New Delhi: Actor Divya Dutta’s phone has been buzzing non-stop since the release of Bandish Bandits season two. Her portrayal of Nandini, a music teacher, has struck a deep chord with audiences.
The character’s emotional arc—focused on her unrequited love for and cherished memories of her lost partner Imroz Dehlvi (played by Arjun Rampal in a cameo)—has left an indelible mark.
Dutta said her biggest challenge so far has been steering clear of repetitive roles.
“After Veer Zaara, I was flooded with offers to play roles similar to Shabbo. But I refused and waited for a year and a half before Delhi-6 came along. After Delhi-6 became a success, I was offered roles as the ‘sister’ [like in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag],” she told ThePrint.
Dutta even turned down offers from “some of the biggest directors and production houses” to avoid being pigeonholed. “It’s not easy—you have to learn to say no and stand up for yourself,” she said, admitting to having played “musical chairs” with her roles.
“Now, people recognise that I refuse to be typecast. I want to surprise myself and my audience with every project.”
Divya Dutta didn’t land her Bandish Bandits role through an audition. It was sheer “luck by chance”. She had merely called series director Anand Tiwari to congratulate him on season one, casually inquiring if and when he planned to roll out season two. “He asked me whether I would be interested in being part of it. I said yes immediately. Within 24 hours, he came back with the beautiful role of Nandini, bringing in his own colours and depth to the character, and it turned out to be magical.”
Bandish Bandits follows the loves and lives of two musicians, Tamanna and Radhe, played by Shreya Chaudhary and Ritwik Bhowmik. One is from a modern contemporary music background, while the other belongs to a Hindustani classical gharana.
‘A smooth ride isn’t fun’
The veteran actor knows the art of seamlessly switching between two contrasting roles. While shooting for the second season of Bandish Bandits, Divya Dutta was simultaneously filming her upcoming period drama, Chhaava.
“It was fascinating to transition between two completely different roles, settings, and character histories. Both sets were magical and had a mesmerising quality that transported me to another world,” she said.
Chhaava is being directed by Laxman Utekar and is based on Maratha king Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj’s life. The historical action film features Vicky Kaushal in the lead role and has been adapted from Shivaji Sawant’s acclaimed Marathi novel, Chhava. It also stars actor Rashmika Mandanna.
Dutta considers herself truly fortunate to portray such diverse characters and is grateful for the challenges they bring in.
“A smooth ride isn’t that fun. It has to push me out of my comfort zone as an actor. There are days when I have given shots for three entirely different projects in one day.”
On Chhaava & Vicky Kaushal
Divya Dutta celebrated 30 years in the industry earlier this year.
She made her debut in 1994 with Ishq Me Jeena Ishq Me Marna. Her first big break came with Train to Pakistan (1998). Directed by Pamela Rooks, the film was based on Khushwant Singh’s book of the same name. Over the years, Dutta has been part of big projects such as Veer Zara (2004), Delhi-6 (2009), Stanley Ka Dabba (2011), Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013), and Sheer Qorma (2021).
Though little to nothing is known about Dutta’s character in Chhaava, the actor promises it will be worth the wait.
“There are certain scenes in the film that are like chicken soup for the soul. You truly feel appreciated as an actor,” she said, describing the project as deeply rewarding.
Dutta, who will be sharing screen space with Vicky Kaushal for the first time, was impressed with the actor’s relentless dedication.
“He’s extremely hard-working and brings that X-factor to his characters.”
Kaushal often insisted on staying back to give cues for scenes, she added. “I’d tell him it wasn’t necessary, but he wouldn’t budge. That dedication comes from his parents.”
Dutta even admires Vicky Kaushal as a person. Their Punjabi roots played a key role in fostering their bond on set.
“We’re both Punjabis, so naturally there were lots of gappe (chats) that brought us even closer.”
(Edited by Zoya Bhatti)