I am very street smart, says Neha Dhupia

New Delhi: Lately, Neha Dhupia has emerged as a heroine who can do well in typical ‘masala’ entertainers as well as the experimental films. Ventures such as ‘Mithya’, ‘Phas Gaye Re Obama’ and ‘Pappu Can’t Dance Saala’ have helped her in developing as a heroine who can be banked upon for unusual roles.

Dhupia has played one such role in director Saurabh Shukla’s recently released ‘I M 24’, “I play the role of an aspiring actress Shiela in ‘I M 24’ who is a wannabe actress. The film is about a 42 year old man who starts a conversation with a pretty girl while surfing on the internet. He says a lie there that he is 24 and then all the absurd things start happening.”

She further says, “In the same run of things, there are other characters. I can lie with a straight face but at heart, I am really honest.”

Such characters come easily to Neha, “I didn’t have to prepare because I am very street smart. I can sense a person from first 5 minutes spent with him. I always try and make the most of the experiences in life. I actually feel myself a little smarter than most of the people. I just had to react to my extremely talented co-stars.”

Does she prefer to work with the same set of people, “I think the chemistry is due to our friendship. Whenever they feel that I suit the character, they bring me along. I am not directing or producing anything as of now, but whenever I will do that, I want to take them. I have done one film with Rajat and three films films with Saurabh as director. I am happy and proud of each and everything I have done.”

Manjari Phadnis has also played an important character in ‘I M 24’, “I am playing a very simple girl Kanak Dutta in the film. I am crazy in real life but very normal on screen. I am a Miss India pageant aspirant as well in the film. I have absolutely no idea about the person I have met online.”

Manjari also has praises for Saurabh Shukla, “The best thing about Saurabh is the freedom he gives to his actors. He allows us to play the role the way we interpret it, this gives a lot of creative freedom to the actors.”

Neha will next be seen in ‘Rush’ with Emraan Hashmi. Once again, she would transform into a typical Bollywood heroine, but isn’t this swift transition of characters is the beauty of being a film actress?

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