is directed by Sahil, who is Dia's beau and business partner.

  

When asked whether donning the double mantle of actor and producer in the flick was tough, Dia said, "having the advantage of being with the film for a long time I feel playing the actor's role was not difficult. The lines were edged in my minds...not only mine but of everybody. I had the whole script by heart."