I feel Neha Dhupia is one of those actresses who has been consistent with her work. When I saw Neha her in A Thursday I fell for her acting capabilities. She played a pregnant cop in that film and she was actually expecting during that time. Be it Qayamat: City Under Threat, Julie, Ek Chalis Ki Last Local, or Lust Stories, I have always found something new in her performance. As Neha completes 20 years in the showbiz, she speaks to us in an exclusive interview about her journey, how the industry has changed and lots more.
Read excerpts from the conversation here:
On choosing a path to be an actor…
Somewhere I had a feeling or an incline that I was cut out for something not this. I didn’t know what. When you are by yourself, you tell yourself that somethings gonna happen. I read this thing in the morning about waking up feeling good about yourself. Because that one moment that you were waiting for your entire life could happen today. I always feel like something amazing is going to happen. I got into modeling, theater and it is very risky for anyone in our family has ever done. All I knew that those were stepping stones to some place and I was climbing up some sort of ladder and I didn’t know. I am still climbing, it’s a hard climb. I consider myself as a person who has been Miss India, did movies, changed paths, had my success and failures. It is hard and I can’t believe I lasted 20 years.
On why do people can’t get enough of Bollywood…
Everything in life comes with an expiry date be it a pack of biscuits, or life by itself. You have seen in sports people retire by saying now we are done, But very rarely you see anyone in the film industry who says I am done or I am not doing it anymore. They could take a sabbatical. But no one ever says that I am done and I am not coming back. It’s a marshy land. It keeps sucking you in. You need to keep your head up and you can’t sink.
On how Bollywood has changed…
I feel right now, it is a great place to be. It’s cooler, cleaner, more professional. The writers have more importance, there is value to everything. It is no more a choti picture or a badi picture, there’s inclusivity.
On entering films in early 2000…
We came in thinking that we are not the 90’s lot. It was the onset of Facebook, Twitter. Their reach was not that much as it is now. The dependency of our film’s success would not depend on how many reels you could actually make but it is also great that you can do that now. We have seen ourselves on cool magazine covers. Mithya, Ek Chalis Ki Last Local or Phas Gaye Re Obama, I have been a part of cinema that has done that kind of work. If those film are put on OTT now, I would be so much more watched. We have seen the larger amount of change. We got into movies when people thought it isn’t a real job, but now everyone wants to be into movies.
On working while being pregnant…
I have been in a situation where I couldn’t follow my professional commitments. I had been asked to step down as I was pregnant. It means that I have to start fresh again. It wasn’t like you got to take a sabbatical. I feel I am a part of a change because I am one of those women who carried a baby in their belly and said here I am performing a cops role. Somewhere down the line, I am hoping that many years from now people will take examples from all of us, talking about Kareena or me or a lot of actresses who are okay and willing to work during their pregnancy.
On being a part of big projects…
I am very scared of big setups. The bigger the project, the more scared I am to involve myself. When it is a small film, then its cool but when it is a big setup then it’s like 18 trailers, and one among them is yours, then I am like I don’t want to be a part of this. But I feel all I wanna do is work. My sense of being, security or validation all of that comes with me waking up and going to work. There is a lot of gratitude in my heart because of the fact that there is work.
Watch the entire conversation here:
Well, we wish the actress all the best and expect her to complete 20 more years.