I still think glamour sells: Neha Dhupia

Bollywood actress Neha Dhupia talks to Sonil Dedhia on Bollywood, her forthcoming films and her new game plan.

Neha Dhupia reveals her new game plan to Sonil Dedhia

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So what's been keeping Neha Dhupia busy?

Right now, a shoot of Shivam Nair's film with Naseeruddin Shah, Paresh Rawal and Boman Irani.. it's tentatively titled

Chala

Murari

Murder

Karne

. Then, there's Rajat Kapoor's

Mithiya

, Saurabh Shukla's

24

and

Rama

Rama

Kya

Hai

Drama

with Rajpal Yadav.

Have you deliberately omitted Sanjay Gupta's

Dus

Kahaniyaan

from the list because he hit out at you for not promoting

Shootout

At

Lokhandwala

?

Oh, that's been sorted. I wanted to promote

Shootout

.. but there was a misunderstanding that's still to be cleared. But we are back on track. I should be shooting a promotional song for

Dus

Kahaniyaan

soon.

Aren't you doing a negative role is

Singh

is

King

?

No.

Singh

Is

King

is a comedy.. so, even my character is funny.

Chala Murari Murder Karne

and

Mithya

..two films with Naseeruddin Shah. How come?

Yeah, it's exciting to be given the chance to do two films with an actor who's so phenomenally talented. He's a stalwart.. the entire industry looks up to him.

Your recent movies have been a little more than guest appearances. Why?

It's just that

Garam

Masala

,

Heyy

Babyy

and

Shootout

.. came in quick succession. I did

Heyy Babyy

for my dear friend Sajid (Khan).

Shootout

... was an all-guy film. So, I didn't have too much screen time. But, you can't dismiss it as a guest appearance.

But aren't the scripts now extremely male dominated?

Just because of

Shootout

.. and

Dhamaal

, it doesn't mean the media can start predicting a trend. It's happened in the past too.

After Julie, Murder

and

Jism

, the press said that scripts were getting more female-oriented and sex-dominated.

Do you still stand by your much-quoted-headline-grabber, "Only sex and Shah Rukh Khan sell"?

There are reasons why people say certain things at certain times. What they said three years ago, can't be true today.

You seem ready to shed your sexy symbol tag?

You could say that I no longer want to be associated with a particular image. It's important to do different things because that's the only way to retain your freshness. The beauty of being an actress is that you get to play different characters.

I'm not saying that I won't be sexy. (Laughs) It's difficult to not be glamorous. I still think glamour sells but one shouldn't forget the real things of life.

Do you regret doing

Sheesha

and

Julie

?

No, I don't. But I've become more mature now and only do films I enjoy. It's flattering when my director appreciates my work rather than my looks.

Your contemporaries are miles ahead. Isn't that frustrating?

Maybe it's taken me a little more time, but at least I'm happy with the work I'm doing. A million fans don't mean you're happy. There's so much competition. Just being another pretty face is not enough.

Buzz is that you will marry squash champion Ritwik Bhattacharya soon.

Ritwik is a dear friend whom I've known from my school days. It doesn't matter if I'm in a relationship or not, I'm not thinking of getting married right now.

Heroinegiri
Shootout at Lokhandwala (2007), Ek Chalis Ki Last Local (2007), Delhii Heights (2007), Utthaan (2006), Chup Chup Ke (2006), Kyaa Kool Hai Hum (2005), Sheesha (2005), Siskiyaan (2005), Julie (2004), Qayamat: City Under Threat