a 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 Simpson’s 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 inDasvidaniya and Raat Gayi Baat Gayi directed by Saurabh, which releases in a few weeks,” she smiles.

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