People never say it is a hero-oriented film: Divya Dutta

Often mistaken for a Bengali because of her surname, actress Divya Dutta’s connection with Kolkata is one she never fails to talk about. She says, “It feels good to be a Dutta in this city.” In town on Sunday for a wellness conclave named "The Common Thread – Together for Tomorrow’s Wellness" hosted by Annantaa, the National Award-winning actress opened up about three decades in the industry, the changing landscape of working in films and what keeps the artiste inside her excited. Excerpts:

‘It felt like Yash Chopra relaunched me in the most unassuming way’
Talking about her big break in the industry, Divya heartily acknowledged: “It was Yash Chopra’s Veer Zaara that proved to be a turning point for me. But, I have to admit that I was scared of being typecast as the lead’s best friend, like my role as Shabbo, Zara’s friend.’ My mom said, ‘Do this role, you’ll be remembered.’ And she was right. When I walked out of the premiere, people were coming up to me for pictures. I was relaunched in the most unassuming way.” She also recalled a time when she signed 20 films and later learnt that 18 never started, and that she was replaced in the other two. She said: “Rejection didn’t sit well with me, but my mom would always listen patiently – having someone who listens really helps.”

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‘Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra always let me find my character’s voice on set’

Pic: Anindya Saha

Even after three decades in the industry, Divya still approaches every role with the nerves, thrill, and hunger of a newcomer. For her, acting is pure instinct. “Acting can’t be learnt. Acting is a feeling,” she says. On the set of Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, that instinct led to a moment of quiet magic. “We were shooting a scene, and the director told me, ‘Find the end yourself.’ I was hugging Farhan and thinking, ‘Is this the clichéd way to end?’ Then I remembered an earlier scene where the father salutes young Milkha. I broke the hug and saluted. I didn’t know where it came from. The set fell into pin-drop silence. That was the character’s subconscious, not just mine.” Delhi-6 brought another turning point. “When Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra called me, I asked, ‘Is it a Punjabi role?’ He said no. I had a monologue and I was nervous – Waheeda ji, Om ji, Abhishek were all there. That day he told me, ‘Let Jalebi’ – my character – ‘take over the scene. Leave Divya out.’ I learnt a lot that day. It did magic.”

‘Being nervous for new project keeps me grounded’

Divya on the sets of Echoes of Valour

The actress said, “People say, ‘Ma’am, aap toh kar loge.’ But they don’t realise, I’m approaching a new role, a new unit, every single time. That nervousness is important.” In recent projects like Chhava, Bandish Bandits S2 and her upcoming Echoes of Valour, directed by Indira Dhar, she continues to break new ground. “In my upcoming film, I play Shukla Bandopadhyay, mother of Captain Anirban Bandopadhyay. She visited us on set and told us stories about her martyred son. It was so emotionally overwhelming I had to ask the director for breaks. But I’m honoured I got to play her. The first look was launched at Cannes, and I’m so proud of it.”

Quotes:
Rejection didn’t sit well with me, but my mom was my biggest believer

I came to Mumbai with many dreams and hopes, but the journey is not always glamour – you have to work hard. The industry doesn’t say no to your face, but you never know if you’ll get the opportunity or notPics: Anindya Saha



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