Mom-to-be Divyanka Tripathi Dahiya's TV journey: From the city of Bhopal to the land of dreams

If there’s one actor on Indian television who embodies grace, beauty, and poise, it is Divyanka Tripathi. In an acting career spanning nearly two decades, the actor has played the girl next door and has also seamlessly transitioned into OTT to add diversity to her filmography.

But her most challenging role awaits off-screen: that of a mother. The actor, who recently launched her YouTube channel with husband Vivek Dahiya, spoke about her personal journey toward pregnancy. Moving on, we will see more of the couple’s journey through parenthood via their social media handles.

As the 40-year-old gears up to embrace motherhood, let us take a look at her acting career so far, which has earned her a place in audiences' minds.

Much before becoming Indian television’s most loved actor, Divyanka was a young girl from Bhopal harboring dreams of making it big in her doll-like eyes. Before entering television, Divyanka was an anchor at All India Radio. She initially participated in many beauty pageants, which eventually led her to ‘India’s Best Cinestars Ki Khoj’. But despite coming to the limelight, Divyanka had to go through her own fair share of struggles before getting her big break.

In an interaction with Hindustan Times, the actor revealed that way before the #MToo movement came to light, people in the industry tried to take advantage of her. She also added that newcomers are ‘lured’ into believing that all newbies have the same experience.

Her first break in television came with a telefilm on Doordarshan, which gradually led to her first major role as Divya in ‘Banoo Main Teri Dulhan’ on ZeeTV.

With her million-dollar smile, Divyanka wooed the audience's heart when she essayed the double roles of Divya and Vidya in ‘Banoo Main Teri Dulhan’. After that, she participated in reality shows, which further personified her pre-existing fame. Her second most notable role, which made her a household name, was playing Dr. Ishita Iyer in the family drama ‘Yeh Hai Mohabbatein’.

It would be wrong to say that she was typecast as the ‘Adarsh Babu’, she also played Rashmi Sharma in ‘Mr. and Mrs Sharma Allahbadwale’. She starred opposite Rajesh Kumar; their onscreen portrayal of a couple from Allahabad building a life in Mumbai struck a chord with the audience. With her quirky one-liners, comebacks, and witty monologues, Divyanka made the audience laugh out loud.

Divyanka’s first reality show came after her serial ‘Banoo Main Teri Dulhan’. After that, she starred in a number of reality shows that slowly added to her fame. In 2017, she starred in 'Nach Baliye 8' opposite husband Vivek Dahiya and emerged as the winner. Moving on, she emerged as the runner-up of ‘Fear Factor Khatron ke Khiladi, Darr vs Dare’, hosted by Rohit Shetty.

One of the most talked-about points about Divyanka Tripathi is her relationship with her husband, Vivek Dahiya. The duo initially met while filming for the serial ‘Yeh Hain Mohabbatein’. After that, fireworks flew, and the duo tied the knot in 2016 in an intimate ceremony.

Speaking to Pinkvilla about her marriage, Divyanka said that she falls in love with Vivek almost every day. “He has a lot of amazing qualities. We were introduced through a common friend, and we got married within a short span of time. He has always supported me in my career, he understands my work schedules, and he is a very open-minded person. He is a family guy, and that’s one point that holds us together.’’

Divyanka and Vivek are often seen showering love with one another via their Instagram posts and their PDA. But despite declaring their love out and out publicly, they have also resorted to tiny acts of kindness time and again, which stands as testimony to the healthy nature of their relationship.

During an interview with Galatta India, Divyanka explained that she had been body shamed, which had affected her mental health severely. It was then that she found support in her husband Vivek, who would attend to her with care and empathy, and helped her redefine her philosophy around fitness.

“I was repeatedly subjected to body shaming, and I used to feel really bad about it. It was during that time when I used to call up Vivek and cry out loud. People used to tell me, ‘aap toh waise hi ho’ (you are just the same). Today, I can tell them, ‘I am building muscle mass instead of losing weight,’" the actor said.

After a ten-year-long journey in their marriage, the couple is all set to embrace the role of parents. Speaking on parenthood, the power couple expressed that it should be an individual choice and not influenced by external pressure. They also urged their fans and people not to follow their footsteps, as everybody’s body clock and situation is different.

“We always felt that we were not ready, and a baby should only happen when both partners are truly ready. It should not be because of pressure from society or family. Of course, everyone’s situation is different, and everyone’s body clock is different too. So we are not saying that others should wait the same way we did”, the couple revealed in an interview with us.