Divya Khosla Kumar: “I See Satyamev Jayate 2 As The Beginning Of My Acting Career”

Actress-director Divya Khosla Kumar who is married to music baron Bhushan Kumar, will be returning to acting in Satyamev Jayate 2, the John Abraham action film which opens on 25 November in movie theatres.

In the Milap Jhaveri-directed film produced by Bhushan Kumar’s T Series, Divya plays John Abraham’s leading lady: her first foray into acting since her debut in Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyon in 2004.

Divya, excited about her return to acting, doesn’t see Satyamev Jayate as a resumption of her acting career. “When I did my debut film I was hardly 17. I used to model in Delhi. Then I came to Mumbai to try my luck in films.I had no contacts,no clue as to how to go about my career. I got Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyon with a big star like Akshay Kumar. But I was clueless about what it meant to be doing such a big film. The experience barely registered in my mind.”

Soon after Divya got married to Bhushan Kumar became a mother and settled down to a life of domesticity. But her relationship with cinema continued. “I directed several music videos and even starred in some. They were very successful. I directed two feature film Yaariyan and Sanam Re . So my bonding with the cinema continued. It was just acting that I had stopped.”

When writer-director Milap Jhaveri came to Divya with the offer to play the female lead in Satyamev Jayate 2, Divya says her first instinct was to turn it down. “What would I be doing in an action film starring John Abraham? He is such a big superstar. It was only when Milap assured me that I had a substantial well-defined role that I agreed to listen to his offer.”

Divya who recently saw Satyamev Jayate 2 says she is happy with the film and her role. “Both the film and my role have shaped up well. I play a politician and I’ve some important scenes and dialogues.It is good to play a strong empowered woman. In real life I am way too emotional and burst into tears easily.Unlike the character I play. She is emotionally strong.”

The director-actress says she was initially taken aback when the release date of Satyamev Jayate 2 was announced. “After the re-opening of movie theatres was announced, everyone quickly announced release dates. I didn’t even know Satyamev Jayate 2’s release date was announced. No one told me. I read about it. I was worried thinking our film was coming too soon after the theatres re-opened. But after seeing the audience back in Sooryavanshi I am confident the audience will also come to see Satyamev Jayate.”