Diana Penty opens up on ‘Chhaava’ success, says 'I’m a huge critic of my own work'

Actor Diana Penty, who portrayed Mughal princess Zinat-un-Nissa Begum in the blockbuster ‘Chhaava’, says she welcomes both praise and criticism.The historical action drama, which stars Vicky Kaushal as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, grossed over Rs 600 crore at the Indian box office, becoming the highest-grossing Hindi film of the year.

Despite its commercial success, 'Chhaava' also attracted backlash for its portrayal of certain historical events."I’m a huge critic of my own work”Speaking about the mixed reactions, Diana told PTI, “It’s important to have both sides so that actors or makers can do better next time. I’m a huge critic of my own work.”

Diana Penty revealed that her role required minimal dialogue, which was a new challenge for her. “There was so much power in the silences, and that’s not easy to do,” she said.The actor focused on expressing emotions through subtle gestures and internalized feelings—something she hadn’t done before. While some praised her nuanced portrayal, others were less convinced. Still, she found the experience enriching: “I looked at the positive side of it.”

Other projects

On the professional front, Diana Penty will be next seen in the upcoming movie 'Detective Sherdil', which is directed by Ravi Chhabriya and starring Diljit Dosanjh in the lead.

The movie is scripted by Sagar Bajaj, Ravi Chhabriya and Ali Abbas Zafar. On the other hand, Diana Penty also played a pivotal role in 'Azaad' which earned a decent 3 star rating from ETimes with our official review reading, "‘Azaad’ struggles to maintain consistent tension.

The film underutilizes the potential of depicting the British officers' brutality, which could have heightened audience investment in Govind’s climactic horse-riding challenge. Director Abhishek Kapoor's restrained approach results in a film that feels partially realized, missing its full potential. While ‘Azaad’ has moments of grandeur, it is overshadowed by an overall lack of emotional and narrative payoff. It is a grand spectacle with noble intentions but leaves a muted impression."