Diana Penty on intuition, quiet growth and the contrast between red-carpet glamour and her grounded everyday self
Fourteen years have passed since we first met actress Diana Penty, who graced the screens as the endearing Meera in Cocktail (2012). Since then, Diana has quietly become a force to be reckoned with, excelling in both filmmaking and fashion. Be it her versatility in roles across projects like Happy Bhag Jayegi (2016), Parmanu (2018), Do You Wanna Partner (2025) or even her Malayalam debut project Salute (2022), or her high-profile appearances across international platforms like the Cannes Film Festival, she has exuded immense grace and confidence. Furthermore, with relentless pace being an unstated norm for the industry, Diana has presented that growth can definitely be achieved with intentionality rather than frantic continuity. In the afterglow of a brilliant streak of recent releases that performed well at the box office like Chhaava (2025) — where she starred alongside Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna and Rashmika Mandanna — and a fun take on startup culture in Do You Wanna Partner where she stared alongside Tamannaah Bhatia, the Bollywood star recently visited Bengaluru to grace the launch of Rumi Fine Fragrances and Indulge caught up with her to learn much about her and her thoughts on the city alongside her journey as an artiste. In the tête-a-tête with us, we learn of a Diana who is ever so grounded by the nostalgic aesthetic and structures of old Mumbai, who trusts her own instincts to take the right decisions and how cleaning cluttered spaces has now become her foray into her newfound interest in redesigning interiors.
On a quick stopover in Bengaluru, Diana Penty gets candid about the power of intuition, her newfound love for interior design and how she stays grounded…
You have visited Bengaluru a couple of times before. What about the city’s environment or character do you like the most?
I’ve been to Bengaluru quite a few times over the years and I’ve always loved its vibe. It has a really vibrant energy and there’s a certain warmth and laid-back quality to it that I’ve always enjoyed. I hope to be back soon and spend a little more time here.
Over the years, with your wide range of film selections, what does a good script mean to you today?
Something that my gut and intuition tell me is that I should close my eyes and do it without questioning. I’ve realised that over the years, the one thing that has never let me down is my intuition and so I’ve decided I’m never going to go against it ever. When you read a script like that — you just know. At least, it’s happened with me every single time. Every time I read a script and I want to know more about it, or if it’s riveting, I want to keep turning the page and I don’t want to put it down. If the character appeals to me, the overall story just feels right; that’s the kind of film I’d do. It’s essentially the kind of film that I would want to watch as an audience member. It comes down to that. Whereas if I’m not feeling it and I just force myself to do it because, on paper, everything is good about it — I feel like those don’t always work for me personally. So, I’ve realised that my intuition is what I should always follow.
And how do you spend your time off between such projects to recuperate and work on yourself?
Frankly, the time between films or any kind of projects for me is just ‘being.’ Doing not much, not overburdening myself with anything physically or mentally. Just doing what I know works for me, makes me happy and just helps me be, because I think that’s that. Going to the gym, meeting my friends and cleaning up also helps. Sometimes, I just feel like settling and going through a wardrobe and clearing out. It just really helps to clean up your mind as well. I also often feel like doing up a certain space. I love interior decorating — I just love it! For some reason, it just comes quite naturally to me and I like doing up different corners differently. It’s very therapeutic. I just do things that I enjoy. Nothing specific. I don't like sticking to schedules or strict routines because, for some reason, that stresses me out. So when I want to spend time by myself, I just go with the flow and take the day as it comes.
You’ve always stood out on major national and international platforms wearing high-fashion pieces, but your everyday persona feels quite grounded. Is fashion an alter-ego for you while the real Diana prefers to play it quieter?
I don’t think of fashion as an alter ego because it has always been a form of selfexpression for me. I enjoy its creativity and I love collaborating with designers who have a strong point of view. But off the red carpet, I’m actually quite simple. My personal style has always leaned towards classic, timeless pieces — nothing too loud or overthought. I’ve never been someone who enjoys being the centre of attention just for the sake of it. So yes, there’s definitely a contrast between the glamour people see at events and who I am in everyday life. But both are authentically me. One is just work and creative expression, while the other is where I’m most comfortable.
Mail id: pranav.shriram@newindianexpress.com