Divya Dutta has taken a day off from her shoot schedule in Lucknow to spend time with her family and friends today, as she turns “sweet 16, once again”. Having completed three decades in showbiz, the actor says that many roles have given her gratification, and it only grows as she now gets to play key characters.

“I am at a stage where roles are being written for me and people say if you don’t do it, I won’t make it (the project). I am getting good projects and titular roles, and dheere-dheere apna mukaam bana rahi hoon,” says Dutta.

Last seen in Sharmajee Ki Beti, the actor is currently shooting a web series with actor Sanjay Mishra. “I also completed a film co-starring Manoj Bajpayee recently. They are all lead roles and I feel grateful that this phase has come in my life,” says Dutta, who will also be seen in the Vicky Kaushal-starrer Chhaava and the next season of the web show Bandish Bandits.

Meanwhile, she has also been enjoying her stint as a writer. Having penned two books, Me And Maa and The Stars In The Sky, Dutta now plans to write a book for children. “I am working on a fiction book of short stories,” says Dutta.

Meanwhile, the actor turns 47 today and she plans to keep things low-key: “My family is planning something for me and a few of my friends would come over. Sometimes, simple is nice! Small things like kids shelling out their pocket money to get gifts for their bui (paternal aunt), yeh sab bahut cute cheezen hoti hain and I look forward to that.”

While Divya Dutta may be turning 46 today, she is still a child at heart. The actor is glad that the film industry offers opportunities for female actors of all age groups and not just the stereotypical “girlfriend or saas-bahu” roles, which were the norm when she started off.

“Earlier, a female actor was either a heroine, mummy or bhabhi. Today, if you’re not opposite the hero, it doesn’t matter; you are still a heroine if it’s an important role,” says the actor, who was last seen in Dhaakad (2022) and has several projects in the pipeline.

Dutta feels that actors are also now open to “taking risks” with the roles they are choosing, like she did when she played Shabbo — actor Preity G Zinta’s house staff — in Veer-Zaara (2004).

“I did think, ‘Oh God, will it be a huge risk?’ to play such a role, but everyone spoke so much about it. Earlier, makers were less than willing to explore layers... you were either 25 or above 50, beech ki age ke roles the hi nahin. Now you see the top actresses married with kids, doing well. People aren’t judgmental [anymore],” she ends.

“It was a beautiful experience. I was feeling proud to be there. How many people get to do this? It was lovely to experience [in person] and represent my industry.”

Divya Dutta, who turns 45 today, doesn’t feel intimidated by ageing, even though she is a part of an industry which always seems age sensitive, especially when it comes to women. She says the fact that another year has been added to her age doesn’t play on her mind.

“Even if I want to think about the age thing, nobody lets me, because I’m considered the youngest in my house, younger than my niece and nephew, too,” Dutta says, adding, “I am looking my best right now, or so everyone says. I am getting the best work, too. I am very proud of being who I am. But I miss my mother.” 

The Hostages actor has a web show, three films and an international project lined up. She is also travelling to promote her book.

Recalling a birthday which turned out to be special but unnerving, Dutta says, “I had three releases lined up in 2008. I invited the films’ units. But I didn’t know they had in turn invited their friends, too. Mera ghar chhota padh gaya! I was so nervous, and these were all big people like (singer) Sonu Nigam, (late actor) Irrfan and (filmmaker) Shyam Benegal!”

She had to call her best friend to help out, who advised that she should just enjoy rather than worrying. “It turned out to be one of my most memorable birthdays. When people celebrate together, space doesn’t remain a concern anymore,” says the actor, who is celebrating her birthday this year in her new sea-facing house in Mumbai.

Actor Divya Dutta is currently shooting for her next, Sharmaji Ki Beti, in Mumbai, and she’s glad that work has finally begun to function smoothly, even amid the pandemic. The actor feels that it’s the awareness about vaccination that has propelled things to go in the right direction. “It is a pleasure to be able to shoot and also go out without much fear now. I hope that there will be no third wave (of Coronavirus). It has actually been heartening to see people getting fully vaccinated. Whoever I meet, they have taken both the jabs, and that is so delightful. When you reach a set now, everyone is looking after you. So, somewhere, normalcy surges in,” shares the actor, who would be seen next in Dhaakad.

However, there is one thing that she misses on the set — not being able to greet her colleagues with a hug. “I miss that jhappi,” the actor sighs. “We have started doing elbow and punch hugs. But desi warmth ke bina incomplete lagta hai sab kuch,” laments the actor, who turns 44 today.

Calling herself someone who gets excited about birthdays, the Sheer Qorma actor quips, “The little child in me is always alive! I don’t always like to admit it, but I am very excited. I have never had a silent birthday. Last year, I was thinking it would be a quiet one, but I ended up with the kids in my residential building. One bestie came walking, another came on a bicycle, ” concludes Dutta.