Latest news with #Mayasabha:TheRiseoftheTitans'
Gulf Today
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
One shouldn't try to please everyone, says Divya Dutta
Actress Divya Dutta values freedom of expression and speaking her mind respectfully. However, she adds that one shouldn't try to please everyone and should own their opinions. Talking about strong women being judged on the basis of what they do, say and also having an opinion, Divya told IANS: 'You cannot please the whole world. I like freedom of expression. I am someone who cannot keep something here.' The actress, who is currently seen as a strong and politically charged leader Iravati Bose in 'Mayasabha: The Rise of the Titans', shared that the way one puts across what they have to say has to be good. 'I just feel you must say what you have to say. Yes, the tariqa has to be a good one. You shouldn't be hurting anyone, but you should say what you have to say. So I like to do that. And if that is considered strong or opinionated, so be it then. I mean, you are not here to please the world,' said Divya. The actress' latest 'Mayasabha: The Rise of the Titans' is a political drama web series directed by Deva Katta and Kiran Jay Kumar. It stars Aadhi Pinisetty and Chaitanya Rao in the lead roles, with Divya, Sai Kumar, Srikanth Iyengar and Nassar. Set in the volatile political landscape of 1990s Andhra Pradesh, the series dramatises the evolving relationship between two prominent political figures—Nara Chandrababu Naidu and Y. S. Rajasekhar Reddy—portraying their journey from close friendship to political rivalry. The show started streaming on Sony LIV from August 7. The 47-year-old actress made her debut in Hindi cinema in 1994 with the film 'Ishq Mein Jeena Ishq Mein Marna,' which she followed with a lead role in the 1995 drama 'Veergati.' She gained the spotlight for playing the lead role of Zainab, a Muslim wife separated from her Sikh husband, in the 1999 Punjabi film Shaheed-e-Mohabbat Boota Singh, set against the backdrop of the 1947 Partition of India. Divya was later seen in films such as 'Veer-Zaara,' 'Welcome to Sajjanpur,' 'Delhi-6,' 'Stanley Ka Dabba,' 'Heroine,' 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' and 'Irada.' In television, she was seen in the serial 'Samvidhaan.' Divya seems to be on a roll with back-to-back successful releases. In the recent past, the National Award-winner has been a part of a large variety of projects across platforms. Dutta has also tried her hands at numerous genres - from espionage thriller 'Special Ops', to musical drama 'Bandish Bandits,' to the historical saga 'Chhaava' and now the political thriller 'Mayasabha.' In 'Chhaava,' she is seen as a layered antagonist, Soyarabai, while in 'Special Ops' Dutta gives a convincing performance as operative Sadia Qureshi. She also plays a soulful musician Nandini Singh in 'Bandish Bandits' and a steely political strategist Iravati Basu in 'Mayasabha'. Her ability to move seamlessly across genres and shades helps her explore her versatility as an artist. Thrilled about her success streak, Dutta said: 'I've been fortunate to be part of stories that challenge me and allow me to explore different facets of human emotions. I want each role I play to stay with the audience long after the screen fades to black.' Now, shifting our focus to Dutta's personal life, she revealed that she had been someone who was very marriage-oriented, and her path to a single life unfolded organically. Dutta believes that it's better to live a peaceful, self-focused life than to be in a toxic relationship. Speaking to IANS, she was asked 'if there was a moment when she consciously chose the path to singlehood, or did it unfold naturally with her evolving priorities in life.' To this, Dutta replied, saying: 'Absolutely.. It just happened organically over time.' 'I was someone who was very marriage-oriented. I was totally into all the films that I had grown up on—the Yashji films, Karan Johar films—where, you know, you do all those rituals and you feel nice, happy, married.' Indo-Asian News Service
Hans India
08-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Divya Dutta on playing powerful woman in male-dominated world: Efficiency always leaves a mark
National Award-winning Divya Dutta says that playing a powerful woman in a male-dominated world was overwhelming, but fulfilling. Asked 'Mayasabha: The Rise of the Titans' is about a woman who's in a very male-dominated world, and what was it like stepping into such a commanding role in a specially, traditionally ruled industry, Divya told: 'It was overwhelming.' 'It was absolutely overwhelming, if I may say. But I, you know, I was saying something to someone else as well — when you do something efficiently, either of your jobs as an actor, as a politician, or as anybody else, you make your mark.' She added: 'Nevertheless, in spite of all that we are talking about, it will definitely be acknowledged somewhere, and it might not get all the appreciation, but it will be acknowledged, and people will be aware of the power and that thing that you have.' The actress said that her character of Iravati was shaped by the director's clear vision, which gave her confidence and clarity as an actor. Does she relate to any particular belief system, and did that influence her portrayal in the series? 'No, I really don't, actually, and my portrayal of Iravati is absolutely what my director, Deva Katta, envisioned, and he was very, very clear about what he wanted me to do. And I think that that is also a very relaxing feeling for the actor — that here's the vision that's absolutely clear,' she added. The actress said: 'This is the tonality he wants. This one — he wants you to look behind and give that look and make that impact. So, these were that clear. So, a bit of improvisation, a bit of the clarity of the director just made a great combo. And I think that's what made Iravati what she is.'
India Today
07-08-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Mayasabha review: Friendship, betrayal and power in this gutsy political drama
'Mayasabha: The Rise of the Titans' premiered on SonyLIV on August 7, and it doesn't take long before it yanks you into a world soaked in power, betrayal and ambition. With nine episodes, the Telugu political thriller dives straight into the turbulent political landscape of Andhra Pradesh from the 1970s to the 1990s. Helmed by Deva Katta and Kiran Jay Kumar, the series plays like a chess match set in a pressure the heart of 'Mayasabha' lies a fierce tug-of-war between two men once bound by friendship. Aadhi Pinisetty plays Kakarla Krishnama Naidu, a driven, calculating force whose quiet fire simmers through most of the series. Opposite him is Chaitanya Rao Madadi's MS Rami Reddy - a man caught between ideology and by real-life political legends (without name-dropping), the show dives into caste politics, betrayals, emergency-era chaos, and silent power games. Naidu and Reddy's ideological fallout forms the emotional spine of the show. It's this dynamic that gives 'Mayasabha' its weight and the much-needed emotional anchor amidst all the political chaos. Aadhi is magnetic - commanding and layered - while Chaitanya brings a simmering sincerity that works well for his show doesn't flirt with political themes, it marries them. From cast politics to the Emergency, from drastic MLA ousters to veiled references to forced sterilisation drives, 'Mayasabha' tackles it bold, definitely, and at times a bit too dense. Some episodes, especially in the middle, could've done with tighter editing. At times, you are fully hooked, then suddenly stuck in a subplot that feels like filler. But then it picks up again, and you're back in the also a power-packed supporting cast. Sai Kumar brings gravitas as a senior political player. Divya Dutta, in a rare Telugu outing, is razor-sharp as Iravati Basu - a political consultant who knows how to pull strings from the shows up briefly, but effectively, as a shrewd media mogul. Still, some promising characters fade out too quickly, never quite getting the space they deserve. A little more spotlight on the women in this power play would've balanced things the trailer for 'Mayasabha' here: This show may be "fictional," but it's clearly riffing off real-life political you're someone who has followed Andhra politics even remotely, you'll see the echoes, particularly in the characters that seem loosely modelled on N Chandrababu Naidu and YS Rajasekhara said, 'Mayasabha' isn't trying to give you a civics lecture, it wants to entertain, provoke and maybe spark a few heated dinner-table in that, it succeeds more often than not. Sure, it takes its time. The build-up is slow, the plot turns are deliberate, and some of the monologues are a bit much. But once you stick with it, you'll find a surprisingly compelling watch that knows exactly where it's is it binge-worthy? If you're into high-stakes political storytelling with a Telugu twist, and don't mind a few narrative detours, 'Mayasabha' makes for a solid weekend pick. It's not flawless, but it's gutsy, ambitious, and has its own dramas may be a crowded genre now, but this one earns its seat at the table. Not every scene lands, but when it does, it hits hard.'Maysabha' is streaming on SonyLIV. It is available in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi.- Ends3.5 out of 5 stars for 'Mayasabha'
