Divya Dutta has watched what happens after a performance is celebrated: the scripts increase, but the variety does not always follow. After the social drama Chiraiya earned her considerable appreciation in 2026, she says the offers that came to her were often shaped by what had just worked.
In a conversation with SCREEN, Dutta said she has long moved between theatre, OTT and cinema, and has been selective for the same reason all along—not wanting to repeat herself. The difference now, she added, is volume: she gets to hear more scripts.
That attention has a shadow side. She described an industry reflex after a successful project: a “herd mentality” that sends similar roles trickling back. Her response is to hold the line.
“You have to say a lot of No-s to get the Yes-es you want,” she said.
Why her selectivity matters
The comment is useful because it frames casting not as a stream of offers but as an editing process. A hit can open doors and, at the same time, narrow the writing that reaches an actor. Dutta’s approach treats every no as space saved for the next role worth remembering.
- More scripts after a hit do not guarantee more range.
- Saying no protects the roles an actor does want.
- Dutta continues to move across theatre, OTT and cinema instead of settling into one format.
There is also a practical layer. Dutta says she was already choosy before Chiraiya, not despite the offers but because of them. The habit predates the film. What has changed is that the pool of scripts under consideration is larger, which makes the filtering more visible and more important.
The lesson travels beyond one actor. For studios and casting directors, a successful performance creates demand; how that demand is interpreted decides whether an actor’s next phase expands or repeats. Dutta’s clarity is a counterweight to the industry’s default.
The film to watch now
Her latest release gives readers a place to see that range. The Last Man in Tower, directed by Ben Rekhi and adapted from Aravind Adiga’s Booker-winning novel, follows a Mumbai housing society divided by a redevelopment proposal. It stars Manoj Bajpayee and Boman Irani alongside Dutta, and is produced by Rana Daggubati’s Spirit Media. The film reached cinemas on 11 September 2026 and began streaming on ZEE5 on 6 November 2026.
For Dutta, the timing is useful: the streaming debut puts the film back in conversation just as she is publicly explaining how she chooses what to say yes to.
Source: The Times of India
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