Divya Dutta says working with Manoj Bajpayee in Last Man in Tower was worth the wait

Divya Dutta. Pics/Instagram, Youtube

Visibility has never been a guiding factor for Divya Dutta when choosing films. Instead, she has a simple marker to judge the project at hand. "When I hear a story and it makes me want to jump up on the sofa, I know I want to do it," smiled the actor. Last Man in Tower, a screen adaptation of Aravind Adiga's novel of the same name, easily passed that test.

Director Ben Rekhi narrated two scenes to Dutta, and she immediately connected with them. In the drama that sees Manoj Bajpayee's retired teacher oppose the redevelopment of his residential building in Mumbai, Dutta plays Sangeeta, a neighbour who locks horns with him. What drew the actor to Sangeeta was the character's complexity. "She could be just another woman from your neighbourhood. But she knows exactly what she wants and what she is willing to put at stake for it."

Manoj Bajpayee in 'Last Man in Tower'

There was another incentive to say yes to Last Man in Tower - it finally gave Dutta the chance to share the frame with Bajpayee after barely having scenes together in earlier projects. She said, "We've been in the same films, but never shared screen space. But the wait has paid its dividends. He is an amazing co-actor; so easy, so intelligent, and comes with rich life experience. So, when I have someone like him in front of me, the scene is elevated."

Manoj Bajpayee-Divya Dutta films

. ‘LOC: Kargil' (2003)'

. ‘Veer-Zaara' (2004)

. ‘Special 26' (2013)

. ‘Traffic' (2016)