Nishad Neelambaran (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 30, 2019)

After a break of almost two years, actor, director and producer, Divya Khosla Kumar made a comeback in the music video of Yaad Piya Ki Aane Lagi. The song, which is a recreation of Falguni Pathak’s ’90s hit, Chudi, has garnered more than 64 million views on YouTube. Divya, who featured in the video, says that it was truly amazing to be part of the recreation of this iconic song. “It is coincidental that it was directors Radhika (Rao) and Vinay (Sapru), who got me into the industry. They had selected me from an audition with over 1,000 girls in a Falguni Pathak video in Delhi. And now that I am beginning with acting again, I am working with them in another Falguni Pathak song,” she says.

Divya, who has directed movies such as Yaariyan (2014) and Sanam Re (2016), says that she is in a completely different frame of mind while acting. She says, “Though I have donned multiple hats, my frame of mind while acting is completely different from my frame of mind while I am directing. As an actor, you have to trust your director and their vision. It is the director who is the captain of the ship and I don’t believe in interfering in that.”

So, was it a conscious decision to stay away from acting for the last two years? Divya says, “It wasn’t a conscious decision. I am a workaholic and I love working in this industry. I am very passionate towards this field. I was getting a lot of offers to direct, but I always felt that I should focus on acting. I was waiting for the right opportunity to come my way. Nikhil Advani, Monisha Advani and Milap Zaveri saw Bulbul (short film that she directed) and they offered me Satyameva Jayate 2. I am very excited to be on board for that project and I hope it won’t be so long a wait further on. And whatever I get, if it’s good, I will take it. I am concentrating on acting now.”

About how things have changed due to digitisation, she says, “I think people only watch songs or movies on digital platforms. Digitisation has changed the rules and it is also good because if anyone wants to show their talent to the world, they can just upload it on these platforms and you never know, it might just get viral. It has made things much easier and it has brought the world closer.”

Divya, who will next be seen opposite John Abraham in Satyameva Jayate 2, says, “I am super excited to be working with him. He completely amazed me with his performance in Batla House.”