On Fire

Fifteen years after she made her Hindi film debut, Neha Dhupia talks about how she and the industry have changed—and why she now asks different questions of her directors.

- Nikita Sawant

She may not play the heroine anymore, but Neha Dhupia is quite okay with that. She knows she makes a mark anyway. Take Tumhari Sulu, for example. She didn’t play the lead, and yet managed to bring to life a character who gently and efficiently enables another woman to chase her dreams. That’s the best thing about Dhupia—she knows the importance of staying relevant and she’s not one to waste your time. I watch her at the Femina cover shoot and am astonished at how quickly she gets the shots in the bag. This is largely due to Dhupia’s razor-sharp focus and her determination to get the job done, and done well. As I chat with her for this interview, she tells me about herself and her work. And the one thing that’s above it all—family.

Was the entertainment industry always the path you wanted to take?

Yes, from the time I consciously thought about the job I wanted to do, I knew this was it. I started off with theatre in college. After that, I did a couple of modelling assignments— I remember my first was with Pradeep Sarkar. That being said, I also wanted to be an athlete and an IAS officer—it’s also what my dad wanted me to be. At some point, you have to sort of decide between what you’re good at and what your parents’ ambitions are for you. I started off 15-16 years ago when there weren’t many acting schools. I had to do it on my own, and I don’t know if I did it well. But somewhere, it all worked out because I’m sitting here talking to you about it today. I think winning the Miss India crown helped me as well.

You’ve been in the industry for over a decade now. How have things changed from when you started out?