Pranav Birje | Senior Correspondent
From her early days in the industry to becoming one of the most versatile and celebrated actors in Indian cinema, Divya Dutta has built a career on breaking stereotypes. Known for delivering nuanced performances across films and series, she was recently nominated at the Critics’ Choice Awards for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Bandish Bandits S2. With the rise of streaming platforms, Dutta has embraced complex characters that go beyond traditional molds, a shift she considers transformative for actors, especially women. In a recent conversation, she reflected on her journey, the changing landscape of storytelling, and an unexpected opportunity that brought her back to Bandish Bandits for its much, anticipated second season.
She revealed, “When I entered the industry, there were set boxes, and for me, the interesting part was breaking those boxes. It was never about just getting work, it was about doing the kind of work I wanted to. You have to say no to certain things to get to those final yeses that truly matter. With OTT, roles became so much more diverse, especially for heroines, moving beyond just the typical boxes. Bandish Bandits has been a very exciting journey for me because a casual call with Anant led to him asking, “Do you want to do Season 2? There’s a male part we’re considering making female, would you be interested?” He trusted me with it, so I said yes. I was very nervous, I felt like a newcomer because the show already had such a massive fan base.”
Divya Dutta Reflects on Breaking Molds and Returning to Bandish Bandits
