Actor Divya Dutta , who recently wrapped up a shoot in Lucknow , says her association with the city is two decades old, which has created some lasting memories for her.
She recalls that her first visit was for JP Dutta’s Umrao Jaan (2006), which was extensively shot at the Mahmudabad Fort. “I shot for Sushen Bhatnagar’s Monica (2011), Babumoshai Bandookbaaz (2017), Anubhav Sinha’s Abhi Toh Party Shuru Hui Hai, which is yet to release, Lucknow Times , which unfortunately was not completed, and recently Sudhir Mishra’s Gandhi And My Mother . Woh sab yaadein zehan mein bas gayi hain, and they have become a part of my memory, being rekindled whenever I pass through those locations. Besides, I’ve come for promotions, events, twice for my books Main Aur Maa and The Stars in My Sky , and also for my show at the Spoken Fest. “When I was shooting for Babumoshai…, the locations were far away, so I used to interact a lot with my driver and caught his lingo, which I extensively used in the film. Yahan ki boli mein nafasat and meethapan, woh mujhe pasand hai, and that has reflected in my projects.”
Recently seen in the feature film Gajab Raat , with Manoj Bajpayee, the actor says, “I remember visiting Imambaras, Rumi Darwaza, and other heritage locations with my mum, and those memories are still afresh. The actor says that she has incorporated many local nuances into her work. The same thing happened with Chiraiya ; I did the same while interacting with locals,” she says, and adds, “So, Lucknow ka andaaz meri filmon mein aaya aur kirdaron mein hai.
