Divya Dutta on Mumbai Redevelopment and Last Man in Tower: “We Have to Take a Step Forward”

As Mumbai continues to transform through redevelopment, Divya Dutta believes the city must find a way to balance modernisation with the relationships and community bonds that give neighbourhoods their identity. The actress recently reflected on this subject while discussing her film Last Man in Tower, which explores the emotional conflict surrounding the redevelopment of a Mumbai housing society.

In an exclusive conversation with Bollywood Hungama, Divya also opened up about playing Mrs. Puri, her experience working with Manoj Bajpayee and Boman Irani, and an unexpected memory from the film's shoot: Bajpayee cooking for his co-stars between intense scenes.

The film began streaming on ZEE5 on November 6, 2026, bringing its story of a divided housing society to a wider streaming audience.

Divya Dutta's Take on Mumbai's Redevelopment

For Divya, redevelopment is necessary, but progress should not come at the cost of everything that already exists. She acknowledged that older buildings eventually have to make way for newer infrastructure, but argued that emotional connections, compassion and shared values must remain part of the process.

In the interview, she said, “We do have to take a step forward.” She added that development should move alongside existing relationships, traditions and the values that hold communities together.

Her comments connect directly with the central conflict of Last Man in Tower. The film examines what happens when residents of an established housing society have different ideas about their future. For some, redevelopment offers a better home and financial opportunity. For others, leaving means giving up familiar surroundings, memories and relationships.

Divya's perspective is not a rejection of development. Instead, she argues for a balance between better infrastructure and the human connections that can easily get overlooked during urban transformation.

Playing Mrs. Puri Was a Different Experience

In the film, Divya plays Mrs. Puri, a woman whose personal circumstances and aspirations place her in a complicated position within the society's redevelopment dispute.

The actress said the character's vulnerability was central to her preparation. Mrs. Puri has spent much of her life attending to family responsibilities without giving herself the space to pursue her own dreams. When an opportunity for a different future appears, she finds herself confronting difficult choices.

Divya also credited improvisations during filming for adding further depth to the character. She said she was surprised by how relatable audiences found the role, particularly because the film does not make it easy to decide which character is entirely right or wrong.

She identified two emotionally demanding moments as particular favourites: Mrs. Puri's breakdown in front of Boman Irani's character and her outburst involving Manoj Bajpayee's character.

Manoj Bajpayee's Unexpected On-Set Talent: Cooking

One of the most memorable anecdotes from Divya's conversation involved Bajpayee's enthusiasm for cooking and feeding the cast.

Recalling a shoot at an actual location on the third floor of a building without a lift, Divya described how the actor would repeatedly move between cooking and performing his scenes. He would prepare food, return to the set for an intense shot, and then come back to check on the cooking.

She remembered how generously he shared the food with the team. The anecdote offered a glimpse of the informal camaraderie behind a film built around emotionally charged performances.

Divya also praised the working atmosphere created by Bajpayee and Irani. She described both actors as grounded performers who made the set feel comfortable, allowing colleagues to experiment, improvise and move naturally between intense scenes and lighter moments.

Why Last Man in Tower Is Relevant to Mumbai Today?

Directed by Ben Rekhi, Last Man in Tower is based on Aravind Adiga's novel of the same name. Manoj Bajpayee plays Yogesh Mishra, a retired teacher who refuses to leave his apartment despite the redevelopment offer accepted by other residents. Boman Irani portrays developer Dharmen Shah, while Divya plays Sangita Puri.

The film's conflict is not simply about one resident opposing a construction project. It examines how money, aspirations, family needs, attachment to home and competing ideas of progress can divide people who have lived alongside one another for years.

The Hindi film premiered on ZEE5 on November 6, following its theatrical release earlier in 2026. Its subject has particular relevance in a city where redevelopment is reshaping established residential neighbourhoods.

The Celebrity Hour Take

Divya Dutta's comments point to the question that makes Last Man in Tower more than a conventional redevelopment drama: what should a city preserve when its buildings change?

New infrastructure can improve living conditions, but a neighbourhood is also made up of everyday relationships, familiar faces and shared memories. These connections are not automatically recreated when residents move into modern towers.

The film places different personal interests in conflict rather than offering a simple answer. Divya's observations add another dimension to that debate: progress and preservation do not necessarily have to be opposites, provided communities make an effort to carry their human connections forward.

Sources & Verification

This report draws on Divya Dutta's November 6 exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama, including her comments about redevelopment, her character and Manoj Bajpayee's cooking. Her broader views on housing communities were cross-checked against a separate Moneycontrol interview. The film's cast, director, story premise and streaming date were checked against ZEE5's listing and the film's release coverage.