1 Shabbo in Veer-Zaara (2004)
Despite working in films for a decade prior, Divya Dutta broke through with a strong supporting role in Yash Chopra’s Veera-Zaara. She played Shabbo, Zaara’s maid and loyal friend, who quietly backs her and urges her to follow her heart. Dutta was nominated for her performance at the Filmfare Awards and won the Zee Cine Awards the following year.
2 Jalebi in Delhi-6 (2009)
Divya Dutta adopted a Haryanvi accent in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s film, Delhi-6, where she enacted the role of a street sweeper, Jalebi. Abhishek Bachchan’s character Roshan ends up befriending her. Here too, Dutta was noticed for her commitment to the character and she ended up with her first International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Award for Best Supporting Actress.
3 Pappi in Gippi (2013)
In the Karan Johar production, Gippi, a coming-of-age feature with a teenage heroine, Divya Dutta played a single mother, Pappi, who navigates her daughter through the ups and downs of growing up. Her character is a recent divorcee who herself is facing a whole new world and her honest relationship with her daughter is one of the highlights of the film.
4 Rosy Miss in Stanley Ka Dabba (2013)
The affectionately honest film, directed by Amole Gupte, featured his son Partho in a National Award-winning title role. While the adults around Stanley brought him down, his English teacher Rosy Miss was the only source of positivity in his young life. Her character was the only one who properly believed in him.
5 Ishri Kaur in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013)
She worked again with Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra in his Milkha Singh biopic, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. Divya Dutta played Singh’s protective elder sister who went to great lengths to keep him safe during the tumultuous period after Partition. Once again, Dutta picked a slew of awards for her moving performance.