When I was younger, I felt like what’s next? And maybe not this, and then what? I always survived by thinking about whether the film industry was my Plan A or Plan B. It took me more than 20 years to understand that this is my Plan A. And in fact, we are just getting started. No matter what, one way or another, between me and the people who hire me, this is where I will be. Honestly, it’s only now that I have this feeling. It’s taken a long time, but no matter how much you want me to, I’m not going anywhere.

What drove this change? Why have you started to feel safe now?

I have done everything from mainstream cinema to multiplex or arthouse films. It could have been this person in 2015 who said I won’t do No Filter Neha because people would think I’m out of a job. Which wasn’t true because I did that, but I also did a Tumhari Sulu (2017). It is then about going beyond what people think. I started feeling this when I started getting 360, be it doing reality shows like Roadies, doing my podcast, being a part of films and OTT, doing live events, stage shows and brand endorsements. When there is surround sound everywhere, you know that one way or another, people know that you belong here and that they will reach out to you. I keep saying I’m not at the top of the game, but at least I’m part of the game.

Going back to the beginning, you made your debut in Hindi cinema with Qayamat: City Under Threat (2003), but would it be correct to say that your breakthrough was Julie (2004)?

I don’t know. A breakthrough for some, but for me, I was put in a box. I still feel like it was seen for what it was marketed for. But I really feel like I worked hard, but it went unnoticed because of that. There was a sign without a back. They called me a “sex symbol.” Then I wanted to do other color things, but that gets difficult, man!

Neha Dhupia in Julie.

How did you get out of that image of Julie then?

I had already signed another film like this (Kya Kool Hain Hum, 2005), but I didn’t realize that it would have these repercussions. I was never in a position where I could go to the producer and say I don’t want to be a part of this. But I would definitely like to be in a position to post that, not that they are wrong, but make decisions that prevent me from getting a picture. It was very difficult to get out of that image, especially as an actress back then. It’s like driving a car. You have to return to neutral before you can shift into a higher or lower gear. So I went back to neutral. I was home for a while. Then I got a small role in Garam Masala (2005) as a guest appearance. Then I did Chup Chup Ke (2007).

Since there clearly wasn’t an intimacy coordinator back then, how comfortable was it for a young actress to make a film like Julie?

It was strange. Then I made a film like Lust Stories (2018), but the only intimacy I had there was with an object (laughs). And it was guided by Karan Johar, who you know will be shot beautifully. I’ve never worked with an intimacy coordinator, but for me it was just about getting the job done and getting out. It’s also difficult to be in a harness. When you’re eight months pregnant and get completely soaked in the rain on the sets of Thursday (2022), is it a difficult day on set? Yeah! So yes, the intimate scenes are harsh and strange, but also clinical and callous. But yeah, playing a therapist (Perfect Family) and someone who runs an orphanage (Single Papa) is definitely a lot less stressful (laughs).

Neha Dhupia in Single Dad.

You’ve had a great year on OTT, from Perfect Family to Single Dad. Has streaming also given a new boost to your career?

There was a lot of OTT work being done when I had my two kids, but I wasn’t getting any. Post that, I started reaching out to people. “My son is three, my daughter is five. They go to big schools. So is there something for me, please?” Then I remember Mukesh Chhabra (casting director) approached me for Perfect Family and Samar Khan (producer) called me for Single Papa. When you’re doing the work, just do it. You don’t know how many people would see it. But the love I have for both of them made me feel again just when I thought it was over, I realized I still have it in me. But when you feel like you’re done, it’s the hardest thing, right? I’ve been through those waves so many times that I know how to ride them. Also, having a partner like Angad Bedi helps because he knows that the most important day to treat his wife to lunch is the day she doesn’t get an audition. The anniversary day is not that important because we know we are busy filming.

Lust Stories 2 wasn’t your first Karan Johar film, right? You also played a voice role in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016), as the reporter who interviews Ranbir Kapoor’s character. How did that happen?

I called Karan once, twice and three times for my podcast. He heard my voice so many times that he got fed up and asked me to come do this voiceover. “I still remember Sanjay Kapoor telling this joke.”Oh! Image of Teri ne Rs 100 crore kar liymy!” Yeah, that’s funny.

Didn’t you tell Karan then that the next one better be more than just a voice role?

No, I have great friends in business. And they’re great because I don’t exploit them professionally. But when I feel like there’s something that I or my friends think we could fit into, I reach out or they reach out. But otherwise it’s not a daily call that says, “What’s going on? Where will I be picked today?” (laughs). None of that happens.

Roadies has been a constant part of your career for 10 years, ever since you became a judge/gang leader in season 14. Was it difficult for you to do Roadies right after having your firstborn, Meher?

That year we went to Kerala for 45 to 50 days. But Roadies sets are drivers for babies everywhere. There are also plenty of breaks, but the only person who is extremely tired at the end of the day is the mother. But being a mother and a professional is a choice you have made, at least in my case. I didn’t want to miss the opportunity. I called my mother and asked her if she would be with me for those 45 or 50 days. She said, “You do it for your daughter. I would do it for mine.” It was a leap of faith, but Meher was absolutely fine. Now it is becoming a story to tell.

Rannvijay Singh and Neha Dhupia in Roadies.

What was it like returning to the last season after skipping the previous two?

I came back after four years as a gang leader, but also as a mother of two children. Yo Don’t think the fight in me died at all. Yes, he wasn’t yelling as much, but there was a different kind of fight. Do my children see that I have good and bad days? Do you see me struggling at work? I don’t think there should be any shame in any of that. They are being raised by someone who is fiercely competitive. In a year or two, my kids will be ready to watch Chup Chup Ke. But will you be ready to see the rest of the work I’ve done? Not at all. But they will get there soon. They may see Julie one day, but will I have much explaining to do? I hope not.

You said that you and Angad are very similar both because of your profession and your Punjabi heritage. But how are you fundamentally different?

On many levels. Believe it or not, he is much more social than me, which comes as a surprise to everyone. He knows how to say yes or no in a more professional way. Mostly I say yes to the opportunities that come my way. He likes to give things a little rhythm. I like the rush and the hustle. I sleep and get up early, he doesn’t. He’s great at parallel parking, I’m a disaster. He likes to read on electronic devices, I still like hardcover books. Talk a lot more. There is a time when he becomes more talkative, after nine thirty. It’s definitely more nocturnal.

Is there any favorite Angad Bedi performance?

When we started dating, there was a real-life Angad Bedi performance where there was no one on the road, he found a parking spot, played a Diljit Dosanjh song and started doing bhangra on the road. I thought, sweet, I could marry this guy. I’m kidding. I know a lot of people would say Pink (2016) or Soorma (2018), but Inside Edge’s Arvind Vashisth is my favourite.

Then read: Why Dhurandhar 2 ditched Netflix for JioHotstar in a massive streaming shake-up and switched music to T-Series

Have you ever thought about developing something for both of you to star in together?

I did, but the industry is going through a difficult phase. Some of the strongest players in the business cannot measure the market. Just when I was about to produce something, the market became very volatile. Nobody knows when it will get better. Even those who knew the market no longer know. So I’m going to give it a little more time. Never say never. I produced No Filter Neha and had a good run for six years. I don’t think I can direct, but producing is definitely still in play.