Neha Dhupia, 34, is strong and emotional, but not delusional. She is strong enough to take failure, but not strong enough to take hurt. Her family means the world to her and while she is extremely honest, she is often misunderstood. Over a cup of coffee, ahead of her upcoming film Ekkees Toppon Ki Salaami, she talks to Bombay Times about her love for her parents, her reasons for feeling lonely and how becoming a Miss India changed her life forever. Excerpts:

Talk about your journey to become a Miss India?
I was born and raised in Kerala, as my dad was from the navy. So I have pretty much grown up around jelly fish and jumping in the ocean. I moved to Delhi later when my dad got posted there. My life's ambition was to do History or Political Science so that I could get into the IAS as that is what my dad wanted. And my life's ambition was to get that extra half-an-hour of sleep so I decided to not go to Delhi's North campus and instead go to Jesus and Mary College just for that extra sleep that I could manage. While in college, I started doing theatre with Shiamak Davar and Roshan Abbas.We were doing a musical and guess who my dance instructor was? It was Shahid Kapoor. He always thought that our group of girls were the most notorious ones. Shahid was extremely reserved and focused only on teaching. Then I modelled for a little bit and went on to doing a Japanese movie. I started getting modelling assignments. The first one was directed by Pradeep Sarkar with Shoojit Sircar as its executive producer. I then did a television serial directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia with Randeep Hooda as my boyfriend in the serial. I remember I had just got my new car after making some money from modelling and he would say, 'I am from Australia. Put on the air conditioning.' He was adorable and we now laugh thinking about that. Randeep is politically incorrect and I like that.





Divyendu Sharma, 31, is soft-spoken, bright and honest. While dumbness triggers anger in him, he himself is aware that he is not that open when it comes to expressing his emotions to the outside world. He made his debut with Pyaar Ka Punchnama and is now playing the lead role in the father-son story with Anupam Kher as his father in Ekkees Toppon Ki Salaami. Over a cup of coffee, he talks to Bombay Times about his struggling years, the fun he had working with David Dhawan and why he loves his parents the most in the world. Excerpts:

How did you come into films?
I was born and brought up in Delhi and was always interested in acting and was pathetic in studies. In class X, I scored just 49% so had to settle with taking Arts in Class XI. But with Arts, something special happened. I suddenly started liking studies and life changed without having to do Physics and Maths and Chemistry and Biology and I suddenly became a very good student. I passed Class XII with 84%.My father could not believe it, so much so that he asked if I had faked my marksheet. I had started liking Political Science so much that I took up Political Science honours in Kirori Mal College (KMC) during graduation. KMC became the most important step in my life as I joined the theatre society there called 'Players'. I really enjoyed it and was really good at it and it became clear that I wanted to be an actor. I applied to both NSD and FTII and got through both, but chose FTII as I wanted to do films as against theatre and came to Pune. I passed out in 2006 and came to Mumbai and my struggle began. I struggled for about three-and-a-half years before I got Kumar Mangat's Pyaar Ka Punchnama and then David Dhawan's Chashme Baddoor.

Talk about those struggling years?
Financially  during those years after coming to Mumbai, I would support myself doing small plays for corporates or doing one ad here and there. We were four of us from FTII, sharing a two-room rented place in Goregaon. One of my friends was in editing and one from sound, so I would sometimes assist them to make little money. There were, of course, some very bad days when you knew that you couldn't spend more than a certain amount for a meal. There was this small restaurant called Corner Darbar, where you could get mutton with four rotis at Rs 32, so I settled onto a budget of  Rs 32 per meal. That's what I needed to manage. My older sister has always been supportive and in fact, my brother-in-law treated me like a son and would always help out, but you can't keep asking your sister for money. I could never send her money for any rakhi, in fact, she would send me money. Till date, my sister doesn't accept money from me, even though I am now earning well but for her, I am still her younger brother.

Were your parents supportive of your decision to take up acting?
My father is now retired, but used to work in the ITDC-owned Hotel Janpath. While my mother always supported me, they were a little apprehensive of me wanting to become an actor, coming from a middle class background where financial security is important. But my dad also knew that apart from this, I was not good at anything else and after I went to FTII, he became clear that I was only going to pursue acting. I love my parents the most in the world. They have always been with me through thick and thin. If I had a son and I was in a government job and he told me he wanted to be an actor, I would have found it very difficult to accept that, but he did. There are not just financial pressures, but also societal pressures where relatives ask you all kinds of questions of allowing such a choice. To face those questions is a challenge. I would always hide my struggle from them and spoke to them with a smiling face so that they would feel that I am managing. For myself, I could have struggled even five more years, but I could not break their heart. So when I got my first debut award for Pyaar Ka Punchnama, it was for my mom. And I told her, 'Mom, this is your answer to society.'

Who is your emotional anchor?
Now, my wife Akanksha. I met her in college and we were just best friends for 6-7 years till love actually happened. We got married just after Pyaar Ka Punchnama. I realised how much I missed her in Mumbai. Actually, I had liked her right from the beginning, but did not confess earlier as I was scared about losing my friendship with her that I valued a lot. Her father is from the police and mother, a doctor, so I was scared that if something wrong would happen, they would suppress it both medically and criminally. I like her silences as she doesn't talk too much and yet she is so receptive. During my struggling years, she did not once give me advice on 'Tu body bana le or portfolio banale.' She would only say, 'I have faith in you.Keep at it.' There are bad days when I would call her and say, 'It's all very bad out here. It just doesn't work on merit, you know.' I would have given a very good audition and knew from the eyes of the person taking it, but yet, I would not bag the role. It was very frustrating. Parents usually complain that their child is not working. But in my case, it was the opposite, where I wanted to work, but was not getting work. Akanksha likes my honesty and good looks, but she would like me to express myself more. I am a very open and very light-feet person with my friends, but very reserved with outsiders or even my parents. I don't really show my emotions in real life, but I am working on it.

Your experience of working with David Dhawan in Chashme Baddoor?
Chashme Baddoor was a paid holiday. Working with David Dhawan sir is one of the things to do in every actor's bucket list. David sir does not have the habit of giving an actor his script. If he called you and you asked him, 'Sir, script?' the phone would immediately cut. He told me, 'See Divyendu, there is nothing in my film that you need to prepare at home for and come. I will give you the scene on set. You do it however you are getting the feel of it, baaki main hoon na.' In his film, I felt that someone has sent me to hit runs in the slog overs and I hit it. I really enjoyed it. He is also from FTII and was like my proud father on set.

Any bad experiences?
I realised that in school till Class X, I was a bad student. Suddenly in Class XI, I became a good student. I went up when I went to college when I got appreciated for my theatre and my political science. I went again ahead after getting FTII that had again started their acting course after 28 years with my batch. I then came to Mumbai and was down. I auditioned for a big production house and landed myself the role of the main villain. The director handed me the script. I was terribly excited and every day, for a month, I would prepare for it till it dawned on me that no one had got back to me after being selected and that there may be a problem. I cannot forget my walk back into the director's office. The look on the faces of everyone told me there was something wrong and the director told me how I had been replaced by the producer. I had realised by now that there was a pattern to my life and that I should just put on my seat belts waiting to fly, now that I was down. I got selected for a Virgin Atlantic ad, in which I played a sardar from where the makers of Pyaar Ka Punchnama saw me, auditioned me and I was selected. I was always told that in the industry, the script is more than a cheque. But due to that one incident, every time I get a role, I am always scared till I actually do the film. I am now looking forward to Ekkees Toppon Ki Salaami, where you will see me in a serious drama role as against comedy that I have done so far.





"I've been typecast as an honest man, and this is the only kind of typecasting I don't mind,“ says Anupam Kher, getting ready to, therefore, give some straight, honest answers. This is in reference to his upcoming film Ekkees Toppon Ki Salaami, in which he plays a scrupulously honest municipal worker who gets embroiled in a corruption case, which kills him -and that's just where things begin. Otherwise, says Anupam, honesty is what he lives by, since he finds it “exhausting“ to be dishonest or fake - and he's quite honest about his political beliefs. “I feel honesty has to have a face. If Modiji (PM Narendra Modi) at this stage is the face of aspiration, similarly in cinema, Balraj Sahni was associated with honesty ... There is so much corruption, but when they want a symbol of an honest man, without sounding boastful, they think Anupam ko le lete hain, aaram ho jayega,“ he says. Excerpts from the ensuing thrust and parry:

In this typecasting as an honest man, aren't you often cast as a helplessly honest man?
An honest man is always helpless, because it's been cool to be dishonest. But I always say, it's cool to be honest today. I believe in it - a triumph is always about a weak, honest man who triumphs in the end. Honesty does not have a majority.

Speaking of honesty and majority, why didn't you contest the elections (his wife Kirron did for the BJP and became the Chandigarh MP)?
I'm very happy doing what I'm doing; I don't think I'm prepared to devote my time to politics. When I am, I'd like to give it 100%. I'm not in the frame of mind, and I'm too greedy an actor to do that. In my own way, if I go for a debate, I speak the common man's point of view, even though I'm seen as a high-profile actor. I'm also an eternal optimist. I'm not an escapist - I do understand a situation, so I always feel there's a possibility of goodness in life. I'm not a cribber, or someone who criticises. People who criticise are not doers. I'm a doer. Therefore, I'm proud of a PM who comes across as a doer. Within these 150 days, people can go to town saying, 'yeh nahin hua, woh nahin hua', etc, but I have great hope.

You say you're an optimist, a realist, a doer. Then why not get into politics to effect the change you want to see?
When I feel I have the time, I'd like to give 365 days to it, (do) what Kirron has done - she's almost settled there now. But I'm mentally greedy as an actor. I have just discovered, in the last three-four years, what kind of person I am. I think when men and women reach their early 50s - and this is my own theory - you either like yourself or you don't. I like myself.

You've discovered yourself now, after all these years?
Because I have a great sense of wonder about life. I don't take it for granted. I'm not a stereotype who has set answers. That's why I have no set answer for your politics question - what I'm saying is the truth. I'm too excited about wanting to direct, writing a film. I have discovered now that I can relax as an actor. I don't have to constantly prove ki kuch kar ke dikha deta hoon. I now have the security of an actor. Initially, mujhe lagta tha yeh bhi kar leta hoon, woh bhi kar leta hoon - I was walking fast nowhere. Now, I'm walking slowly somewhere. If you like yourself, there are so many things to be done, and you take your own time. I'm just at the interval of my life. I have many years yet to do politics. But the joy of being in politics and acting is that there is no age limit - you should just have the intention of doing things.

Actors in the film industry are usually wary of expressing their opinions on the issues of the day, politics especially. Is it a function of this new-found security that you've been speaking out and getting involved?
That's not true - it's not just now. I've always been the most vocal person socially about things that I feel are important. I was one of the only actors who stuck his neck out for Anna's andolan, or when I felt Kejriwal was wrong about certain things. The best thing about life is that you can be yourself -it's the easiest and the most difficult thing. Maybe I grew up in a family where people said what they felt. That doesn't mean I have to hurt somebody, but I think the burden of camouflaging is too much. (You keep thinking) 'What do I want to say? But I shouldn't say it, but no...' Why no? It's perfect, it's alright. People who pretend, don't like themselves. That's why , they want to be somebody else.

Is this confidence the reason why you engage now in a public debate?
No, it's because I'm not afraid of failure.That's my biggest strength. Only fear of failure makes you do things you don't want to do. Ten years back, I did a play based on the disasters of my life, called Kucch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai. That play took away the fear of failure from me, because I was telling the world what was wrong with my life. You're telling the world my left leg is thicker than my right, I'm bald, or I can't speak English as fluently or with the correct pronunciation - then people have nothing to frighten you with. Your shortcomings are shortcomings only if you feel they're shortcomings.

But this doesn't happen consciously. I've been able to analyse it over the years and can talk to you about it. The fact that I was 28 and did a 65-year-old man's role (in Saaransh), apart from the necessity of getting work, means that many years later, people say, 'He was 28 when he played a 65-year-old man's role!' Strangely now, they tell me, 'toh same lagte ho itne saare saalon se'. Same lagoonga na, main toh reversal mein jaa raha hoon. Log 28 se 65 pe jaate hain, main toh 65 se peechhe ja raha hoon! Famous people are frightened people.

Of what, losing fame?
That is always there. In this profession, failure and success are very public and visible. You're very fragile, insecure, and I don't blame people for it. But I came from a lower middle-class family, and I'm giving an interview to a big paper in a car and the AC's working and I'm talking about what a success I've made of my life - what else does one want? Life is beautiful! It's a lethal combination of being optimistic and not having a fear of failure. I'm at the top of the world.

How does being famous change a person's political outlook?
First of all, I love to be famous - to be recognised, I love people's love, giving autographs, photos, seeing my pictures in the paper, etc. That excitement is always there and remains. But that does not change my political outlook - I react from my heart. If at some stage, I feel the ruling government is doing something wrong, I will speak about it. I spoke about it when Congress was in power, when I joined Anna's movement. It's not easy to be in the profession I am and take on the government. The fear of vindictiveness is there - a raid... Uss waqt mere ghar pe pathrav bhi hua tha. But it was so comical. Those 60 people who came to throw stones at my house - I sent my manager and my team to shoot them (on film) and at some stage, I will screen this - the main leader was saying, 'Anupam Kher zindabad! Anupam Kher zindabad!' Suddenly someone from behind shouted, 'Arre ullu ke patthe, murdabad bolna hai.' It was then that he said, 'Anupam Kher murdabad!' That was the most amazing thing. That's why I also look at the comic side of every situation in life. Things can change and I'm passionately vocal about it. I'm not a cribber, but I'm also a teacher somewhere - and teachers are also givers. I was very happy Modiji talked about how teaching is the most thankless job, apart from a mother's job. But in my profession, when you teach, you learn the most, because you discover what you know, and what you don't.

Practically, is there any scope for honesty in politics?
There is a possibility. The system has become so corrupt in the last 60 years. I say this without blaming anybody in particular... A friend was telling me, 'Yaar, log tang aa gaye hain Modiji se, time pe bulata hai'. It should be a good thing! 'Tang aa gaye hain, bahut honest aadmi hai' - yeh hamara pattern ho gaya hai. There is always hope that you can be honest, a doer, make things happen. Dishonesty is a shortcut. You should be known for the person you are.