It’s been more than 25 years since Divya Dutta came to Mumbai to make a place for herself in the film industry. She has not only gone on to fulfil her dreams but has also made a place for herself as a voiceover artiste and writer. It is perhaps for this reason that moving into a new house a few months ago feels like another milestone. It’s a plush dream house in a cosy by-lane in Juhu. “I haven’t had a housewarming so far. Everyone has been coming in bunches. It’s better this way because then you can have your one-on-one conversations rather than having a huge party, where no one gets to talk to each other.”

Interestingly, Divya’s dream house was finalised over a video tour. Recalling the house-hunting process, she shares, “My previous house was getting smaller for our family, as my brother’s children were growing up. We all needed our own little space… kahin toh jaake kho jaao (laughs!). So, my brother and I started looking for a place. We went through so many houses. It was during one long outdoor shoot that I received a message from my brother to call back urgently, as he had seen a nice house and its owners were in a hurry to sell it. Since I could not fly back immediately, I told him to send me the video of the house. It had everything that we were looking for – space and greenery, among other things. I said yes to it right away. Some houses are destiny – you can keep on searching, but what’s meant for you will come to you effortlessly.”

However, it took a year to set up the house due to the pandemic. Right from the entrance to every nook and corner of the house has been designed as per the actress’s vision. “A friend of mine would get everything done exactly the way I would tell her. Every piece of furniture has been handpicked, that’s why it feels so personal. Shabana ji (Shabana Azmi) had told me not to be in a rush to buy everything in one go. Do it gradually and that’s what we did. Little things that I brought some time back found their place in this house magically.”

Every room in the house has a touch of new and vintage – be it the temple, reading room, bedroom or spacious hall. A stunning painting of Divya in her Dhaakad avatar captures your attention in the spacious hall, which opens out to an airy balcony overlooking a garden. A gift from the art director of the film Dhaakad, the painting seems to make a befitting statement of her journey.

The actress did take time to feel at home at her plush new address. She shares, “I was extremely shaken when I came to this house as I was emotionally attached to my old house, which was full of memories of my mother and my pet Sakhi. I believe that Sakhi made me move here. She wasn’t well, but she stayed here for a week and then passed away when I took her back to the old house. I felt lost in the new house without my partner in the room. However, I got busy with shootings. Since I was among friends, I returned to the new house healed. It has eventually become home for me now.”

She has dedicated a corner in her room for Sakhi.