'I Broke The Rules': Divya Dutta On Defying Family Expectation To Follow Dreams

Actress Divya Dutta recently appeared on The Shaili Chopra Show, offering a candid glimpse into her resilience and the challenges she faced in the entertainment industry. Coming from a family of doctors, her decision to pursue films was met with hesitation, particularly because she was a girl daring to step outside convention.

In conversation with Shaili Chopra, founder of SheThePeople and Gytree, she reflected on how her mother’s unwavering support empowered her to defy expectations and carve her own space in the industry.

"No one ever ever thought that I would be an actor. 30 years back, this wasn't considered the greatest profession," Dutta expressed. "But the inner child does not know how difficult or easy the path is; it just decides."

That passion found its stage early on. She recalled how the appreciation from classmates and teachers for her talent only deepened her love for the craft. What began as a simple joy of performing gradually transformed into a clear ambition to be an actor.

Dutta shared that her determination led her to fill out a magazine form for an acting talent hunt. Out of nearly 50,000 applicants, she was ultimately selected.

Navigating Barriers

During her early years in the industry, she noticed that multi-starrer films were prevalent. However, she knew she wanted to do something different beyond the routine storylines and choose roles that stood apart.

Breaking into the industry was no cakewalk, especially amid family expectations. But her mother was her strongest supporter. "My mother said that she became a doctor because she was asked to become a doctor. But she wanted me to follow my passion. So we broke the rules!"

When asked what has kept her steadfast in the industry, she reflected simply, “It comes from within,” underscoring the self-belief that has anchored her journey.

Dutta said that it was her “zidd” that helped her stay firm in her decision. It was never about proving herself to others, but about proving it to herself, as this choice made her genuinely happy and fulfilled.

Playing Different Roles

From Veer-Zaara and Delhi-6 to Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and Chhaava, Dutta has consistently chosen unconventional roles that break the mould. She said, “People tend to bind an actor to similar kinds of roles. So I took it as a challenge to experiment with different physical and emotional characters.”

When asked what norms she rejects, Dutta replied, "I hate being taken for granted." She highlighted the "strange norm" in the industry, where being nice is often mistaken for needing something, causing people to take kindness for granted.

She emphasised that her courtesy, manners, love, and warmth come from her upbringing. Dutta finds it amusing how people’s demeanour changes when she adopts a stricter stance, which makes her wonder whether they fail to value kindness.

Despite this, she chooses not to alter her natural humility and warmth, stating that she is no longer apologetic about living her life authentically.

Views expressed by the author are their own.