Neha Dhupia

Ever since Neha Dhupia clambered into Ek Chalis Ki Last Local, she probably feels formula films are all mithya. The actress who does things differently, talks about why she does films cheese and chalk...

You have decided to take a trip to a different destination ever since you got onto Ek Chalis Ki Last Local. Mithya seems to be a step in that direction.

Mithya is not an arthouse film. Is it fair to call films that are more sensible, arthouse films? No doubt it is a film made on a smaller budget but it’s a commercial film nonetheless. We are not being pseudo in the film; it has romance and comedy. I think ‘niche’ will be a better term to describe it.

Rajat Kapoor claims you have given your finest performance in Mithya. He says, ‘People will stop calling her a glam doll after this’.

I think people are still going to call me glamorous! Unfortunately, people see more than they listen. If they want to continue doing that, I am okay with it. I would agree with Rajat that it is my one of my nicest films. Rajat is absolutely delightful as a director.

He also said it’s unfortunate that people still think of you as the heroine of Julie.

Let’s hope that Mithya does well at the box office. I really think this film will change things for me. A lot has happened for me after Chup Chup Ke and Ek Chalis... I got noticed in Dus Kahaniyaan too.

You are playing a gangster’s moll in Mithya...

I am Naseer’s moll but I have a romantic track with Ranvir (Shorey). In the film, I am trying to make something of my life but in the process end up being with the gangster. I have the drive to be an actress. The character has a tragic ring to her.

Did you feel intimidated by Naseer, one of the finest actors we have?

Oh yeah. I am sure even interviewing him is quite intimidating! I was playing his girlfriend so I was all the more intimidated by him.

You are doing another film, Maharathi, with Naseer. Are you more comfortable by now?

Yes. I am playing his wife in Maharathi.

Why was the release of Rama Rama Kya Hai Drama postponed time and again?

I have no idea. I have been very busy shooting for my film Raat Gayi Baat Gayi. Later, I was caught up with an awards night at which not only did I perform, but doubled as a host too.

What was your first reaction when you came to know you were starring with Rajpal Yadav in Rama Rama…?

I just laughed.

Are you playing a negative character in Singh Is Kinng?

I am part of a gang, which has good and bad elements. So it has varied shades.

Your character in Singh Is Kinng is called Julie. Why remind people of Julie?

Well, we just kept it for fun. It’s a comedy. Julie has a certain amount of recall value. My director deliberately has kept Julie as the name of my character.

How different is it to work in a hardcore commercial film like Singh is Kinng vis-a-vis a niche film like Mithya?

It’s very different because you don’t try and infuse logic into a commercial set-ups. For instance, there are five songs in the film only because you want to sell the music. Similarly, there is a reason for adding glamour, and a man can beat up 20 people because the hero needs to be perceived as an action hero. On second thoughts, it’s not that there is no logic; but the logic of commercial films is different.

You’ve had an unconventional career, choosing such diverse characters...

Well, isn’t that what an actor is all about? We keep saying we have to be like the people in the West and our films should be like English films. In the West, a role is a role — big role, small role, whatever. As long as a role is interesting, I am going to do it.

You have mostly played bold roles. Do you yearn to play the conventional good girl or a simple sari-clad woman?

I am dying to do such a role. The only script that I am looking for now is a beautiful love story. As soon as I get it, I will start working on it.

Aren’t you playing a simple woman in Raat Gayi Baat Gayi.

No. There is nothing simple about me ever!

But you said you were surprised Saurabh Shukla offered you a role of the simple wife in his film...

But I ended up being the glamorous one because it was more fun.

Have you broken off with boyfriend Ritwik?

No, that’s not true. We are very much together. I don’t know from where these rumours start.