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Divya Agarwal joins The 50: It’s our very own version of Squid Games
As Divya Agarwal prepares to enter the house of The 50, a new reality show, the actor talks about her strategies, and more
Divya Agarwal is stepping back into the reality space, but this time, she insists it feels nothing like anything she has done before. As she gears up to be part of The 50, a first-of-its-kind performance-driven reality show, Divya admits the biggest draw was the uncertainty of it all. “What excited me was that it’s completely unknown territory,” she says. “Whenever a show starts with a first season, whether it’s on TV or OTT, it’s always a clean slate. You’re creating the rules as you go, and that unpredictability really pulls at my competitive side.”
Unlike familiar formats where strategies and patterns are already established, Divya says The 50 offers no such comfort. “With something like Bigg Boss OTT at least you know what to expect mentally as a contestant. You go in prepared with a strategy. But here, it’s literally about performance—if you don’t win tasks, you don’t move ahead. There are no shortcuts,” she explains. “I genuinely wanted to test myself and see if I can still push my limits in a space like this.”
The 33-year-old adds, “After speaking to people who hesitated just because there are 50 contestants, I realised not everyone has that attitude of going in and giving it their all. That made me feel grateful—and confident. If there’s a challenge, I like to run straight into it.”
When asked about her preparations for the show, Divya says it goes beyond strategy and mindset. She reveals that the last couple of years have been transformative on a personal level. “This is indeed like getting our own version of Squid Game. It’s exciting in a way. You’re going in with a clean slate, and everything that happens is both thrilling and stressful, especially since there are no past versions for anybody’s reference,” she shares. “By the end of 2024, I realised I was out of shape—physically, in terms of strength and endurance. Last year, I focused on getting my health back and building my stamina. I honestly feel God was preparing me for this moment. Today, I’m more than ready for the show.”
Divya continues, “This show is not like any run-of-the-mill show out there. It requires you to perform, and that’s what my aim will be here. Performance and alliances are what will take you to the next level.”
When it comes to alliances, Divya is cautious but realistic. “This show doesn’t rely on audience votes, so either I help myself or I rely on the people inside the house,” she explains. “That makes it a risky call. You’re banking on yourself and your relationships, knowing very well that rules can change overnight. It’s like expecting the inspected, and that is a challenge in its own way.”
Despite having already won major reality shows in the past, Divya doesn’t shy away from admitting her hunger to win remains intact. “For me, it’s never been about need, it’s always been about want,” she says. “I want to win. I want to go ahead and get this as well. But it’s not pressure-driven. It’s more like, ‘Let’s see if three is a charm.’ Having said that, I don’t tell myself that I have to win. I tell myself I’ll give it my all, as that’s the mantra I choose to follow.”
