The much-loved Veer-Zaara (2004) completed 20 years on November 12. The film continues to find love and it was evident by its surprise success on its re-release in Overseas territories on November 7. Earlier this year, Bollywood Hungama exclusively spoke to Divya Dutta, who played the adorable Shabbo, Zaara’s (Preity Zinta) confidant, and asked her how she looks back at the film.
Divya Dutta said, “I came to the film industry with the dream of working with Yash Chopra. And it manifested in its own way. I thought I’d be dancing in the Alps wearing chiffon sarees.
But he gave me a beautiful role of Shabbo, which I didn’t realize at that time. However, Yash uncle and Adi (Aditya Chopra) told me, ‘We are taking you for this role because there’s a certain gravitas in it. We wouldn’t have called you otherwise.
You will always be remembered for it’. They were so right!” Divya Dutta continued, “To date, wherever I go, I am known for Veer-Zaara . It’s a landmark film in my career.
It was a stepping stone for me into the so-called commercial film space. I tasted my first commercial success with it as everyone spoke about Divya Dutta. Prior to that, I did multi-starrers, but I didn’t have much to contribute to those films.
With Veer-Zaara, I got an identity because people asked Yash ji, ‘ Yeh ladki kahan se aayi hai ?’! Despite being in the industry for 7-8 years, I felt introduced for the first time. Universe has an amazing way of manifesting things for you .