Neha Dhupia was born in Kochi, India, to a Sikh family on August 27, 1980. She did her schooling from Army Public School, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi as her father, Commander Pradip Singh Dhupia, served in the Indian Navy. Neha did her graduation from Jesus and Mary College in New Delhi, affiliated to the University of Delhi, with Honours in History. (All photos courtesy/Instagram account of Neha Dhupia, Angad Bedi and Yogen Shah)
When she left Delhi to pursue a career in the city of dreams, Mumbai, some 18 years ago, Neha Dhupia's father Pradip Singh Dhupia thought she would be back in no time. But she proved him wrong and has had a decent career in showbiz.
Neha Dhupia made her screen debut with Malayalam film Minnaram as a child artist. The film starred Mohanlal. She won the Miss India pageant in 2002, and a year later, she ventured into Bollywood with Qayamat: City Under Threat.
Reminiscing about her older days, Neha Dupia had told IANS, 'It was like the worst time of my life. I was so busy with Miss India that I missed out on so much. So I made up for it when I was 24. My friends and I used to work hard the entire week and on the weekends we used to think, 'Damn we need to party!' I have had very bad Monday mornings!'
In picture: Neha Dhupia and Abhay Deol in the poster of Ek Chalis Ki Last Local
On her stint in showbiz, Neha told mid-day, in an old interview, 'I am just happy that I have a career. I remember when I was 20 years old and come to Bombay to make a life. My father booked a ticket and he was like 'I am assuming you would be back in three months. You want to be an IAS officer'.' Neha still has that ticket.
Neha Dhupia, who has worked in films like Julie, Ek Chalis Ki Last Local, Mithya, Singh Is Kinng and Dasvidaniya, apart from more recent performances in projects like Hindi Medium, Tumhari Sulu and Helicopter Eela, has seen many highs and lows in her career.
In picture: Neha Dhupia with Malaika Arora, Amrita Arora Ladak and Sophie Choudry at a party.
But Neha Dhupia has no regrets about it. 'Stupid choices for the sake of work could be a regret, but apart from that nothing,' she said.
In picture: Neha Dhupia with Vidya Balan in Tumhari Sulu
Lately, Neha Dhupia has been doing non-fictional shows like MTV Roadies - Roadies Xtreme, podcast #NoFilterNeha and other chat shows such as Vogue BFFs, apart from movie projects.
In picture: Neha Dhupia on sets of Roadies.
From the film world to a podcast show and even judging television non-fiction entertainers - Neha Dhupia is doing it all. The actress and former beauty queen says entering the film industry was an adventurous step she took around 20 years ago, but staying relevant during all these years has been quite a task.
Neha Dhupia told IANS, 'There are so many TV shows that go off air within three months of their beginning. MTV Roadies is one of the adventures TV shows that has earned the credibility of 15 years from its audience. And I am the only female judge on the show. I earned the show because of my body of work. Staying relevant for 20 years is challenging.'
Asked if she also wants to explore the fiction space on TV, Neha Dhupia said, 'No, I won't be able to commit myself to a fictional show. That is a huge time-consuming commitment. I live in the present and definitely have no 10-year plan. The only thing I planned in my life were a couple of relationships that I was in and I thought that 'this is the one. I am going to settle down with him' and that went kaput. So I have stopped planning my life.'
Neha Dhupia surprised the world when she married actor Angad Bedi in a hush-hush ceremony at a Gurudwara in New Delhi on May 10, 2018. They got married in an Anand Karaj ceremony attended by only close family and friends.
Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi made the announcement via social media. 'Best decision of my life... Today, I married my best friend. Hello there, husband! Angad Bedi,' Neha posted on her official Instagram page along with a photograph from their wedding ceremony. Angad also posted: 'Best friend... now wife! Well, Hello there Mrs Bedi! Neha Dhupia.'
Neha Dhupia reminisced about how it all started, 'Angad proposed to me in the nicest way possible wherein he went straight to my parents and then my mom called me saying that he is the nicest guy for you. But back then, I thought it wasn't the right time and said no to his proposal.'
'He never wanted to date me as he was very certain that I will either be his friend or his wife. Ever since we have known each other, we were good friends and nothing more than that. But on May 3, 2018, he asked me to come with him to Delhi. He dropped a hint that we need to settle down and proposed marriage in front of my parents which came as a surprise to both my parents and me,' Neha Dhupia added.
A little over three months after her wedding, Neha Dhupia confirmed her pregnancy in August 2018.
Neha Dhupia continued to work all through her pregnancy. In fact, she admitted that she has worked more through her pregnancy than she has had at any other time in her life.
Neha Dhupia said that she respects every mother who goes to work or a mother who chooses to stay at home. 'I respect every parent the way they are bringing up their child. There's no good, no bad, and there's no right or wrong, because it is always backed by one emotion, and that is love and care. That's the emotion I am going to continuously have for my child and so will my husband. So I'm excited about it but I love my work, so as soon as I come back, I'll start working again.'
Neha Dhupia and her husband Angad Bedi were blessed with a baby girl on November 18, 2018. Angad on November 20 tweeted a health update of the mother-daughter duo. 'The last two days have been very overwhelming. Neha and me have been blessed with a beautiful baby girl. Thank you all for your wishes and love that is coming our way. Both my girls are doing really well,' he wrote.
In picture: Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi were spotted with their daughter Mehr Dhupia Bedi outside Khar hospital, where the actress delivered her baby.
Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi named their little one Mehr Dhupia Bedi. Neha even tweeted, "Our hearts are filled with joy as we Thank you all for all the love that has poured in for our little girl... I just whispered in her ear that everyone says welcome to the world and she smiled back... She sends you all lots of love."
Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi had little Mehr's passport made when she was a month-and-a-half old, and her photograph saw her all swaddled up in clothes, told the actress to mid-day recently.
In May 2019, Neha and Angad celebrated their first wedding anniversary in Mauritius. Needless to say, the couple was accompanied by their daughter. In an interview with mid-day, Neha said that her first-ever trip abroad was to Mauritius, and interestingly it's the same with her daughter.
Neha Dhupia said, "Ours is young love. Angad and I didn't spend much time with each other before our marriage. So this feels like our dating phase. Every day, I feel I can't love him more, but I just do."
On the work front, Neha Dhupia was last seen in the much-appreciated short film Devi. Devi also starred Kajol, Neena Kulkarni, Shruti Haasan, Mukta Barve, Shivani Raghuvanshi, Sandhya Mhatre, Rama Joshi and Rashaswini Dayama. The powerful short film narrates the story of nine oppressed women coming from different walks of life.
ADVERTISEMENT
