Neha Dhupia,now a household name in the West,talks about her choice of small-budget films back home She may not have created a stir in her home country,but Neha Dhupia,who bagged a key role in the American tele series Bollywood Hero,followed by a part in Hollywood actress Jessica Simpsons show Price of Beauty,has been dominating billboards,posters and television promos in the States of late. It took the news of her proximity to her new friend Simpson for us back home to sit up and take notice. Dhupia realises this and shrugs it off with a smile. Yes,our industry suffers this fixation with the West but it works both ways. The international exposure has proved valuable in boosting both my career and my confidence. I got my part as an Indian star Aliah Lakhani in Bollywood Hero through Tabrez Noorani,a friend and line-producer of Academy Award winning film Slumdog Millionaire, she explains. And that is how Simpson first noticed her and later approached her to represent the Bollywood segment of her show that gauges the importance of beauty in different cultures. While she is vocal about Bollywood Hero,she remains tight lipped about her association with Simpson to whom she recently played host in Mumbai. I am not at liberty to talk as I am under contract, she confesses. Ironically though,the 29-year-old dusky beauty has also acquired the nickname of Arthouse Special owing to her recent association with the Rajat Kapoor-Saurabh Shukla-Ranvir Shorey-Vinay Pathak gang. I have to thank Rajat to first let me in and show confidence in me. The association,which started with Mithya,led to my role in Dasvidaniya and Raat Gayi Baat Gayi directed by Saurabh,which releases in a few weeks, she smiles. Often seen hanging out with them,Dhupia feels Shorey,with whom she has done three films,is often misunderstood. Hes a great guy,fun to be with and a fabulous actor but people perceive him as arrogant,which he is not. With Vinay,he makes a great team. But I must say that Saurabh Shukla is the most brilliant writer I have ever met. After Raat Gayi Baat Gayi,I have also done his Pappu Cant Dance Saala and I am 24,both of which are yet to release, she gushes. As opposed to the view that small budget movies require more effort since acting and script are all one relies on for success,the actress believes that its the big budget films that put one under undue pressure. All the movies I have done with these guys have been fun and we would all stroll into the sets and it would be like having a party. Big movies,in contrast like Singh is Kinng in the past or De Dana Dan that releases in three weeks have so many names involved,a huge crew that works really hard and massive expectations from the audiences youre always scared that you will let them down. However,she admits that the star value such movies lend is important. It gets you visibility but I dont count these films as the measure of success. I am happier being an actress whom good filmmakers like Rajat and Saurabh or Priyadarshan repeat in their films as opposed to fighting for the number game.
