Neha Dhupia reacts to her film Julie: ‘It did typecast me for a little while`

In an exclusive conversation on mid-day’s The Bombay Film Story, Neha Dhupia opened up about the phase of her career when she found widespread recognition with Julie and how the film, while giving her visibility, also briefly typecast her before she consciously pivoted towards more diverse roles. 

Neha Dhupia gets candid about getting typecast after Julie 

Reflecting on her early days in Mumbai, Neha first clarified the timeline of her films. “Kayamat would be your first film. Then I did Julie. Then I did Kya Kool Hai Hum. Then I did a whole bunch of films. Then I did Chup Chup Ke,” she recalled. When asked whether Julie was the film that truly made her career, especially since it was “a hit with only you on the poster,” Neha acknowledged its impact. “I did get noticed, yeah,” she said honestly. 

However, the recognition came with its own set of challenges. Addressing the perception surrounding the film and her image, Neha admitted, “But it did typecast me for a little while.” She revealed that after doing “maybe one movie more” and even experimenting with a “double role,” she reached a point of discomfort. “Then I kind of said no. I’m not going to do this. It makes me uncomfortable. It’s just something I want to change,” she shared. 

Describing this internal conflict, Neha spoke about the mental shifts actors often go through. “You kind of launch a career, and then things go a certain way. Things are good on the outside, but on the inside, mentally you feel like you want to change,” she said. That realization led her to consciously choose a different path. “Then I did a whole bunch of comedies, Chup Chup Ke, De De Pyaar De, Singh Is Kinng. That was a pivot,” she explained, adding, “You want to move out from one genre to another genre.” 

On her journey with versatile roles 

Her journey of reinvention didn’t stop there. “Then I met Rajat Kapoor. Then I did Mithya. Then I did Raat Gayi Baat Gayi, Ek Chaalis Ki Last Local, I Am 24, Phas Gaye Re Obama,” Neha listed, calling it “a different phase” where she was “part of a different kind of bunch of movies.” She emphasized that this shift was intentional. “It was a conscious move. There’s no point doing the same kind of roles all the time,” she said.
 
Neha also spoke candidly about making choices in an industry where options aren’t always plentiful. “It’s not like someone like me is getting so many offers. But you kind of know what to say no to,” she explained. “If you know what to say no to, then you just go for the yeses faster.” 

As her career evolved, new avenues opened up. “Then around the end of that, I got a call for Roadies,” she said, adding that she was also juggling films, starting her podcast, and working on “two home productions.” Looking back, Neha’s journey stands as a testament to conscious reinvention and the courage to step away from comfort zones to find longevity and fulfillment.