I am a struggler – Neha Dhupia

Her last box-office outing Dear Friend Hitler did not set the cash registers ringing, but Neha Dhupia is back with her latest offering Pappu Can’t Dance Saala

Taniya Talukdar

taniya.t@postnoon.com

 

Neha Dhupia might have been the latest victim of over-exhaustion in the film industry but that hasn’t deterred her at all. The lady is up and about, fulfilling her film promotion commitments and enjoying every bit of it. In her upcoming film, Pappu Can’t Dance Saala, Neha is playing the role of a back-up dancer and talking about her role, Neha says, “I play the role of Mahek Malwade who is from a small town but comes to Mumbai to work in films and she dreams of making it big in the industry. There is also this character called Vidyadhar Acharya who is from Benaras. He and Mahek, are poles apart and hate each other. But as destiny would have had it, they end up as neighbours and romance ensues.”

Though Neha has worked with good friend Vinay Pathak in three other films, this is the first time that she has been romantically paired opposite him. “The chemistry that I share with Vinay, I don’t have it with anyone else. We are great friends and I can say that he brings out the best in me,” quips Neha about her working relationship with the actor.

Neha in fact feels that her co-actors Rajat Kapur, Vinay Pathak and Saurabh Shukla have helped her grow many folds as an actor. “They are institutions in themselves and there is no denying the fact that I have benefitted in more ways than one from them. They nourish me and helped me grow, what else can I ask for?” questions a candid Neha who thinks that she has more milestones to cover.

“Though today I know for a fact that I have made a place for myself, but within I also know that I still have a long way to go. I have got more chances than anyone else and I really appreciate people for having faith in me,” offers Neha, going on to add, “I am in a great place but I don’t want to get comfortable. I still have lots of things to do, I am a struggler just like Mahek Malwade though I have found my own calling.”

On her own admission, Neha feels that she is an underrated actor, “Often, people have told me that I am underrated and I quite agree,” confesses the actor.

When it comes to choosing a role, for Neha the budget is not a deterrent. Going by her choice of films so far, we have seen that her career has had a mix of films ranging from big-budget to medium to low-budget ones. We wonder what is her criteria for doing a particular film? “My mojo lies in the script and how well the story is told. I don’t see whom I am paired opposite, the budget or the makers, as long as the script is strong, I am happy doing it,” clarifies Neha.

The actor who has also acted in a few Telugu films, thinks that the film industry down South is a great place to be in. “Cinema in the South is so much advanced, the cinema and stories are just great here. Just see what happened to Kolaveri Di. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of such an illustrious industry? As and when I get a chance, I will surely do films here,” shares Neha. She is also keen on contributing towards Punjabi cinema and will do one when the script is right. The actor who recently turned entrepreneur with her newly launched lingerie website, thinks that film promotion is a very important aspect of filmmaking now. “Promoting a film is as important as acting in it,” expresses Neha.

Unlike most of her colleagues in the industry, Neha is a supporter of curvy women. She says, “I have always been curvy and I feel women look great in curves. I never supported size zero and never will. Women should have some meat on them and shouldn’t look like men!” Well, we get the drift Neha.

Tags: actor, bollywood, dear friend hitler, featured, full-image, neha dhupia, pappu can't dance saala

Category: Arts & Entertainment, Bollywood