Mumbai, December 09: She’s faltered like any other outsider trying to get a foothold in the cut-throat glamour industry that hardly rolls out the red carpet unless it’s family. But this navy chick wasn’t to be taken lightly. Whether it’s her style quotient or choice of films, with every move that she’s made in the last 10 years, Neha Dhupia has proved that she is here for the long haul.
But by choosing films with bold roles and skin-show didn’t she know she was moving into a danger zone that mainstream Bollywood looks at with disdain? “It wasn’t intentional. Yes, I started out with skin-show, exposure, bold roles and all that. But you know what? Making a mark with those roles wasn’t that difficult for me. The hardest part has been trying to break out of that sexy image. It has taken a lot of toil and a lot of time. I’ve gone without work for almost a year because what came at hand were all offshoots of a Julie or a Sheesha. I’m proud of these films, they were good films, but at the cost of losing work, I decided to take a complete detour.”
This is one industry where sex sells. And once you fall into that trap of selling it well, turning back is a rocky road. “Oh yes, sex sells in every way possible… behind closed doors, in front of the camera… I cannot say any more,” she says with a mysterious look. “You are walking a tightrope and you’ve got to know how to balance. I had to be extremely patient in that time, refusing projects which would mean more money, even big banners…”
-Agencies