The dream come true

Divya Dutta

I was packing my bags. Yet another outdoor... suddenly there was a flood of calls. I picked one and the excited voice on the other side chirped, “Heartiest congrats for winning the national award. How do you feel?”

I felt numb. What did she just say? Really? When happiness is beyond expectation it numbs you...

I stood there for a while, till my brother came and lifted me up in true Punjabi style. You got it. Finally,” he said. The words floated in my ears... I got it... finally...

Every actor dreams of the biggest national appreciation and award and I’ve been no different. 

I was flooded with calls and congratulatory messages, and the most beautiful thing was that everyone calling seemed to be happier for me than even me myself. Someone even got choked while talking to me! “I am so so happy you got it!” She could barely muster... and she was a journalist, not someone I knew personally but she was so happy. It overwhelmed me! That love! That earned love. The most beautiful feeling in the world!

Then started calls and messages from my directors and co-actors. Everyone and I mean everyone called...

It felt like a dream...these awesomely talented and legendary people I have grown up watching on screen or been in absolute admiration of their work, when they call and celebrate you, it’s unexplainable how it feels. To hear from Shabanaji. Shyam Benegal, Naseer saab, Javed Akhtar very sweetly called and said, “Party at our place.” 

The sweetest tweet came from Shatrughan Sinha. I kept reading these messages. I kept absorbing them. Yes, they were all true.

This was a dream. Years back when I was in school I used to take breaks from my studies and actually enact an award ceremony! Where I was adjudged the best actress and where all my favourite people, directors and actors, came to congratulate me!

Yes, it’s all come true. After 20 years of doing what I love doing, I am living that dream now... Love pouring from my own friends and family from back home.

When they say we are so proud of you, it feels euphoric. Your own are cheering you up!

As I prepare for the big day, I get the good news that my film Manto has been selected as an official entry to Cannes! So, all set to walk the red carpet there too.

After amazing response to my role in Blackmail,  the prestigious national award, and Cannes. I can say “Ik Brahmin ne kaha hai ye saal acha hai..”

Or rather, it’s my mother… her blessings. She is working her magic from up there. When she held my hand and said, ‘go, follow your dreams, it will be tough but they will be yours’ I knew she meant it... she kept her word!

(Dutta is a Bollywood actress)