Neha Dhupia feels awkward kissing

By: Subhash K. Jha, IndiaFM
Monday, July 02, 2007
"I guess sometimes people make films to put in as many kissing scenes as possible. And then you make a film where if a kissing scene is important then you gotta do it. It's always awkward to do it. It's always awkward to watch yourself doing it again and again," said Neha Dhupia when asked about kissing Abhay Deol in Ek Chalis Ki Last Local. She was also seen in a bit role in Apoorva Lakhia's underworld-police die hard Shootout at Lokhandwala recently.

Shootout Producer Sanjay Gupta is miffed with you for not promoting the film (she didn't attend the music launch of the film). "That's not true. I wanted to promote it but unfortunately there was a misunderstanding and it hasn't been cleared as yet. As an individual it doesn't matter if I work with big or small banners. But what matters is that I ought to be a thorough professional and my commitments are always going to be the ones I stick to first. Unfortunately on the day of the launch (music launch) I was meant to be in Switzerland for a commitment. He hasn't taken it well. Hopefully it should get cleared in the future. We are also doing Dus Kahaniyan together," Dhupia clarified.

There have been reports that you are very excited about Rajat Kapoor's Mithiya. "I saw Mithiya in an in house trial. I am amazed how beautifully Rajat has made the film. Ranvir Shourie has excelled as a performer in the film. I am also not so bad. I had taken a bunch of my friends for the trial. The show ended at 11.30pm and we were discussing the film till 5 in the morning. It must have been a bloody good film." What's the film all about? "Mithiya means lie. It's about a guy Ranvir Shourie who comes to Bombay to become an actor. Everything happens, except him. He acts but he is not an actor."

It is clear Neha Dhupia has come a long way from the days when she made famous statements like "Only sex and Shahrukh Khan sells" to selling a small film like Mithiya that may or may not have a big-time release. She arose from the waters of seduction like a nymph in a blood warming bikini in her first film Qayamat. Sleazy B grade films like Julie and Sheesha followed where she uninhibitedly kissed and preened and showed too much of skin. Any regrets? "I don't have anything against Julie. Half of the people don't know my name... they're like... Julie...I get a little embarrassed but then I am ok if they recognize you because of the character that is bigger than you. It obviously is a big compliment. As for Sheesha, what was narrated was not brought forward. Everybody makes mistakes. And I am glad that I made them at an early stage."

If today you get offers where a lot of skin show is involved, would you accept it? "If it is as simple as looking glamorous and an on screen kiss then everybody is doing it. If one gets a lot more as an actor then I would but if it is for the heck of it then count me out," Neha says defiantly. And what about item songs! Are you game for it? "I don't mind doing item songs. Some actresses have not looked good in their films as they have looked in their item songs. I would love to do it. If I get a good one and if someone does it fursat se over six or seven days, I'd love to do it."

If you look at the films Neha Dhupia is doing currently or has finished already (it includes Rajat Kapoor's Mithiya, Saurabh Shukla's I am 24, Kuch Love Kuch Drama with Anupam Kher and Rajpal Yadav and Dus Kahaniyan) you'd realize there's a tilt towards serious more meaningful cinema. No wonder she has interesting things to say about Bheja Fry director Sagar Ballary. "I don't know how many people know it but Sagar's film was ready (Bheja Fry) for release but he was working on Mithiya as an associate director. Guys like him are so passionate and that's why they have come a long way."

And what about Yash Chopra and Karan Johar brand of big cinema! Wouldn't you want to be a part of it? "I would love to. I need a little bit of time I guess. Some people have it easier, some people have it tougher. I have come a long way. I never wanted to be an actor. From having dreams of being an IFS officer to ending up in Bollywood... I have come a long way. Having said that, I still have a long way to go and I am working towards that," Neha said with a high voltage smile serving as a perfect good-night-bye. It was still raining as we stepped out. Not raining Hits as Neha Dhupia would want to. A nice and easy trickle that left the atmosphere with a pleasant chill... It was a welcome change from the heat-n-humidity of the past.