Sydney to Dharavi

Divya Dutta

I write this sitting at the airport lounge, all set to go to Sydney. This year has begun with lots of travel and I am not complaining.

What I love the most is throwing myself in new situations, in front of people I am not familiar with, and then discovering the magic in that. Bonding with strangers, finding new opportunities, absorbing the moments and taking them all back home... feeling much more enriched!

Sydney calls me for some amazing things. First is my book launch. Yes, the book closest to my heart—Me And Ma. And I’ve been told it’s a sold out already. Then is my brother Rahul Dutta’s self-help workshop on relationships. I guess the most relevant topic in today’s world of no patience and tolerance.

It would be nice to be an audience along with the others to hear him speak. And finally I go to judge a beauty pageant. Which isn’t a regular one at all. It’s unique. It celebrates women of all ages and all shapes and sizes. It celebrates their spirit, their strength, their being.

No age bar, no body statistics to be measured. Just you! Isn’t that amazing? I couldn’t refuse such a lovely concept. 

I sent a promotional byte to Australia and my organiser called with a request “Ma’am can you please do another byte in Punjabi please. Popular demand. They want their Punjabi kudi to speak in Punjabi.” So, I guess the moods been set by them. It feels like home already! They are all set to meet their Punjab di kudi. Ditto! Mumbai has been buzzing with activity. We actors have different phases in our careers and at this moment ad films have taken precedence in my choice of work. I am enjoying endorsing various products like oral contraceptives and sanitary napkins. It feels great to be having an image where people look up to you and give you a job as responsible as this.

Being a member of the prestigious governing council of FTII has been a very enriching experience and one which calls for lots of dedication.

In between I took out time to watch a special screening of Gully Boy hosted by Javed Akhtar. I was, of course, overwhelmed watching this beautiful film with some stellar performances that stay with you for so long. What I really can’t forget is the expressions of the proud father post the screening. Javed Saab was smiling, he was overwhelmed. I could see a proud glint in his eyes which probably could have been a tear of happiness. So proud of his super talented daughter Zoya! And then the super awesome Ranveer Singh came up to me post the screening and whispered in my ear naughtily “Ain’t you proud of me?” Of course I am. And amazed with your talent Ranveer. Doing a Simmba and a Gully Boy and becoming those characters so endearingly well is a gift! It truly is. So, watching this lovely film with my own fraternity was even more fun.

Yes, I am enjoying it all. Soaking myself in everything I love doing. Everyone I love meeting, and in the process, getting to know myself better.

On a parting note—salute to our brave soldiers! To those amazing jawans we lost in Pulwama. The nation will never forget you. Let’s just do more than just remembering them, something. Something for their families, something for their children. We owe it to them. Let’s…Jai Hind.

(Dutta is a Bollywood actress)