After slamming paps for being intrusive, Neha Dhupia says they respect her privacy
In an interview with us, actor Neha Dhupia reflected on her equation with the paparazzi, days after her confrontation at an event. She discussed how they have been supportive of her work.
Actor Neha Dhupia, who recently called out paparazzi for repeatedly filming her inappropriately, has now spoken about her overall relationship with photographers. Days after the confrontation at a public event in Mumbai sparked a debate on celebrity privacy and paparazzi boundaries, the actor praised the paps for being respectful and supportive of her work.
Speaking exclusively to India Today from London, where she is promoting her international debut 52 Blue, the 45-year-old actor said she values the paparazzi for not only supporting her work but also respecting her family's privacy.
Reflecting on her equation with photographers, the De Dana Dan actor said, "I have had a great relationship with the paps. They have been very respectful to me and understanding of the fact that my children need privacy."
Dhupia added that she has always maintained an open and professional relationship with the paparazzi, often inviting them to promotional events. "I have been open about the same. When I'm shooting for Double Date, I do invite the paps and they show up. They help us circulate our show out there,” she added.
What Neha Dhupia said
At the Mumbai event, Dhupia directly confronted the photographers over what she described as inappropriate "back shots", saying such behaviour needed to stop. She added that actors interact with the media respectfully and expect the same courtesy in return.
Neha said, "Yeh badtameezi se backshot kaun leta hai tum log me se? Kaun leta hai? Band karo (Who among you is taking these back shots so disrespectfully? Who is doing it? Stop it)."
She added, "Mera nahi karna hai. Kisi ka nahi karna hai. Bol bol kar thak gaye hain. Bag utha kar, book utha kar, backward walking karke. Yeh sab nahi chalega abhi. Band karo yeh sab. Hum log bahut izzat se karte hai aap logon se baat. Mat karo (Do not do it to me. Do not do it to anyone. We are tired of saying this over and over. Picking up bags and books, walking backwards – none of that will work any more. Put a stop to all this. We speak to you all with great respect. Do not do this)."
On her international debut
In the same interview, Neha Dhupia also opened up about her international debut, 52 Blue. The film, directed by Egyptian filmmaker Ali El Arabi and co-starring Adil Hussain, sees the actor playing the role of a mother named Lakshi. Reflecting on the part, she said playing a mother on screen was far more challenging than many might assume, adding that her real-life experience as a mother helped her prepare for the role.
Explaining how motherhood shaped her performance, Dhupia said the role demanded her to tap into emotions she had experienced in her personal life.
“Being a mother helped me prepare for this role because I had to deal with a lot of maternal pain as a character. So whether it's one’s loss, leaving, longing, all of that, unfulfilled dreams, and then I think that if this film was offered to me seven years ago when I was not a mom, I don't think I would be able to give it so many layers,” she said.
The actor added that motherhood had completely transformed the way she understood grief, making her character's journey feel deeply personal.
"Whereas once you become a mom, it changes completely. It's because then loss and pain, you know, affect your core to a point where you almost become numb. So there is a part of me that had to be portrayed,” she concluded.
52 Blue opened the London Indian Film Festival on July 10. In the film, Neha Dhupia plays the mother of a young footballer from Kerala, while Adil Hussain essays the role of the boy's strict and protective father. The film is currently travelling the international festival circuit, with its India release date yet to be announced.
Actor Neha Dhupia, who recently called out paparazzi for repeatedly filming her inappropriately, has now spoken about her overall relationship with photographers. Days after the confrontation at a public event in Mumbai sparked a debate on celebrity privacy and paparazzi boundaries, the actor praised the paps for being respectful and supportive of her work.
Speaking exclusively to India Today from London, where she is promoting her international debut 52 Blue, the 45-year-old actor said she values the paparazzi for not only supporting her work but also respecting her family's privacy.
Reflecting on her equation with photographers, the De Dana Dan actor said, "I have had a great relationship with the paps. They have been very respectful to me and understanding of the fact that my children need privacy."
Dhupia added that she has always maintained an open and professional relationship with the paparazzi, often inviting them to promotional events. "I have been open about the same. When I'm shooting for Double Date, I do invite the paps and they show up. They help us circulate our show out there,” she added.
What Neha Dhupia said
At the Mumbai event, Dhupia directly confronted the photographers over what she described as inappropriate "back shots", saying such behaviour needed to stop. She added that actors interact with the media respectfully and expect the same courtesy in return.
Neha said, "Yeh badtameezi se backshot kaun leta hai tum log me se? Kaun leta hai? Band karo (Who among you is taking these back shots so disrespectfully? Who is doing it? Stop it)."
She added, "Mera nahi karna hai. Kisi ka nahi karna hai. Bol bol kar thak gaye hain. Bag utha kar, book utha kar, backward walking karke. Yeh sab nahi chalega abhi. Band karo yeh sab. Hum log bahut izzat se karte hai aap logon se baat. Mat karo (Do not do it to me. Do not do it to anyone. We are tired of saying this over and over. Picking up bags and books, walking backwards – none of that will work any more. Put a stop to all this. We speak to you all with great respect. Do not do this)."
On her international debut
In the same interview, Neha Dhupia also opened up about her international debut, 52 Blue. The film, directed by Egyptian filmmaker Ali El Arabi and co-starring Adil Hussain, sees the actor playing the role of a mother named Lakshi. Reflecting on the part, she said playing a mother on screen was far more challenging than many might assume, adding that her real-life experience as a mother helped her prepare for the role.
Explaining how motherhood shaped her performance, Dhupia said the role demanded her to tap into emotions she had experienced in her personal life.
“Being a mother helped me prepare for this role because I had to deal with a lot of maternal pain as a character. So whether it's one’s loss, leaving, longing, all of that, unfulfilled dreams, and then I think that if this film was offered to me seven years ago when I was not a mom, I don't think I would be able to give it so many layers,” she said.
The actor added that motherhood had completely transformed the way she understood grief, making her character's journey feel deeply personal.
"Whereas once you become a mom, it changes completely. It's because then loss and pain, you know, affect your core to a point where you almost become numb. So there is a part of me that had to be portrayed,” she concluded.
52 Blue opened the London Indian Film Festival on July 10. In the film, Neha Dhupia plays the mother of a young footballer from Kerala, while Adil Hussain essays the role of the boy's strict and protective father. The film is currently travelling the international festival circuit, with its India release date yet to be announced.
