5 Minutes With Neha Dhupia

Actor Neha Dhupia talks to Cosmo about her latest stint as a film producer, the kind of projects she’d like to put her weight behind, and why she’d love to swap lives with husband Angad Bedi.

- Humra Afroz Khan

Cosmo: Congratulations on turning a film producer with Step Out.

Neha Dhupia: “Thank you. I have been a producer for my podcast, No Filter Neha, for almost five years now, but yes, this is my first film as producer.”

C: Tell us about the film and how you decided to come on board.

ND: “It’s a short film that talks about a very important issue: mental health. It explores abuse, how we can come out of it, and most importantly, why we need to talk about it. We don’t have as many conversations about abuse as we should—there’s such a stigma attached to it. So when director Hridaye Nagpal offered the film to me, he asked me to come on board as an actor, but I felt this issue needed to be amplified much more, so I signed up as the producer, too.”

C: What kind of films would you like to put your weight behind, as a producer?

ND: “For me, content needs to be interesting, entertaining, and stimulating. And my intention to produce a film is not so much to see it only as a commercial success, but for it to make a difference. Of course, I want to expand the business and be associated with successful projects, but the bigger idea is to put out the right content—to focus on conversations that we need to have, to touch on issues that can perhaps change someone’s life for the better after they watch that film. Like Step Out. When you talk about mental health and abuse, those going through it will, hopefully, either get the strength to step away from a toxic relationship, or do something about it. If it can help anyone, that’ll be the real win for me.”

C: And as an audience, what kind of movies do you enjoy watching?