Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; January 14, 2020)

She isn’t one to shy away from stepping out of her comfort zone and take up roles that make her push the envelope. Divya Dutta, be it in Delhi-6 (2009), Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013), or Badlapur (2015), has always managed to leave an impact on the audience, even if she had a small role in the film.

Ask her, however, if initially she had plans to become a commercial, mainstream film actor, which people aspire to be, replete with drama and dance, and she quips, “Yes! I realised however, after Veer-Zaara (2004), that the significance of a role is not just about being glamorous. What you give to a role is what’s integral to the story. Now everything is so story and character-oriented. In fact, one of my directors told me ‘you know that big heroine? She wants to do your role’.”

She goes on to add that she has seen actors turn down roles because they were ‘small’. “Earlier, we used to say ‘chhota role nahi karenge’. I never said that, but I’ve seen girls say it. Now, they say ‘chhota hai, koi baat nahi, impactful hai na?’”

We also mention the debates that arise around casting, such as Bhumi Pednekar and Taapsee Pannu playing older characters on screen (instead of old actors being cast), and Bhumi being made to change her skin’s colour for her role in Bala (2019).

Divya herself had to colour her skin for Delhi-6. “You had Anupam Kher play an old man in Saraansh (1984), Nargis ji played Mother India (1957) at the peak of her career… it’s not about who is playing it, it’s how you play it. The film you mentioned, if something was questionable, it was makeup and VFX. I once lost a role because I was told I am fair. They were looking for a village woman with a darker skin tone. They told me ‘you suit the role completely’. I asked ‘then why am I not doing it?’ They replied ‘you are too fair for the role’. I felt a little cheated at not being able to do something because of skin colour. But I am an actor. I was darkened for Delhi 6. I used to go on set at 4 am, mera mazaak udta tha for the call time. I used to take so long to get ready. But here was a director (Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra), who interested me with a role. I saw Saand Ki Aankh, I thought the girls did a good job. Thodi der ke baad main bhool gayi (that they are younger actors playing older characters),” says Divya.