They’ve shared screens, sets, and soirées — but never the same frame. After three decades in the industry, Divya Dutta is finally starring opposite Manoj Bajpayee in their yet-untitled upcoming film — a wish long on her list. Although they’ve shared credits in four films, “this will be the first time we’re truly featured opposite each other”. “It was lovely because half my year was spent working with him,” she says.

Describing her interaction with Bajpayee, Dutta says that whenever they discussed work, they would often digress towards food, a love they both share. “It’s nice to have known him more closely now, beyond being co-actors who would just cross paths on set. We have a certain relatability and connect, and he’s a fabulous actor. Even when we were exhausted from shooting late nights, both of us would stay back to give cues to each other. And if you ask what we discussed the most — it was food! He’s such a foodie. He loves to cook and feed people, and he cooked a lot for me,” shares the actor.

After wrapping up her collaboration with Bajpayee, Dutta will be seen in the romantic drama Tum Rahe Na Tum, opposite Jimmy Sheirgill. She’s also working on a new project with Neeraj Pandey. But what excites her most is Echoes Of Valour, co-starring Neeraj Kabi, a festival favourite that premièred at Venice Film Festival.

“It’s a beautiful love story between a husband and wife. Jimmy is a terrific actor. Working with such co-actors is always enriching,” she adds thoughtfully. She also has a big show coming up with JioHotstar. “I can’t talk much about it yet,” she teases, “But I’m very excited. I feel like I’m doing everything an actor should be doing.”

Reflecting on her journey with quiet gratitude, Dutta believes that “enjoying in the now gave her a lot”, but that doesn’t dim her hunger for better roles. The actor is especially pleased with the changing narratives around women in cinema.

She elaborates, “There was a time people said married actresses couldn’t romance heroes or look glamorous. But look at Kareena [Kapoor Khan], Vidya [Balan], Alia [Bhatt] — they’ve changed that narrative. We’re now telling stories about what happens after ‘happily ever after’. Women in their 30s and 40s can play both younger and mature roles — it’s a beautiful phase..”