Showing posts with label Neha Dhupia interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Neha Dhupia interview. Show all posts
Neha Dhupia on 52 Blue: "It took a filmmaker from Egypt to see me like this"
9:08 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; July 13, 2026)
A day after the London premiere of 52 Blue, Neha Dhupia is still processing what she experienced. The actor, who stars in Egyptian filmmaker Ali El Arabi's international feature, says the biggest change isn't what the film might do for her career, but how it has changed the way she sees herself. "I would've accepted everyone's congratulations until yesterday," she says with a laugh.
"But the difference between speaking to you yesterday and today is that I've now seen the film. I'm genuinely proud because it's one of those films that adds something to your body of work. Every film has its own fate, I don't know where this one will go, but there's a dialogue my character Lakshmi says: 'Everything you do and everyone you meet is pushing you in a direction you're meant to be in.' That's exactly how I feel about this film."
What drew her to 52 Blue wasn't the prospect of an international project, but the opportunity to play someone she hadn't been allowed to play for years. "When they first called and told me about this woman from Kerala who's carrying so much emotional weight and eventually ends up living on an island, I was convinced I wasn't going to get the part. You fight for roles like these at the beginning of your career, and then somewhere along the way you stop expecting them."
The irony, she admits, isn't lost on her. "It took a filmmaker from Egypt to notice that he could see me like this. At one point, even I had forgotten that I could see myself like this. You start believing you have range, but then you slowly surrender to the box people put you in. I had opened one side of that box through films like Mithya and A Thursday, but after a point the rules become the same. That's why it's so special when somebody else's belief in you helps you rediscover yourself."
Her first meeting with Ali El Arabi happened over Zoom, but the director's instinctive reading of her stayed with her long after. "He told me, 'When I look at you, I feel like you've been through a lot. Your eyes tell me you're strong, but somewhere you haven't given up'. That's not something people usually tell you the first time they meet you. He also felt becoming a mother had given me something this character needed. Honestly, if this film had come to me before I had children, I don't think I would've been able to play Lakshmi the same way."
Years ago, Dhupia says, she actively chased the idea of crossing over into international cinema. "When I was younger, I really craved that crossover. Now, if this film opens doors internationally, wonderful. But even if it simply leads to more interesting work here, I'll be equally happy."
The biggest validation, she says, came immediately after the London screening. "Prakash Jha was in the audience yesterday. After the film, he came up to me, patted me on the back and said something that stayed with me. Sometimes all you need is for filmmakers to suddenly notice something in you that they hadn't seen before. Even that is enough."
Watching herself on a giant screen also became an exercise in confronting vulnerability. "This film made me braver than I've ever been. There's no makeup, no vanity, nothing to hide behind. You're completely exposed. I didn't think I was brave enough to do something like this. If I can be this raw and still feel proud of what I've done, then I know I can do so much more. I've always wanted to do a sports biopic because I've always been athletic. Maybe I'm older now, but then again, not every sports story is about an athlete at their peak. Some of the most interesting stories happen afterwards."
Despite working across films, television, OTT and podcasts over two decades, Dhupia admits she still feels her versatility hasn't translated into the kind of opportunities she craves.
"I don't value my versatility enough myself," she says candidly. "Maybe after conversations like this I'll feel good for twenty minutes. Then someone will call to negotiate a fee and I'll go back to being an earnest worker who's grateful to have work. I've been in this industry for over two decades. I'm grateful that people know who I am wherever I go. But I genuinely wish my body of work was much wider than it already is. Sometimes I see a filmmaker's work and think, 'I'd love to do something like that.' Then later I hear they never even thought of me. That's the part that still hurts."
I told Novak Djokovic, ‘I’m not giving you a choice, you have to click a photograph’-Neha Dhupia
2:22 PM
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; February 17, 2026)
Known for their love for sports, Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi were in for a treat in Melbourne, where they witnessed the clash between tennis greats Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open. After the thrilling final, Neha met Djokovic.
An ecstatic Neha says, “I have been a die-hard Djokovic fan. I was screaming his name the whole time and rooting for him. We usually watch these games on TV, but watching the final live is a completely different experience. Even when the house was divided, it was united in its love for tennis. Both players had incredible support — people took sides but truly honoured the game and each player’s contribution. There was pin-drop silence during the match; you could actually hear the ball bouncing. I wasn’t sure if Djokovic would make it to the finals, but he did, and I got to witness it.”
Recalling her encounter with the tennis champ, Neha shares, “We were a group of 20 walking towards the centre court at Rod Laver Arena after the match when Djokovic happened to be walking out. For the first few seconds, I was speechless. I wasn’t sure whether to approach him. He had played exceptionally well but hadn’t won the trophy and looked exhausted. But I finally told him, ‘I’m not giving you a choice, you have to click a photograph,’ and he was so gracious. I told him we were from India and that this was a bucket-list moment for me. I was overwhelmed and thrilled.”
She adds, “This experience was extra special because I’m an avid tennis watcher and my entire family follows sports. My dad was thrilled that I got to witness this. Swedish legend Stefan Edberg was seated right behind us, while Rafael Nadal was in the front. It was surreal. I’m honestly falling short of words to describe how I felt... like a bumbling teenager. That definitely checked off a major item on my bucket list.”
Forget comparing with others, I’ve stopped comparing myself with how I was a few years ago-Neha Dhupia
8:32 AM
Breaking her own 100-metre sprint records and losing 23 kilos in the process, Neha chronicles guiding principles that helped her tackle post-partum weight gain
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; July 17, 2024)
Neha Dhupia hops on a call with us at the end of a rather busy day. It began with a flight that took her to Delhi for a professional commitment and concluded with an interaction with a friend later that evening. She tells us that she heads on a road trip the next morning and will be “driving to Chandigarh for work”.
“I’m going to get up at 7 am, check on my kids, and hit the gym. If the gym’s not good enough, I’ll do a quick five-kilometre run, and then go about my day. It’s not about ‘getting the workout out of the way’. It’s about knowing that you’ve started your day by looking after yourself. That’s a really big thing,” says the actor.
Dhupia has advocated for physical well-being for several years, but the last one has been particularly instrumental in enabling her to shed 23 kilos. Unlike her contemporaries, who’ve sprinted to shed their post-partum weight, her return to her pre-delivery athletic levels has been synonymous with a slow and steady marathon.
“Forget comparing myself with others, I’ve stopped comparing myself with how I was a few years ago,” she says when we ask her the recipe for success.
“Since I’ve been training with intention, my fitness levels have improved by a notch or two. The more I push, the more I can push.” She speaks elatedly about achieving fitness milestones, including “clocking my personal best on 100-metre sprints after giving birth to two children”.
“[This has been possible] because I have been [appreciative] of how my body feels. There are days when you feel powerful and able enough to conquer the world. And then there may be days when you feel exhausted. You must have a conversation with your body each day because a fitness routine has to be part of your life.”
Tough love
It’s perhaps apt to caution that Dhupia’s tendency to alter her training based on how she feels is in no way lackadaisical. “If I say that I perform 10 bouts of 100-metre sprints, which amounts to one kilometre, people may [find that to be insufficient]. But, to complete that kilometre, I will do a 30-minute warm-up session, a 40-minute session of core-strengthening exercises, and a stretching leg that goes on for 20 minutes. Also, when my trainer asks me to sprint, I give it my all, and that makes the process worth it. For the next two days, I will rest, and may spend the following two weeks simply running seven kilometres each day. People ask me how I manage to run in the rain. The truth is, I wait for the downpour so that I can put on my hoodie and run. You have to be mindful of how your own body reacts to weather conditions. I practice running, strength training, and yoga, and clock in three sessions of each format in a week, thereby executing nine exercise bouts. And as a mother of two, if I can make time to train this much, I give myself a pat on the back.”
And while her social life has taken a back seat (“I don’t fear leaving a party at 10 pm because I need to go back to my kids,” she says), she enjoys indulging in fitness sessions with her friends. “Perhaps that’s why I get along well with Soha [Ali Khan]. We like to hang out over a yoga session. I can [brew] a cup of tea and have a long conversation with friends while consuming it, so that I don’t add extra calories to my diet while [meeting social obligations]. There are compromises to be made. I tell my friends I love them very much, but I love myself more.”
Training with intention
Having transitioned from “marking her attendance” at the gym, where her regimen would be interrupted with social conversations, Dhupia now exercises in isolation. “I set goals daily and push myself more. If my yoga teacher says, ‘Let’s do 15 suryanamaskars’, I’ll say, no, sir, let’s do 25. And I want to do each one with intention. If I am to head for a run, and my trainer doesn’t show up, I would previously simply finish running six kilometres and say, I’m done. But, now I want to do better even if my trainer is not around. I have a stronger connection with my body now than ever before.”
It’s been a journey that she has navigated after being left “heartbroken” when she first stepped on the track after a delivery. “I have previously done six to eight half marathons. But, post-delivery, I had gained a lot of weight. I had never lived in a body of that size. While attempting a run, my legs wouldn’t move [as freely] as they did, and my knees would crumble. I have worked on myself a lot since then, and can see the change in my form. The hardest part isn’t running fast or deciding what time you must train. The hardest part is to simply show up. I want to tell those who are struggling that things get better over time, and when the kids grow up. As soon as my children started having a routine, I started having one too. Before my kids wake up, I finish my first yoga session. I head to bed at the same time as they do. I need to emphasise that [mothers] need eight hours of sleep. If you are well rested, you can train better.”
Having a partner who shares her goals serves as an advantage. “When we are on vacation, Angad [Bedi, husband] and I wake up early and hit the gym before our kids can even reach the breakfast table. It’s great to have somebody who is as enthusiastic as you are. Like me, he also doesn’t consume gluten or sugar. So, we don’t need to sit with a drink to have conversations in the evenings. We simply have different kinds of tea instead.”
A different story for each one
She encourages mothers to give themselves the time that they need to return to routine. “For some, it may be two years after delivery, for others, it may be four. But once you think you are ready, get up and show up each day. You won’t see results every day; there will be days when you will indulge in emotional eating or skip a session, but don’t let that dictate your actions thereafter. If you’ve only lost one kilo, and feel like that is a drop in the ocean, remember that you are still one kilo closer to your desired goal. Don’t give up. I was a beauty pageant winner; and I know the pressure [I had to live with]. Don’t let opinions weigh you down.”
In an industry where semaglutides are speculatively widely consumed, she says she would “never put it in my body”. She may be “open to having a conversation” around the risks and benefits associated with its use, but “for me, it’s a big no-no”. “I know that it’s been medically [tested] for people who suffer from diabetes, and hope that it is consumed by those who have sought appropriate guidance in the right proportions. It is going to become something that everyone is going to talk about. But, it’s not for me.”
How can I hate this body? It gave me my kids-Neha Dhupia
4:35 PM
Sugandha Rawal (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 9, 2022)
Actor Neha Dhupia doesn’t worry about people obsessing over her weight or the few extra kilos that she gained after giving birth to her children. She believes there is no rhyme or reason to getting upset over her own body because of the judgement of a stranger online or in real life.
Opening up about her relationship with her body, the mother of two says, “It is ever changing. The requirements that I had for my body when I was starting out were different. When I started working in films, it was about maintaining my fitness and looking good on camera. Now, I have played a part when I was eight months pregnant. It doesn’t get more vulnerable than that.”
But has she ever been uncomfortable with her body? The actor shares, “Maybe during my postpartum phase, maybe during my first shot, but then how can I hate this body? It has given me two amazing humans. This body made me a beauty queen, and later a mother. I have to like it both ways. It took a long time for me to understand and respect that. I’m working out and working towards achieving a certain look again with my body. I am in the middle of that phase after giving birth.”
Dhupia continues, “People are always going to have opinions about me. But I’m not going to get upset with my body just because somebody else thinks that it’s not of a particular size. My reason for being that size is best known to me, and I don’t think I need to explain anything to anyone.”
The actor, who was last seen in A Thursday, adds, “Even if I wear skinny jeans and a tank top and come out, they will still have an opinion. I’m not going to beat myself up over it. I don’t have the time or the bandwidth to deal with trolls. I’m not here to do anything except for setting realistic standards for myself and for everyone else.”
Today, I can carry both my kids in my arms and walk for hours-Neha Dhupia
8:13 AM
Asserting that the narrative on post-pregnancy weight loss needs to be revisited, Neha Dhupia encourages celebs to reconsider discussing post-partum weight changes
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; August 10, 2022)
Neha Dhupia makes a strong case when asserting that the narrative around post-pregnancy weight needs re-evaluation. Pointing out that it’s never appropriate to discuss weight-related matters with women who have recently delivered, Dhupia says, “Post pregnancy, you need to have the right kind of diet. There is so much pressure on women [to lose weight]. Also, those in the limelight have made the mistake of [creating this image] for other women who have just given birth. Giving birth, breast feeding, and dealing with the postpartum body is [challenging]. When you’re in the public eye, and promote [the notion of losing weight too soon], it has a trickle-down effect for other women who have recently delivered. So, stop talking about how much you have lost.”
In a bid to lose weight, Dhupia followed a nutritious diet, while being in a calorie deficit. “After giving birth the first time, I lost 25 kilos, but then became pregnant again. Now, as I resume training, I feel fitter than I ever have. I don’t think I could walk endlessly in my 20s or 30s. Today, I can carry both my kids in my arms and walk for hours. That has happened because I fuelled my body correctly [while losing my post-partum weight].”
However, it took the actor a while to understand that she needed to reassess her routine. Admitting that she did not feel as physically adept as she desired for a while, she decided to “do something about it”. “For me, that realization happened after 10 months, but if another woman decides to do it after 18 months, that’s also alright. You will realize that you perhaps want to run as fast as your toddler does, and then decide to get fitter, and that is alright. For me, it was as simple as wanting to be fit enough to carry both my kids for long hours, and picking up stuff from the ground without needing to put them down. Post pregnancy, the two things that I learnt were that a large part of [losing post-pregnancy weight] is not about eating less, but changing the kind of food you eat to consume a more nutritious diet. Also, during this time, people focus on yoga, but, apart from that, working on the muscles of the core, and strength training are two factors that really helped me.”
Dhupia’s athletic background introduced her to a gamut of sports, early on in her life. During childhood, she would wake up early to cycle to school each day, and would actively participate in sports like basketball and swimming. Her weekends involved outdoor activities like trekking and jogging. And it was only when she began a career in the industry that she began to hit the gym. “At the time, there was no concept of [different body types]. Everyone had to have the same shape, which was ‘thin’. I achieved that without starving myself, but by staying fit. People say the influence of food and exercise on an ideal fitness plan is in the ratio 70 to 30. I reversed that, because I enjoyed exercising. In my 20s, I learnt new things, like pilates, and kick-boxing, which made my body stronger. In my 30s, I took to running, and ran several marathons.”
Individuals who’ve spent decades on a fitness journey could often point to instances that redefined their approach to their regimen. For Dhupia, learning to run marathons rather late in life (in her 30s) was that turning point. “I have trained with one of the finest runners, Brinston Miranda. My yoga trainer is someone who has trained from the Benaras school. So, all my trainers are knowledgeable, and traditional in their approach. I like to follow the orthodox methods of training. Running is a pretty [cohesive] format. To pull off a marathon, you need to stretch well, and focus on rehab. You also need to train your core to be able to pull off 22 kilometres, and also cover an average of 35 kilometres a week. I have travelled to so many parts of the world, and [while on holiday] love to wake up early, and head for a run.”
The Family diet
Angad and I are extremely mindful of our diet. We don’t have sugar, and masala, and have minimal salt. Snacks include fruits or makhana, or cookies made without gluten. There is enough protein in our diet. He has a cheat day, but I don’t need one now.
Your sense of achievement isn’t defined by the length of your trailer-Neha Dhupia
8:26 AM
In the fickle glamour world, Neha Dhupia has been holding onto her spot in the limelight for 20 years. She talks about keeping the unconventional ex-Miss India story going
Nasrin Modak Siddiqi (MID-DAY; August 7, 2022)
At the recently held Miss India contest in Mumbai, former Miss India, Neha Dhupia was felicitated on stage. It was a night of many firsts—the first time that former Miss India Neha Dhupia’s father saw her being crowned. The first time her children were seen on a public platform. The first time her parents, her husband and children were on stage with her. For Dhupia, 20 years after being crowned Miss India 2002, this was a joyous moment she could not describe in words.
We meet her on a rainy Tuesday afternoon to talk about her journey over a cup of black coffee, and are charmed by her effortless style. In a freewheeling chat, she speaks about body acceptance, her choices of work, of being a relevant outsider to the film industry, and yet being relevant, and how she became one of indie cinema’s most recognized names.
The Miss India crown gave Dhupia a reason to always have her chin up. This time though she looked and felt different, and another sense of achievement loomed. The atmosphere was as euphoric as it was 20 years back; only now she had a personal army and a team behind her. “When you win Miss India, it’s a stamp of approval that you’ve worked hard on something. Being re-crowned 20 years later is a moment of joy. I thought I was prepared for it, but when I saw a clip of friends I’ve had for 20 years talking about it—I got a little fuzzy,” says Dhupia, who felt this was an appropriate moment to bring her children on stage (they are shielded from the media). “In all probability, they will ask where they were—[I] can’t tell them ‘You were fast asleep on the most important day of my life’. We will withdraw into privacy with them, but just to be able to wear that crown, hold my children in my arms, have my husband and my entire life in front of me was priceless.”
Dhupia believes that the person doesn’t change when she is crowned in a pageant; things around her change. It becomes a problem if the person changes. “You have to remain that same person, put in the same amount of hard work, hustle, show gratitude, be excited about going to work and be mindful that it can be taken away from you if you don’t put in the effort,” she says. “If your chauffeur hasn’t come in, take a rickshaw and get to work. Your sense of achievement isn’t defined by the length of your trailer—all this gets taken away the instant you don’t bring numbers at the box office.”
This isn’t new-found wisdom; it’s an inheritance. Her parents told her to reach out to them when she needed to. “In the same breath they told me,” she adds, “hits and flops are not a problem—just the fact that you are going to work is great. If there’s a personal or professional attack, or you are not feeling good about something, that’s a problem. You could be the biggest star and not feel good about yourself. None of this is related.”
There have been times when Dhupia’s choices have paved the way for others, but sometimes they went unnoticed. Being cast as a cop when you are eight months pregnant (A Thursday), for instance; or to host a podcast (#NoFilterNeha); or to drive size-inclusive sartorial choices. Not to forget being cast in movies such as Ek Chalis Ki Last Local or Phas Gaye Re Obama, which would have been applauded more if premiered on OTT.
But Dhupia doesn’t have time for regrets. She has been reinventing herself at a time when very few people travelled from film to reality TV, successfully. She was the host on reality shows such as the Roadies for more than five years, where the target audience was between 18 and 24. “I don’t know if I did it too soon or if I was ahead of my time,” she reflects, “but I wouldn’t say I’ve been there, done that because that makes me a thing of the past. I want to be relevant continuously, and do work that people will watch. It’s tougher now because we live in the time of social media and 60 per cent of social media users are under 19. So how do you stay relevant in that market is the big question.”
Whether it is embracing greys, walking down the ramp for a plus size brand, or posting no-filter pictures on social media, Dhupia has been driving the change she wants to see and that’s an unabashed use of her crown.
With two babies to take care of, everything has to be at double the speed now-Neha Dhupia
8:09 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; October 16, 2021)
Neha Dhupia and her husband Angad Bedi welcomed their second child, a baby boy, two weeks ago. The actress is loving this phase, but slowly wants to get back to her normal routine. However, with two kids now at home, it’s not easy, she says. A few days after delivery, Neha got back to work and shot for two projects from her home. In a chat with Bombay Times, she talks about balancing work and personal life and how her experiences from her first pregnancy are helping her keep postpartum stress at bay. Excerpts:
It’s been two weeks since you welcomed your second child. Has the feeling sunk in that you are a mother of two now?
Our baby boy was due for arrival on October 7, but he arrived on October 3. He was in a rush I guess as he came in a few days earlier! Some experienced people had told me that having a second child would be more hectic than when you have just one. I didn’t understand what they meant then, but now I do. With two babies to take care of, everything has to be at double the speed now. There is no time left for yourself as when one kid sleeps, the other wakes up. Breastfeeding is another ball game altogether as you do it after every three hours. So ideally, I am feeding my baby throughout the day and night after every three hours. The toughest bit is the night as whenever I am about to sleep he wakes up and I feed him again.
How has the older sibling, your daughter Mehr, reacted to this new addition to the family. And how are you dealing with balancing attention between two kids as a parent?
Mehr just knows that there’s a little baby that has arrived in the house. A couple of days ago, she took her brother in her lap. As a kid, she just sways between being caring towards him, but at the same time being naughty. The other day he was fast asleep in his cot when she just came in and screamed out loud and woke him up. As parents, we had decided that from the time the new baby arrives we would give a lot of our attention to Mehr. That’s because at their age they wonder why the two people who loved them with all their heart are actually dividing time between them and the other person. So, we are very conscious about not letting her feel misplaced at all. Though eventually, I know we will be divided into teams…two against two. I have a feeling it will be Angad and Mehr versus me and our little baby boy. Angad and Mehr are inseparable. When Mehr doesn’t see Angad at home for a long time, she literally behaves like a fish out of water.
You got back to work soon after you had Mehr, and this time, too, you were working throughout your pregnancy. Do you plan to return to work full-fledged soon this time around, too?
On the ninth day, after Mehr was born, I was back at work. This time around, I returned to work on the sixth day after the delivery. Yes, I already did two shoots at home. With the little baby around, it was a must for the team to do their COVID tests and only then do they step into my house. I personally feel that if you want a break then it is important to have one as recovery is very important. Childbirth takes a lot out of you. It is not easy. So, my advice is you give yourself time to recover. It’s just that I am extremely fond of what I do and I wanted to get back to work as soon as possible. Options like work from home have proven to be such a blessing in today’s day and age. I have worked hard over the years and there’s a long way to go. I feel like my entire career has been about being relevant at all times — neither being extremely successful nor being invisible.
At the time when you delivered your first child, you had opened up about your postpartum stress. How are you dealing with it this time around?
I am still getting used to breastfeeding at night; it can get rather lonely as you are waking up when everyone is sleeping. Postpartum depression is something I still don’t see enough women or new mums talking about. I think people should reach out to others on this subject. Anything can trigger it... like when you see your body post-delivery, you just feel so hollow. Things like breastfeeding through the night or not being able to sleep or not knowing what to do when you have a crying baby in your arms... these are the things I am aware of now, and so I am not letting them upset me. My experiences are being my own saviors. Very consciously, I talk to myself and not let myself slip into it. Right now, I am holding up well and being absolutely fine. Getting back to your routine sooner makes it much easier. Appreciating yourself as a mother is very important and I feel every new mum should do this. When you see yourself in the mirror, just appreciate your body that has given life and don’t be hard on yourself. So whether you have stitches or stretch marks or a few extra inches… own it, because what you have done, nobody else can do.
Have you and Angad thought of a name for your son?
Mehr already has a cute little nickname for him, which I am not going to share right now (laughs!). As far as the parents are concerned, there’s been a constant battle between us; both Angad and I have come up with a name each. He is just too unaccommodating with my choice of name! So, may the best name win! As a family, we are just looking at having an appropriate name for the boy. Mehr, too, got her name very naturally and organically. At the end of every message, her grandfather (Angad’s dad) would write Guru Mehar Kare and that’s how we picked up Mehr as her name. Meanwhile, Angad and I had a good time doing up the room for our little boy. The décor comprises hot air balloons, little fox and bunnies. We have a Simba carpet as Mehr is obsessed with the character. Her cot is right next to her little brother’s.
If a woman is pregnant, don’t deprive her of her work life-Neha Dhupia
8:04 AM
Sugandha Rawal (HINDUSTAN TIMES; August 27, 2021)
Actor Neha Dhupia admits that shooting through her third trimester comes with a lot of struggle. But she’s putting all the energy into her work to set a precedent, with a hope of bringing about change in the business, so that there’s more work for pregnant women.
“Shooting during the Coronavirus times is hard. Plus, I’m in my third trimester, so the exhaustion is more. But, I’m doing this to prove that if I can do it, others can, too,” says Dhupia, who turns 41 today.
She points out that a lot of women are forced to choose between their personal or professional lives.
“If I can strike a balance now, things might change in the business. I hope this would result in more roles, not just for women, but pregnant women as well,” says the Chup Chup Ke (2006) actor.
Dhupia, a mother to two-and-a-half-year-old daughter Mehr, shuns the misconception that being pregnant means one has to sit at home.
“Why should it be, ‘Now, I’m going to make some personal choices, which would require me to take a sabbatical?’ You don’t want to take four steps backwards from where you left your career. Since I’ve been through it, I know how it can break you. I’m setting an example and hoping to change things for women in the business. If a woman is pregnant, don’t deprive her of her work life,” says Dhupia, who’s married to actor Angad Bedi.
While the Tumhari Sulu (2017) actor’s work is keeping her busy — she recently stepped out to dub for her film, Sanak — she intends to take a break with family on her birthday.
“We may travel somewhere close to home. I can’t go far, because I need to have access to medical attention right now. My birthday plan revolves around what Angad wants to do, but he’s very accommodative. We really wanted to travel out. Last year, we were in Mumbai because of the pandemic, and this year, we can’t (travel out) because I’m super pregnant,” concludes Dhupia.
Once I had to go inside an airplane toilet to breastfeed as I didn’t want to get others uncomfortable-Neha Dhupia
8:03 AM
Juhi Chakraborty (HINDUSTAN TIMES; August 6, 2021)
Neha Dhupia, after the birth of her first child Mehr in 2018, has actively spread awareness about breastfeeding and how it has to be normalised. The actor, who’s pregnant with her second child, is happy to have started the conversation.
“By having a conversation, I feel much more empowered. I know I’ll get on that journey and even try my best to be on that journey again, and be treated with the most normal manner with my real experiences. I’m glad I started that conversation two years ago because the second time, it’ll be better for me,” Dhupia says adding that she’s looking forward to it.
She started an initiative two years ago, called Freedom to Feed. “We need to normalise breastfeeding. The more we talk about it, the more we make people aware,” she explains.
Talking about why it’s high time to make breastfeeding easier for new mothers, the 40-year-old says, “I heard a lovely saying around the time I gave birth — ‘Everybody looks after the baby but who looks after the mother?’ We’ve to look for nooks and crannies to breastfeed. Once I had to go inside a toilet of an aircraft as I didn’t want to get others uncomfortable. We should normalise it and stop sexualising it. It’s my child’s nutrition and I should be able to provide it in a most comfortable space,” she explains.
To those who troll young mothers for sharing pictures of them breastfeeding Dhupia says: “People just need to get their heads out of the gutter. They’ve been through the same process in their own home. We need to pull up such people.”
My daughter Mehr already has her own name for the baby-Neha Dhupia
8:47 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; July 20, 2021)
Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi will be welcoming their second child soon. The couple took to social media yesterday to announce the news of the second pregnancy with a family picture. “It’s a big part of our personal life that we finally put out there after waiting for a while. Life is going to change again in a few months,” says an excited Neha.
Angad and Neha, who had tied the knot in 2018, are parents to two-year-old Mehr. Sharing her thoughts on welcoming their second child, the actress says, “In the last two years, we became confident that we should have one more child. The first time around, you are jumping into an unknown territory, while during the second time, you know how beautiful it’s going to be.”
While the entire family is eagerly awaiting the baby’s arrival, Neha says that it is Mehr who cannot wait to have someone for her company. “Mehr knows we are on the onset of bringing in a new family member. She knows that the member is really tiny. She’s been talking sweet things about sharing her things with the baby. She keeps discussing her plans with us (laughs!). She has her own name for the baby already,” she says.
Talking about her current routine, Neha says, “I have been hitting the gym and working out regularly. This time, I am not eating for an army, like I did the last time when I got pretty excited. I am just trying to get all the right amount of nutrients.” Though the actress doesn’t reveal the due date, she says that the baby will be arriving in the next few months.
While Angad is taking good care of Neha, she mentions how he’s been pulling her leg. “He keeps joking that considering I am pregnant, I might have minor mood swings, and so, it would be better if he takes up a job or goes on a long schedule and travel out for about 40 days (laughs!). He is very chilled out and manages things well,” she signs off.
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Neha Dhupia gets candid about the new challenges that came with her second pregnancy
Sugandha Rawal (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 20, 2021)
Actor Neha Dhupia is expecting her second child. And it has been a ride, with her husband — actor Angad Bedi — testing positive for Coronavirus in the initial months of her pregnancy. “We went through a lot. It’s always hard when someone around you gets Covid-19, and harder during pregnancy. But Angad helped me stay positive,” she tells us.
In a chat with us, soon after announcing her second pregnancy on social media, Dhupia, 40, confesses that things are a little different this time around. “The second pregnancy has been different. I have got less questions as I know why and how the mind and body reacts... But, the lockdown didn’t make it easier,” admits Dhupia, who is due in October.
She shares that the environment is more controlled now. “We’re treading with a little more caution this time — mostly staying indoors, making the most of the time with Mehr, gearing her up and the home for the baby,” she gushes.
There are many things that overwhelm her often, and she has to pause and find her calm. “There’s a lot of uncertainty, like are we bringing our child into a safe zone or not, if you’re good enough [as a mum],” she shares.
Ask her about Bedi’s reaction when she shared the news with him, and Dhupia tells us, “It was full of excitement and joy. We looked at each other [and realised] that this is what we wanted.” Her two-year-old daughter, Mehr, also knows that she’s going to be a big sister. “She has a pet name for the baby,” she adds.
However, a tough task lies ahead for Dhupia, and that’s to make Mehr understand how to share everything, “including mummy and daddy time”. “Mehr’s padded with so much love between her grandparents and parents. It is going to be hard for us to prepare her [to share],” concludes the actor.
I got six and a half lakh hate comments on my post-Neha Dhupia
8:30 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 1, 2020)
If there’s one celeb who knows how to shut up naysayers upfront, it is Neha Dhupia. She takes them head on, on social media. In fact, social media toxicity is one aspect which many celebs have to deal with.
“I’m happy there are accounts which have been banned. Ten years from now, the world will have a stronger voice. Also, why should we write ‘This person got trolled’? Why give them so much encouragement? How can anyone sit in front of their computer, give a woman rape or death threat, or any sort of threat, and then go out and share a table with his mother and sister for dinner? Put out their names and find who they are,” says the actor.
Giving a recent example of how she had to field trolls, Dhupia reveals it was in fact on her birthday.
“I put out a statement, and I got six and a half lakh hate comments. I spent half the day trending, and the other half with people making fun of me, and saying why am I trending. Is it my fault that I was born? Am I telling you to go around and make hashtags of my name? No,” adds the actor, who is currently busy with her audio show.
With the raging debate around how much do connections really help people, actor Suchitra Krishnamoorthy had recently questioned Neha. “I mean how did #nehadhupia suddenly get all these talk shows except that she is #karanjohar s new bestie...” she’d written.
Reacting to this, Dupia says, “Nobody has the right to question my friendships with whoever in the business.”
Despite minor fights, we have great understanding-Neha Dhupia
8:34 AM
Sangeeta Yadav (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 10, 2020)
It has been two years since actors Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi took everyone by surprise as they tied the knot in a hush-hush ceremony in Delhi. And for their second anniversary celebrations, they aren’t letting the Coronavirus lockdown play a spoilsport.
On how they plan to enjoy the days, Dhupia, 39, shares, “We’ll raise the toast to two years of our marriage with our fans by going live on social media. I’ll interview Angad on marriage, and the questions are going to be a complete surprise for him. We’ll also be taking fans queries.”
And Bedi, 37, is all game, and says, “I never do live sessions, but this time, I’m going to do it only for her. I’ll speak from my heart, be honest and not diplomatic.”
As they celebrate their anniversary and Mother’s Day on the same day this year, Dhupia says, “I wish it was on two separate days, so I could have had a week-long celebration. I’m hoping that I’ll get a double surprise.”
While the duo has been going strong as a couple, Dhupia feels the lockdown is an “ultimate test for marriage”. How, we ask? “If the one you love the most is willing to tolerate everything and make a happy peaceful environment, then you know you have made the right choice. Angad and I might not be a perfect couple and we do have minor fights once in a while, but we have great understanding,” she shares.
And no matter how angry Bedi gets with his wife, he says nothing can affect his love for her. “We fight, but never in front of our one-and-a-half year old daughter, Mehr. Whatever ups and downs we go through, the foundation of our relationship is strong and we never shy away from showing mirror to each other,” he says.
I’ll tell about lockdown to my daughter when she grows up-Neha Dhupia
8:22 AM
Titas Chowdhury (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 13, 2020)
Taking care of a child and keeping them indoors especially at this time of social distancing is no cakewalk. But Neha Dhupia is enjoying her quarantine days as she’s spending time with her one-and-a-half year old daughter, Mehr Dhupia Bedi. Ask her if she has been taking special precautions to protect her from Coronavirus and she says, “We’re following all the rules at home. I was away on a shoot and ever since I came back, I’ve been in quarantine with my family even before the 21-day lockdown was announced. I made sure that very few people are in contact with our daughter.”
The actor believes that it’s every parent’s duty to first protect their own health so as to ensure the safety of their children. “We’re staying clean and hygienic. As parents, we always tend to panic. But Angad (Bedi; husband) has been amazing, too, and that’s a big help,” she says, adding, “We’re keeping her dietary habits healthy and keeping her as active at home as she was when she would step out. I’m also trying to make sure that she sits in the balcony and gets enough sunshine.”
Dhupia says that she has been making the best use of this time by keeping her daughter engaged in productive activities. “I’m indulging her in activities such as painting and teaching her the basics in terms of the syllabus that has come from her parent-toddler programme based school,” she shares.
Urging all mothers to create a positive space at home, Dhupia says, “I’ve been teaching her to fold clothes and clean the wardrobe. I believe children are intuitive. Our daughter hasn’t been throwing any tantrums. I think this will be a story to tell her when she grows up.”
The first word I taught my daughter was ‘bas’. She should know when to say ‘enough’-Neha Dhupia
7:42 AM
Divya Kaushik (BOMBAY TIMES; January 9, 2020)
Soon after winding up her day-long schedule in Delhi recently, Neha Dhupia was set to fly to Chandigarh for another event. She was literally counting hours to be with her daughter, Mehr Dhupia Bedi. “I started shooting when my daughter was just 45 days old. And now that she is growing up, I look forward to spending as much time with her as possible, even if it is the time when she is sleeping,” Neha tells us.
“Mehr hasn’t seen me or Angad (Bedi) on screen as she hasn’t had any screen time yet. But we have magazines lying around the house. And since she can crawl now, she saw me on one of the magazine covers and recognised me. When Angad’s pictures are in papers, she can recognise him, too,” Neha says.
The doting mama says that her daughter has learnt some words and she can’t wait for baby Mehr to talk to her. “The first word I taught her was ‘bas’. She should know when to say enough. If the food being fed is too much she says ‘bas’, if she is being forced to do anything or if somebody is pulling her cheeks more than she would like, she knows that she has to say ‘bas’. She knows how to say no. Strong women raise strong daughters and I always tell my daughter that if she is not comfortable, she should just say it. The other day she was playing and somebody tickled her and she said ‘bas, bas’. So, she knows when she has to say no, and she would apply it for the rest of her life now. As a mother, I want to raise my daughter believing that she has a voice and she should know how to exercise the power of that voice,” shares the actress.
She also proudly reveals that her daughter has started showing interest in cricket. “She spins the ball very well. It’s cool to see her do that. We are a family connected to cricket, everyone knows that my father-in-law (Bishan Singh Bedi) and Angad used to play cricket. I grew up watching a lot of sports. So, as parents we couldn’t be happier to see that she is interested in sports already,” says Neha.
Breastfeeding normal part of women’s lives around the world; needs to be normalized in India too-Neha Dhupia
8:20 AM
As people around the globe are celebrating World Breastfeeding Week, actress Neha Dhupia wants to start a conversation about breastfeeding and the challenges faced by nursing mothers due to lack of facilities in India
Debarati Sen (BOMBAY TIMES; August 3, 2019)
Neha Dhupia has always been known for voicing her opinions on various issues and it is no different on World Breastfeeding Week (WBW), which took off on August 1 and will conclude on August 7. While the week aims to create an awareness about the health benefits of breastfeeding infants and encourage the same, the actress has her own reasons for supporting it.
As a new mom, who is currently breastfeeding her eight-month-old daughter Mehr, Neha’s experience has been a revelation of sorts for her. Even though she has a supportive family, Neha has faced unpleasant situations due to lack of facilities when it came to breastfeeding her child in the environment that we live in.
Elaborating on this, she shares, “I remember travelling alone with my three-month-old baby in a plane. At one point, I needed to turn around and ask, ‘Hey, can I get the bathroom for 15 minutes, because I need to feed my baby.’ Inside, I was sitting there and looking up at the fasten seat-belt sign, hoping fervently that the sign doesn’t come on before my child finishes her feed. I went in saying sorry and I came out saying sorry again for occupying the washroom for so long. My point is: Why do mothers have to be apologetic about something that is so right?”
What Neha finds appalling is that when she voiced her opinion, it was met with disdain in her circle. “There were enough and more people who told me, ‘Really? You want to talk about breastfeeding?’ Come on, we are almost in 2020. There has to be noise around nursing,” she maintains.
Neha believes that breastfeeding awareness should not be restricted to just one week. “Freedom to breastfeed a child is a basic human right that every mother deserves. We need to talk about the lack of facilities, infrastructure, and the lack of awareness here in India,” she says, adding, “Mums are struggling and we need to start a conversation on that. If there are smoking rooms everywhere, why not nursing rooms? We should have places that a mother can access easily whenever she has to feed her child. It is not as if I am sitting in an ivory tower and talking about breastfeeding. I am not! I am talking just like every other mother. Breastfeeding is such a normal part of women’s lives around the world, it needs to be normalized in India, too.”
Feeling strongly about the issues pertaining to breastfeeding, Neha has started an online movement #FreedomToFeed, where moms from all over can share their experiences and struggles with breastfeeding. Narrating another incident that urged her to take up the cause, Neha shares, “Once, I was in the car feeding Mehr, when I saw a family frowning at me. I feel this attitude stems from the fact we don’t talk about breastfeeding enough. I don’t want to sound offensive, but hasn’t that family also gone through breastfeeding? People are aware of climate change, sex education, sanitary pads and toilet hygiene, because an awareness has been created around it. And this is the reason, we need to talk about breastfeeding, too. People need to be sensitised about the fact that a woman should have the freedom to feed her infant, wherever and whenever she wants to. She need not be apologetic about it, she shouldn’t be frowned upon or stared at. People need to understand that if a mother is breastfeeding publicly, she has already gone through a lot. She should be made to feel comfortable. We are heading there, but we have a long way to go.”
Neha feels that breastfeeding is one of the most special and beautiful things in the world. “I would never have figured this out till the day I became a mom myself. There is an immense sense of bonding with your child which is second to none. And you can’t feel that with anyone,” adds Neha.
The actress has already reached out to a lot of people — mom bloggers and friends — who are active on social media to support breastfeeding. “I want mothers to share their stories — kind, gentle and sometimes, painful. I will repost all the stories. The more we talk about it, the closer we will get to making a bigger difference in society,” concludes Neha.
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MOST AWKWARD PLACES WHERE MOMS HAVE BREASTFED
Broom closet of an airport
The waiting area of a govt office
Bank queue
Crowded food court
Bench in a mall
Common washroom for men and women Crowded beach
In the employees changing room at a restaurant
The lobby of a hotel during a party
Corner of a supermarket
The waiting room of a hospital clinic
Office storeroom Bus stop
Open outdoor
Temple queue
On the pot
School’s parent-teacher meeting
During a family function
Local train
TOP MOST PLACES WHERE MOMS HAVE BREASTFEEDED THEIR CHILD
The statistics are as per a six-month-long survey, that involved 900 Indian women, conducted by Mompresso, a community of 18 million mothers
At five months, my daughter has travelled to 15 cities-Neha Dhupia
2:30 PM
Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; April 27, 2019)
Neither pregnancy nor motherhood has slowed down Neha Dhupia. In fact, she has become super busy now! Currently, she is juggling a Colors Infinity chat show with being a hands-on mom to her five-month-old daughter Mehr and is also in the midst of shifting houses. “My life is crazy right now and I am loving it. Recently, I judged a beauty pageant in which contestants were asked, ‘What is the one thing you would do if you had superpower?’ They gave cliched answers, like changing the climate, but if you ask me, I would like to stop time! I am trying to do a lot of things together, so I need more time,” she laughs.
Ask her how she is managing everything and she gives the credit to her baby girl and husband Angad Bedi. “My daughter has already travelled to 15 cities already, nine of which were by road! And she has not troubled me at all. At three months, she knew her mum has a lot to do, and she is the sweetest person. My husband is so co-operative. You need a secure man to stand by you at all times. We have had to pull double shifts looking after Mehr and work,” she explains.
Not surprising, as nine days after she delivered her baby girl, Neha was back to work and started shooting for the adventure-reality show Roadies. And since she was nursing her daughter, she took her along, too. “I really thank the channels and the producers of my shows for the support. I had ongoing contracts with then and not for a second did they think about dropping me post motherhood. Instead, they provided me all the support on the sets. Times have changed now,” she says.
However, there were some people who trolled her for the weight that she gained post delivery. “I may not look like what some people expect me to but that is fine,” says the actress who is in a happy space.
Talking about the chat show, which will have Janhvi Kapoor and her sister Khushi appearing together in the first episode, Neha says that it was sweet to interview the Dhadak actress’ sister. “It was Khushi’s first time on TV and she was nervous, honest, cautious and vulnerable. I found it very cool. As for Janhvi, I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Both of them share a great equation and it felt like I had walked into their apartment,” says the Tumhari Sulu actress, who got Janhvi to do push-ups on screen. Neha also has a surprise in store for Ishaan Khatter’s female fans who can look forward to the actor taking off his shirt in another episode. Interestingly, he appears with Rajkummar Rao as his BFF. “You can make out they are new to it as they are still getting to know each other,” says the host.
To a query on when she is planning to host the next season of her podcast #NoFilterNeha, the actress laughs, “I hope we have a season 4! Of course, there’s no reason not to, but I am not revealing anything now.” What she is more excited about right now is her first marriage anniversary. “On May 10, we will complete one year of marriage and we are planning to go on a holiday,” she says signing off.
Angad Bedi will play the filmi cop. I’ll be the real cop-Neha Dhupia
8:37 AM
Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi talk about marriage, listening to parenting advice and how they would ideally like to bring up Mehr, their daughter
Ashwini Deshmukh (TIMES LIFE; December 16, 2018)
Marriage and parenthood – you’ve taken on a lot of responsibility in a year, Angad.
ANGAD: I don’t view Neha as a responsibility. This is something I wished to do. It gives me satisfaction. I love her and I’m happy to see her smile. I’ve been commitment phobic all my life. I didn’t settle down with anyone else because it wasn’t meant to be. It never came to me as clearly as it came with Neha.
What was your first reaction when you discovered you would be turning parents?NEHA: I didn’t have a Bollywood kind of reaction; I had a Hollywood-like reaction. There were no tears of joy rolling down my cheeks. It was more like ‘Oh my God! What am I going to do now?’ It took a while to sink in. At no point did I have an iota of doubt about going ahead with it. Angad was the man with whom I wanted to spend my life. And we were doing the most beautiful thing together – having a child.
ANGAD: There are two things. First is that you want to start a family. The second is with the right person. I’ve been in various relationships earlier. If I felt at home, it was always with Neha. If two people are the right match for each other, the Universe conspires to bring them together. When she told me she was pregnant, I felt I’d hit a jackpot. It was of utmost importance to be her strength.
Did you go through mood swings during your pregnancy? How supportive has Angad been?
NEHA: I cannot put it in words how supportive and amazing he has been. I was about five-months pregnant shooting for a film. It was raining heavily that day and I panicked. He just dropped his plans for the day and accompanied me to the studio. He sat there in my trailer all day. He wanted to be by my side. I doubt if I can give so much physically, mentally and emotionally to a relationship. Whether it’s a craving, a breakdown or anything else, he’s there. They say, ‘We are pregnant’. Angad symbolised that.
ANGAD: The good thing about Neha is that she flares up but calms down soon too. It’s normal to have mood swings. In her case they are far and few.
Neha, you’ve worked round the clock…
NEHA: I respect expectant mothers who want to stay at home. My parents, my doctor and friends assured me that I could work till the last day. The fact that you are strong enough to give life doesn’t make you weak. I went to the gym and also swam. I did get a bit emotional. Like I cried while watching a film.
ANGAD: It’s great to work during pregnancy. She’s set a new benchmark for women. She’s a strong personality, who believes it’s not a weakness.
Did you feel like putting your feet up and relaxing sometimes?
NEHA: I did. There were times when I felt I had taken on too much. I’ve worked so much through my pregnancy, done physically demanding stuff for TV shows, hosted a fashion-related show, shot for a film... I’ve worked in all shapes and sizes. When you have a start like that your child is ready to face the world. I believe this baby is going to be the most beautiful project of our lives. We need to give it our hundred per cent no matter what. Angad and I say in jest that we want a gold medallist for the country. Hopefully, one day our daughter (Mehr) will be in the Olympic squad.
Q. What parenting tips have you received?
NEHA: The one person I take advice from the most is Soha (Ali Khan). Actually, everyone has a parenthood tip. There’s no such thing as bad parenting. The mother who goes to work is amazing. The mother who wants to spend the rest of her life with her kid is also amazing. Same goes for the man. Earlier, we shared the tips we received with each other. Now, we keep nodding and pretend we’re listening. We’re so bored of parenting advice.
Angad: I smile and nod and then just switch off. Suno sabki, karo apni. That’s what my father (renowned cricketer Bishen Singh Bedi) tells me. He wants me to experience this beautiful chapter on my own. He says I’ll learn from my mistakes. He asks me to be calm and patient.
So, who’s going to play the good cop and the bad cop?
NEHA: Angad will play the filmi cop. He’ll reach when the situation has been taken care of. But I’ll be the real cop.
Do your other accomplishments compare with the high of being a mother?
NEHA: It’s apples and oranges if you ask me to compare my career to us getting married and having a child. Karan (Johar) told me this is like the interval of a film. He said, ‘Go get married, start a family and trust me the second half will be beautiful’. You can’t equate this to anything else in the world.
ANGAD: You achieve success, money, stardom... But you’ll enjoy these only when you have someone to share them with. Nothing can give the satisfaction that your family or holding your child can give you.
What preparations went on to welcome Mehr?
NEHA: We made a nursery and renovated the house. Earlier, it used to be a single’s apartment. We got flooded with gifts for the baby at the baby shower. Mehr has more clothes than her father and is inching close to what her mother possesses. We have arranged for help. I’ve asked my mother to stay with me for a couple of months. Angad and I remind ourselves that our entire lives shouldn’t get consumed. We had barely just started dating. It’s not like we’ve been married for years. Ours is young love yet.
ANGAD: No amount of preparation is good enough. Our upbringing is old school. So she’s got a balance of old school and new-age parenting. We haven’t referred to a single book or the internet for parenting guidelines because beyond a point it doesn’t make sense. One should rely on natural instinct.
What are the things you’d like to be particular about?
NEHA: Bedtime will be 7.30 pm. We’ll try to keep her away from the iPad as much as possible. Also tantrums reflect how you’ve raised the child. So, discipline is a must.
ANGAD: Since we want her to be a gold medallist, it won’t happen on the phone or on the iPad. It will happen on the ground. We’d rather spend time with the child than shove a phone in her hands just because we want some free time.
NEHA: We are going to keep her away from sugar because then the 7.30 pm bedtime will go for a toss. So, only natural sugars. We want the grandparents to spend time with Mehr. That’s where children learn values and culture.
What qualities would you like the child to inherit from you?
NEHA: Angad has a heart of gold. He’s compassionate and disciplined. It doesn’t matter if your child is going to Harvard or brings back a gold medal. She’s got to be a good human being. I hope my child inherits this from his dad. Angad’s selfless.
ANGAD: There’s discipline in Neha courtesy her dad, who was in the Indian Navy. I’d love my child to have that and a sense of gratitude. I’d like her to have a middle-class upbringing. It’s not about what we can provide; it’s about appreciating the value of time, money and friendship. People like being around Neha. I want my child to be like that.
The one who goes to work is as much a supermom as the one who stays at home-Neha Dhupia
8:17 AM
In her first interview after motherhood, Neha on returning to the set within aweek of delivery and Bollywood’s attitude shift towards to-be-mums
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; December 8, 2018)
“EaT, sh**, sleep. Repeat. That’s her routine,” laughs Neha Dhupia, as she talks of her three-week-old daughter, Mehr. The new mommy explains that it was her child’s uncomplicated routine that helped her return to the set eight days after delivery. While it was feasible for Dhupia to honour her brand endorsement commitments, social media users were quick to troll her for ‘not dedicating enough time to the baby’.
Insisting that she didn’t feel the need for a maternity break, she reasons, “People need to know there’s no bad mom, and no bad way of bringing up your child. The one who goes to work is as much a supermom as the one who stays at home and nurses her little one. People’s opinions are irrelevant. I remember doing my first shoot at home. I ensured the crew was quiet, and I kept an eye on the watch to make sure I was done with the shoot before she wakes up.”
Even before her delivery, Dhupia was hard at work, juggling her podcast, No Filter Neha, with her film commitments. She is glad to be part of the new brand of Bollywood women who have brought about a shift in how pregnant women are perceived. “The directors who hire us, the brands we work with — they have all undergone a shift in approach. My happiness is derived from work, so I was out and about until Diwali. People used to ask me when I will take rest, but I didn’t feel the need. People who need to rest, must. I looked up to Kareena [Kapoor Khan] as an inspiration with regard to how she conducted herself during pregnancy. I hope I too have inspired women in deciding what they want.”
That her maternal instinct has kicked in is evident as Dhupia says that little Mehr is “my motive to rush back home after every shoot. Recently, I had a shoot in South Bombay and I started crying before heading out, wondering when I will see Mehr next. Right now, I am a big ball of mush. Kids can be your strength and weakness, and new mothers are always oscillating between these emotions.”
The shoot was fun as Angad Bedi and I kept on flirting on air-Neha Dhupia
8:57 AM
Mommy-to-be Neha Dhupia records latest episode of podcast with husband Angad Bedi before going on maternity break
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; November 13, 2018)
"I am due now any minute now," laughs Neha Dhupia, looking radiant in her pregnancy glow. The impending arrival of the little one hasn't deterred her from honouring her commitment to #NoFilterNeha. In a classic case of mixing work and pleasure, Dhupia recorded the latest episode of her podcast with husband Angad Bedi, who made his first appearance on the show. She says the timing couldn't be better as the parents-to-be spoke about finding love in each other, marriage and looking forward to the next chapter in their lives.
"When I asked him to come on the show as a guest, Angad asked me, 'Are you sure? My replies may land you in trouble.' The shoot was fun as we kept on flirting on air. I am hoping nobody will get upset because, at the end of the day, he is my husband. While some of his replies made me blush, others left me cringing. Thank God, I am the producer! That way, I can edit the stuff where the flirting got out of hand," she quips.
Asserting that she gave no concessions to hubby dearest and asked him tough questions, Dhupia adds that Bedi sportingly opened up about his past. "When I mentioned certain anecdotes, Angad was like, 'How do you know this?' There are certain things that you don't want your wife to know, but I went behind his back and got the information from his friends. I didn't ask him about his exes, but we had a chat about all the crazy times that he's had. The biggest reveal on the show is how we broke the news of our pregnancy to our parents." Ask her about her maternity break, and Dhupia says, "As of now, I don't intend to take a long break, but that may change once the baby's here."
I and Angad would love to see our child in the Olympics squad-Neha Dhupia
8:05 AM
Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; October 22, 2018)
Neha Dhupia is only weeks away from giving birth to her first baby, but there is no slowing down the feisty actress. She is busy shooting for her podcast #NoFilterNeha, and her TV show, Styled By Neha. After keeping her pregnancy hidden for six months, the actress is now showing off her baby bump walking the ramp, no less, and at various events. We caught up with the mommy-to-be to talk about her pregnancy, shows and more...
In the last trimester of your pregnancy, you seem to be more active than before...
Yes, I got the best advice from my mother when I told her I was pregnant. She said, ‘You are not sick, you are fit enough to give life. So don’t say I am not well and sit at home.’ I don’t want to be misquoted here, but there are women who prefer to stay at home during their pregnancy, which is good. There are women who decide to go to work every day when they are expecting and that’s also great. I fall in the latter category and I feel wonderful thinking today I’ll go on the sets of my style show, or that I will be doing my podcast or I will be researching. Yes, there are days when I feel bloated and think I can’t do things. Suddenly, in the middle of an interview, I think of food — such silly things happen, but I have got so much support from Angad (Bedi, actor-husband). If I am at home doing nothing, he asks whether I am okay. People worry when I don’t go to work (laughs).
Have you picked up any names for your baby?
No, we are not doing anything. We are not reading up — you won’t find a single parenting book at home. We are not going to any (pre-natal) classes, we are taking each day as it comes.
Every pregnant woman is asked if she wants a boy or girl. What is your wish?
I have seen polls being conducted on social media on whether I will have a boy or girl — 64 per cent, 36 per cent, 40 per cent — and it’s funny. Angad and I jokingly ask each other ‘what do you want?’
And Angad says he wants a gold medallist.
Angad and I are so inclined towards sports that we would love to see our child eventually represent the country in the Olympics squad. I always wanted to wear an India T-shirt and bring glory to the country but that dream remained unfulfilled. We are hoping our child is fit, healthy and disciplined to do that. Most importantly, I want a healthy and a happy kid, it doesn’t matter whether it’s a boy or a girl.
The third season of #NoFilterNeha is back. Will it be spicier than before?
Yes, for one thing, Karan (Johar) is back and you’ll be hearing a lot of things. Another highlight will be Angad and me in conversation. Apart from Karan, who himself is a great host and star, Angad made me nervous. I didn’t know where the wife began and the host ended and vice versa. There are a lot of revelations, Vicky Kaushal was amazing, Harbhajan (Singh) was at his wittiest, funniest best, Badshah opened up about his depression, Radhika Apte touched on the #MeToo Movement. Karan talked about how he guided us on making sure that our most important moments in Lust Stories were absolutely right if you know what I mean (laughs).
Did you make it easy for Angad?
No, it was the opposite. We do a lot of research to get the best out of a person. So, I called up all his friends to talk about his past and assured them it’s okay to tell me. But when I started hearing the stories, I was like, ‘No, stop!’
Since you talked about #MeToo Movement what is your take on it?
It needs a lot of strength to talk about it and there are really brave women out there. There are some bizarre stories too, and there are two sides to it. My heart goes out to not only the women who have suffered, but also to the accuser’s wife and daughter — what they must be going through or the son who has looked up to him all his life.
How did Styled By Neha come about?
Why? Are you surprised? (Smiles)
You are not known to be a fashionista, so it’s interesting...
Yes, my fashion sense has evolved. Initially, I used to try and ape others, especially successful people. If someone wore a gold sari to an awards show, I would drape one for the next event. I was a complete idiot when it came to fashion. Now, I dress for myself. People who have an opinion about it are entitled to it. I don’t put too much thought into it. I wear what makes me comfortable and that makes me confident. Earlier, people wouldn’t understand and used to joke that she dresses in drapes and bedsheets. But hey, I love my drapes! It was the channel which came to me with the idea of the fashion makeover show and it interested me.
What next?
Apart from my shows, the next big thing is my baby who is due next month. I have worked through my pregnancy in all shapes and sizes (laughs). When I was two months pregnant, I did Roadies, living in tents and off-roading. It doesn’t get better or worse than that. I shot for Helicopter Eela, my style show and now, I’m shooting for my podcast. In your head you have to be unstoppable then nothing can stop you.
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