Neha Dhupia break up with Ritwik

Neha Dhupia break up with Ritwik

Another
actor-sportsman affair bites the dust. Neha Dhupia and squash player
Ritwik Bhattacharya have apparently split. The break-up came to the fore
during the Sunburn Festival that was held in Goa a few days back, where
to everyone’s surprise, the duo completely ignored each other. Says an
eyewitness, “We all were surprised to find Neha and Ritwik studiously
avoiding each other at the event.”

A friend of Neha confirms that the two have indeed broken up. “The
relationship didn’t work because Neha kept postponing the marriage on
some pretext or the other.” The friend adds, “It’s true that Neha had
agreed to marry Ritwik but she didn’t share his enthusiasm as far as
marriage was concerned.”

Neha Dhupia wants to bare less on the big screen

Mithiya
got a lot of praise at the Osian Film Festival?

Yes, I am glad about that fact. Mithiya is a lovely movie. I remember on
my first day on the sets, I was told very politely, we are all actors,
not stars, and everyone is treated in that manner. It was a good thing.

So do you break away from the sexy image in this one?

I play a struggling actor, so the gloss is there, but what is also there
is scope. We indulged in ‘real cinema’. That was the difference. I met
people who made movies just out of sheer passion and for the love of
cinema.

We remember the sexy bikini debut in Qayamat. We’ve also not seen you
with your ‘mommy’ on the sets. You seem to belong to the bolder category
of actresses…

Does a woman-banker go with her mommy to the bank or a sales girl with
her mommy to sell products? Then why the need for my mom to accompany me
on the sets? I am independent that way, and can hold my own. Also, about
the bikini, it was no big deal. And it’s not like I am taking off my
clothes in every film. What do people expect? Do they want me to wear a
burkha or do they want to see me draped in a sari? Frankly, I’m quite a
water baby and was having a blast in my bikini.

You are considered hot and sexy…

The lesser clothes you wear, the more people look at you, and the lesser
they listen to you. But I’ll hopefully be able to change that. Also, I
don’t think I’m hot-n-sexy. I’m more of the ‘cute’ kinds. This ‘image’
thing is a big responsibility and not an ego booster. You have to take
care of your body, face and at the end of the day you are still
reprimanded for not doing enough.

Is it advisable to burn bridges with the likes of Sanjay Gupta like
you’ve just done?

That was a misunderstanding. It wasn’t anyone’s fault. I am a
professional and keep to my commitments. I guess I’ll just give this
issue time. Hopefully, it’ll eventually sort itself out.

You received a lot of threatening calls recently…

It’s scary when you get 320 missed calls in a span of minutes. The
culprit has been tracked and we are at ease now. However, it’s important
to up the security systems, and with my fauji father, most of it has
been sorted for me.

High
on the success of her recent films Shootout At Lokhandwala and Ek
Chaalis Ki Last Local, and the tremendous response her performance in
Mithiya garnered at the recent Osian Film Festival, Bollywood hottie
Neha Dhupia is one busy gal nowadays. The actress has been flooded with
offers and is juggling her time reading scripts and shooting. But in
spite of her hectic schedule, the actress recently took some time off to
judge the Miss Mirchi Kanpur Contest organised by Radio Mirchi on July
24. A former beauty queen herself, she thoroughly enjoyed being on the
other side of the stage for once. However, what was interesting was that
this beauty pageant of sorts saw girls between the ages of three to six
participate. The girls dressed in Mirchi style (red and green) were
judged on the basis of their appearance and performance. “Oh, It was a
lovely experience. Though, it was a tough job picking up one winner,”
revealed Neha, who also inaugurated Radio Mirchi Kanpur office. And
while, Miss Mirchi Kanpur received a Sony Handycam, and all the other
contestant were gifted Sony two-inones, Neha got the most priceless gift
of all. “The beautiful memory of their smiles and the overwhelming
response I got,” said Neha, who currently has a mixed bag of films
including I Am 24, Kuch Love Kuch Drama and Dus Kahaniyan.

Neha Dhupia on her pet peeves and walking barefoot in
London

Yaar,
photo mat kheencho,” says an exasperated Neha Dhupia to the crowd of
visibly excited youths trying to catch her on their mobile. “These
camera phones really freak me out. I guess there’s too much of tech
intruding in our lives these days,” she says.

So, what are the other things that drive Neha mad? “You could call me
a normal girl with a mad streak,” smiles she. Huh? “You want to know the
maddest thing I have done? I went shopping barefoot in London. I was
shopping for shoes there, and by the time I tried three shops, I was
tired of getting back into my own shoes again. So I just went barefoot.”

Neha’s lost oodles of weight, and she poses for photo-ops, sans
makeup, her hair just towel-dried, with a confidence that’s refreshing
in a star. Did she get too tired of putting on make-up too? “Didn’t I
tell you earlier that I am a normal girl most of the times?” asks Neha,
and with a laugh, tells us, “I receive many compliments about my figure
these days. And it feels damn good.” Oh well… “No, I mean it. I’ve been
working out like a maniac.”

And? “And life’s been good the past couple of years,” says Neha. Is
Ritwik the reason for this? “He’s special, my closest pal. But don’t ask
me about marriage. It’s not a part of my plans for now,” she signs off.

Neha Dhupia all thrilled about Osian

She’s
come a long way from her bikini clad roles to serious
character roles in her stint in Bollywood. Of late, Neha
Dhupia is quite thrilled that her new film, Mithya, directed
by Rajat Kapur (of Bheja Fry fame), is going to be screened
at a forthcoming film festival.

Talking about the film Neha says, “Mithya been
beautifully made and I am really excited about it.” The
movie is a comedy based on the life of a bad actor who is
desperately looking for work. Neha’s co-stars in the film
include Naseerudin Shah and Ranveer Shorey.

Next, with movies like Saurabh Shukla’s I am 24, Kuch
Love Kuch Drama (with Anupam Kher and Rajpal Yadav) and Dus
Kahaniyan in her kitty, things are definitely looking up for
this Punjabi kudi.

It’s golf for Neha Dhupia

With
Ek Chalis Ki Last Local opposite Abhay Deol in the pipeline, Neha Dhupia
is keeping her fingers crossed. “I’ll be seen doing a variety of roles
in my forthcoming films. As an actress, I don’t look at boundaries. The
kind of roles I have done in the past and the ones I am doing now are
different and interesting at the same time. I want to grow as an actress
and I’m lucky to be getting the right kind of work,” she says. Recently,
Neha was in Delhi to be part of a golf tournament. “I just need an
excuse to fly down here to meet my parents and friends. Of course, from
food to shopping, everything about Delhi is special,” she says. And
about her personal life and beau - squash player Ritwik Bhattacharya -
she says, “Everything seems just fantastic for me right now. But hey,
I’m here to enjoy a good game of golf, so let’s not talk about squash.”
Point taken, Neha!

Neha Dhupia steps into Urmila’s shoes

One person’s loss is another’s gain,” says Neha Dhupia, who has stepped
into Urmila Matondkar’s role in Apurva Lakhia’s Shootout At Lokhandwala.
Lakhia and producer Sanjay Gupta finalised her for the part of Sanjay
Dutt’s wife recently. “The film is exciting for me on many levels. I’ve
never done a real-life drama before,” says Neha.

The film starts shooting in August. “Sanjay Gupta has also signed me
for another film which will be part of his Dus Kahaniyan. I’ll be
starring in a film called Highway which Hansal Mehta will direct. The
story is written by Vishal Bhardwaj.”

Neha sees this as one of the most exciting phases in her career.
“There was a time after the release of Sheesha when I was doing some
serious rethinking about my priorities in life,” she says. “I was quite
cheesed off by that phase in my career. Chup Chup Ke seems to have
triggered off a new phase in my life. I think Apurva and Sanjay saw me
in Chup Chup Ke and selected me for Shootout At Lokhandwala.”

Neha has no fear about being lost in a multistarrer. “Not really.
See, I saw another real-life drama, Steven Spielberg’s Munich. In that
the hero’s pregnant wife had just five to six scenes. But look at the
impact she left! I want to make a similar impact with my wife’s role in

Shootout At Lokhandwala.”

Neha tired of her sexy siren image

Her sizzling hot and rather too bold performance in Julie, gave her the
tag of a sexy actress, but it seems Neha Dhupia has learnt her lesson.
Tired of the sexy portrayal, Neha now wants to shed that hot image and
rather play a variety of roles, to prove herself as a good actress.

I want to shed my sexy image!

I am tired of my sexy image. It has become so monotonous and any kind of
monotony puts me off. Now, I want to be different. I want to look
different and play such roles that audience don’t expect of me. Thanks
to Priyadarshan who got me out of this image, now I am doing quite a
variety of roles and working with all the renowned filmmakers like
Sanjay Gupta, Rajat Kapoor and Naseerudin Shah. I am playing a corporate
girl in Delhi Heights and Gangster in Rajat Kapoor’s Mytha. Then I have
a Sanjay Gupta’s film, which is a thriller. I am glad that I am getting
to play such varied characters.

Humorous innings

I enjoy comedy. Till date, I have worked in three comedies, so I think,
I’ve got a hold on comedies by now. Now, I feel much more confident than
before. But, the fact is that I just love being in front of the camera.

I don’t believe in the number game!

I don’t think there is any race in the industry. Creativity is something
you can’t race with. I am here to act. I want to give my 100 percent to
each and every role that comes my way. I am not in a hurry to reach
somewhere. I just want to be known as a good actress.

Beauty mantra

Just feel confident and be happy and it shows on your face. This is my
beauty mantra! Lots of work and lots of workout keep you fit and in
shape. As far my style statement is concerned, I prefer comfort over
fashion trends.

Neha Dhupia shedding her sexy image

“I’m sorry,” says Neha Dhupia as she lets out a yawn, “Things have been
really hectic of late. I’ve been shooting for Ek Chalis Ki Local and
promoting Chup Chup Ke. And I’m leaving Bangalore right after this,
going to Mumbai for the premiere of Chup Chup Ke and then to resume
shooting for Ek Chalis…” Ek Chalis… is an “interesting comic thriller”
about a guy and a girl who miss their last train at a Mumbai station.
“After that, I’m going to start work on Mithya. I’m really excited that
I’ll be working with Naseersaab in this film. I’m playing a gangster’s
moll, so that’s pretty cool,” she says.

She’s been in the news lately - she’s shedding her sexy Julie image:
“The whole point of being an actress is so that I can be a dentist on
Monday, a housewife on Tuesday, a sexy siren on Wednesday and whatever.
If I get stuck playing one kind of role, then it defeats the purpose.
It’s a waste of a profession!”

She says she’s choosing roles so she can be perceived as a versatile
actress. She’s doing Delhi Heights, a film about a couple working in the
corporate world. “The movie is set in a building complex and is about
Delhi’s changing culture. It’s about the couple’s personal lives
intruding into their professional lives. Usually it’s the other way
around,” she says. Then there’s Sanjay Gupta’s Dus Kahaniyaan, which is
along the lines of Darna Mana Hai, except that 10 different directors
will direct each kahani. She’s also playing a character similar to
Jessica Lal in Kumar Sanu’s Utthan, a movie she has reportedly
disassociated herself from. But ask her why and she simply says, “Next
question.”

But what Neha’s really looking forward to is “a well-deserved
week-long vacation in Cairo. It’s just going to be a bunch of friends
having fun. I’ll even catch some of the World Cup action,” she smiles.