Divya Dutta (born 25 September 1977) is an Indian film actress and model.

She has established

a successful career in Bollywoodand Punjabi cinema, but has also appeared
in Malayalam and English films. She is noted for playing a wide variety of roles in variousfilm
genres, and has established herself as one of the leading actresses of parallel cinema.
Dutta was born and raised in Ludhiana, Punjab, and debuted in Hindi cinema in 1994 with the
film Ishq Mein Jeena Ishq Mein Marna, which she followed up with a lead role in the
1995 drama Veergati and a string of supporting roles. She then garnered attention for playing the
lead role of Zainab, a Muslim wife separated from her Sikh husband, in the 1999 Punjabi
film Shaheed-e-Mohabbat Boota Singh, set against the backdrop of the 1947 Partition of India.
The movie was a surprise hit, and Dutta subsequently continued to act in supporting roles. In
2004, Dutta garnered widespread critical acclaim for her role as Shabbo in the romantic
drama Veer-Zaara and earned best supporting actress nominations at several awards
ceremonies, including Filmfare. She subsequently received recognition for her role in the
2008 comedy film Welcome to Sajjanpur, and received the IIFA Award for Best Supporting
Actress for her portrayal of Jalebi in the 2009 drama film Delhi-6.
Dutta continued to establish herself as one of the most sought-after actresses with roles in the
2011 film Stanley Ka Dabba and the 2012 drama Heroine. In 2013, she received attention for her
performance in Gippi and more notably, the biographical sports drama film Bhaag Milkha Bhaag,
in which she played Ishri Kaur, the sister of Milkha Singh. For her role in the latter, she received
several awards and nominations, including her second IIFA Award for Best Supporting Actress.
To date, she has acted in more than sixty feature films, including, two international productions. [1]
[2]

She has also ventured into television, playing the role of Purnima Banerjeein the

serial Samvidhaan.[3]

Early life[edit]
Dutta was born on 25 September 1977 in Ludhiana, Punjab, to Punjabi-speaking parents. Her
mother, Dr. Nalini Dutta, is a government officer and doctor who raised Dutta and her brother
single-handedly following the death of her husband when Dutta was aged seven. Dutta
described her as "fearless and professional" and a "fun mom at home."[4] She took inspiration
from her mother for her role as a single mother, Pappi in the 2013 drama film Gippi. She and her
brother compiled a collection of their mother's poems and published them as a present to her.
When Dutta was young, the Punjab insurgency began and Dutta described herself as hiding
behind her mother's dupatta "praying nobody shoots us." .[5] Dutta was educated at Sacred Heart
Convent in Ludhiana.

Modeling career[edit]

Before venturing into cinema, she modeled for regional television commercials in her home state
of Punjab. In 2001, she appeared in the music video "Romeo" by regional music duo Basement
Jaxx, from London, England.