Divya Dutta, recognised for a myriad of roles in the industry across genres, recently addressed how her last project Chiraiya might be the catalyst she was looking for in her career.
While in conversation with The Hollywood Reporter India, she mentioned how she might finally be getting her due after three decades of being in the industry, with her debut in 1994 playing the character of Sapna in Mahrukh Mirza’s Ishq Mein Jeena Ishq Mein Marna.
“Underutilised was a word that was constantly used for me,” Dutta said, reflecting on her career. Calling Chiraiya the kind of “author-backed” part actors wait years for, she noted, “I think when you really have a passion for something, and you say, ‘I am going to keep going,’ there will be something that comes along — something author-backed, something that has that kind of impact on people."
“Every actor waits for that one thing that people know you by,” said Divya Dutta, describing Chiraiya as the kind of defining role actors spend entire careers waiting for — one that not only finds its audience, but changes how they are remembered.
Speaking about her character, Kamlesh’s future, she said would gladly return to the character if Chiraiya were to continue. “We won’t leave Kamlesh behind,” Dutta said, making her affection for the role clear, while director Shashant Shah added that a sequel would happen if it emerges organically. “If we come across a good story then, why not — we don't want to forcefully make one under pressure” he said.
The series is based on the Bengali social drama web series, Sampurna — directed by Sayantan Ghosal and, written by Anuja Chatterjee and Soumyabrata Rakshit. Chiraiya has been adapted by the writer, Divy Nidhi Sharma — who most recently worked on Sitaare Zameen Par — and centres around the myth of implied consent within a marriage and shines light on the emotional and psychological struggle of the female characters.
