Divyenndu Sharma-"I don’t think there is a lot of competition. I feel there is hardly any competition"... By Lipika Varma

Divyendu Sharma talks about facing financial crunch, being typecast, wife’s support, Mirzapur series and latest flick, “Mere Desh Ki Dharti’ based on farmers issue and more-

Divyenndu Sharma rose to recognition with debut film,”Pyaar Ka Punchnma” which not only brought him to limelight but there has been no looking back for the actor who is also known for his series,”Mirzapur.”He is one actor who never chose films right, centre and left merely, because he did not wish to be typecast.

After his first successful film,”Pyaar Ka Punchnama,” he was offered similar roles which he declined as he didn’t want to be type-cast as a result during his initial career days he thus faced financial crunch.

It was becoming difficult for him to survive in Mumbai. Divyenndu Sharma is also in news for his latest film “Mere Desh Ki Dharti.” The film highlights Farmers issue. The film is set to release on 6th May, 2022.

Excerpts-

The glitzy world of bollywood is a competitive field how easy /difficult it is to keep away from the competition?

I don’t think there is a lot of competition. I feel there is hardly any competition. Thanks to OTT good and talented actors are coming into this field.

Before that any one was entering the field of acting. Bollywood was like a lottery ticket. So everyone entered to try their luck out. I never felt any competition. I hardly felt any qualified performers came in having studied acting.

I started doing theatre from my early childhood days and then went to FTII and after passing out I felt confident because I was trained in acting.

After your debut film since you refused films as you feared being typecast were you not insecure that you will not be able to survive in the city of dreams Mumbai?

I have never felt insecure though. But since I was refusing to do similar roles at a point I got fed up and decided to take up a role because I also needed finances to run the house.

But thanks to my wife who supported me and asked me to wait for some different and good work.

Do you credit your wife to have supported you during times when you had no work?

My wife who is my young day’s sweetheart has seen my journey from the beginning. We have shared the highs and lows together in fact when i had no work and no money.

She was the one who sacrificed things and would say –we can buy a car or other essentials later. But you wait for a good happening role.

After your Mirzapur series did you not get affected by its stardom?

I’m very happy also surprised that Munna Tripathi is loved and treated as real character. Whenever I travel right from alighting the plane people start calling me Munna-Bhaiyya.

What feels happier that not only the younger lot but even senior citizens shower their love on me. At times, I feel ashamed to take their blessings even as in the series, I have mouthed some cuss words.

But what feels happy is that original content like Mirzapur garnered so much love from the audience who are open and inteligent.They see me through my performance and see me as an actor.

How did you get associated with this film, “Mere DeshKi Dharti?

I got associated with this film,”MDKS” merely because of its theme. The story was based on youth unemployment and farmers issue.

We started this film much before the farmer’s bill. The film also addresses the issue of rising suicidal deaths because of lack of jobs amongst the youth.

I joined hands choosing to play this character simply because I could become the voice of such issues.

What is your view on the farmers winning their battle against their fight for the latest,’ Farmers bill ‘?

Their winning has brought about a huge success to this farmers revolution. This ensures the strength of democracy. I am extremely happy whatever the farmers have done is remarkable and amazing.

This can’t be ignored, it’s not easy standing united and bringing about this favourable revolution. It was a difficult and a prolonged campaign. The winning of farmers also suggests that in case you don’t support something you have the right to raise your voice.

This is rightly termed as democracy. Public elects the government and the government have to take favourable decisions for their public. The country is for the people, by the people and of the people….Desh ke log hi sab kuch hai .