The actress talks to Divya Kaushik about her first Punjabi film Rangeelay and projects like Unglee with Karan Johar. She wants to appear in a biopic some day
Apart from making appearances at store openings and walking the ramp for designers and brands, Neha Dhupia has a few films, like Rangeelay, her first film in Punjabi. We spoke to the actress as she was promoting the film with co-star and producer of the film, Jimmy Shergill in Punjab.
“I think this is a natural progression, because I belong to a Sikh family. I was looking for the right script. When Jimmy told me the story, which was a funny, romantic, dramatic. I jumped at it. After spending considerable time in the industry, each actor looks for change and wants to diversify. So I am trying things I haven’t done earlier.”
The film is true to its title. She plays a bubbly girl who rides a scooter and Jimmy is a recovery agent, assigned with taking it from her. But then he falls for her and comic incidents follow.
“It’s all about confusion and a comedy of errors,” she added. The actress, who appeared in movies like Rush, Phas Gaye Re Obama and Action Replayy, feels regional cinema, including Punjabi, has dedicated fans. “They are from all over the world. These films offers scope for good business like Bollywood. As an actor, language is no issue. I understand Punjabi anyways. But I had to learn to speak it perfectly. So I practised and managed,” informed Neha. She added that the reason more actors are showing interest in regional cinema is that it reaches masses. Apart from multiplexes, there exist vast audience in small towns interested in regional films over Bollywood. Moreover, such films offer variety and characters to explore.
The actress added, “I enjoy being with entertaining people and believe in making others laugh. If comedy provides this chance, then why not do itIJ” She appears in a comedy by Viacom 18 and Karan Johar’s Unglee this year. She ended, “I want to be part of a biopic — to share someone’s life through a story theat audience will remember.”
A veteran’s take
Most of the films that starred him worked well in the box office. Perhaps this is the reason why Jimmy Shergill is a highly sought-after actor and producer in Punjabi cinema.
He first acted in Yaaran Naal Baharan (2005). Since then, has done a Punjabi film on a regular basis. His first film as a producer was Dharti in 2011. “It has been a great experience. I cannot comment on profits, but most of the money was by Eros. I can say the industry is booming and there has been remarkable change over one year. Regional cinema was considered to be a thing confined to fewer viewers. But now boundaries are diminishing,” commented the actor.