'It took a filmmaker from Egypt to see me like this': Neha Dhupia gets candid about her journey with '52 Blue'
Neha Dhupia is celebrating a deeply personal milestone with the international film ' 52 Blue '. Following its London premiere, the actress opened up about how the project has reshaped her confidence as an actor. Rather than focusing on what the film could mean for her career, Neha said it has helped her reconnect with a side of herself she thought had been forgotten.
Reflecting on the premiere, Neha admitted that seeing '52 Blue' on the big screen gave her a completely different perspective on the journey.
She said, “I would've accepted everyone's congratulations until yesterday. But the difference between speaking to you yesterday and today is that I've now seen the film. I'm genuinely proud because it's one of those films that adds something to your body of work. Every film has its own fate, I don't know where this one will go, but there's a dialogue my character Lakshmi says: 'Everything you do and everyone you meet is pushing you in a direction you're meant to be in.' That's exactly how I feel about this film.”
A role she never expected to getNeha revealed that the project appealed to her because it offered an emotionally layered character unlike the roles she had been receiving in recent years. She confessed that she initially doubted she would be selected to play Lakshmi.
She shared, “When they first called and told me about this woman from Kerala who's carrying so much emotional weight and eventually ends up living on an island, I was convinced I wasn't going to get the part. You fight for roles like these at the beginning of your career, and then somewhere along the way you stop expecting them.”
Speaking to Mid-Day about director Ali El Arabi 's faith in her, Neha said his belief reminded her of abilities she had almost stopped recognising herself.
She explained, “It took a filmmaker from Egypt to notice that he could see me like this. At one point, even I had forgotten that I could see myself like this. You start believing you have range, but then you slowly surrender to the box people put you in. I had opened one side of that box through films like 'Mithya' and 'A Thursday', but after a point the rules become the same. That's why it's so special when somebody else's belief in you helps you rediscover yourself.”
Motherhood shaped her performanceNeha also recalled her first virtual meeting with Ali El Arabi and revealed that the filmmaker believed motherhood had brought an emotional depth that perfectly suited the character of Lakshmi.
She said, “He told me, 'When I look at you, I feel like you've been through a lot. Your eyes tell me you're strong, but somewhere you haven't given up.' That's not something people usually tell you the first time they meet you. He also felt becoming a mother had given me something this character needed. Honestly, if this film had come to me before I had children, I don't think I would've been able to play Lakshmi the same way.”
International success was never the goalThe actress admitted that while she once dreamed of working internationally, her priorities have evolved over time.
According to Neha, “When I was younger, I really craved that crossover. Now, if this film opens doors internationally, wonderful. But even if it simply leads to more interesting work here, I'll be equally happy.”
Praise from Prakash Jha meant a lotOne of the most memorable moments for Neha came after the London screening when filmmaker Prakash Jha personally appreciated her performance.
She recalled, “Prakash Jha was in the audience yesterday. After the film, he came up to me, patted me on the back and said something that stayed with me. Sometimes all you need is for filmmakers to suddenly notice something in you that they hadn't seen before. Even that is enough.”
Reflecting on the premiere, Neha admitted that seeing '52 Blue' on the big screen gave her a completely different perspective on the journey.
She said, “I would've accepted everyone's congratulations until yesterday. But the difference between speaking to you yesterday and today is that I've now seen the film. I'm genuinely proud because it's one of those films that adds something to your body of work. Every film has its own fate, I don't know where this one will go, but there's a dialogue my character Lakshmi says: 'Everything you do and everyone you meet is pushing you in a direction you're meant to be in.' That's exactly how I feel about this film.”
A role she never expected to getNeha revealed that the project appealed to her because it offered an emotionally layered character unlike the roles she had been receiving in recent years. She confessed that she initially doubted she would be selected to play Lakshmi.
She shared, “When they first called and told me about this woman from Kerala who's carrying so much emotional weight and eventually ends up living on an island, I was convinced I wasn't going to get the part. You fight for roles like these at the beginning of your career, and then somewhere along the way you stop expecting them.”
Speaking to Mid-Day about director Ali El Arabi 's faith in her, Neha said his belief reminded her of abilities she had almost stopped recognising herself.
She explained, “It took a filmmaker from Egypt to notice that he could see me like this. At one point, even I had forgotten that I could see myself like this. You start believing you have range, but then you slowly surrender to the box people put you in. I had opened one side of that box through films like 'Mithya' and 'A Thursday', but after a point the rules become the same. That's why it's so special when somebody else's belief in you helps you rediscover yourself.”
Motherhood shaped her performanceNeha also recalled her first virtual meeting with Ali El Arabi and revealed that the filmmaker believed motherhood had brought an emotional depth that perfectly suited the character of Lakshmi.
She said, “He told me, 'When I look at you, I feel like you've been through a lot. Your eyes tell me you're strong, but somewhere you haven't given up.' That's not something people usually tell you the first time they meet you. He also felt becoming a mother had given me something this character needed. Honestly, if this film had come to me before I had children, I don't think I would've been able to play Lakshmi the same way.”
International success was never the goalThe actress admitted that while she once dreamed of working internationally, her priorities have evolved over time.
According to Neha, “When I was younger, I really craved that crossover. Now, if this film opens doors internationally, wonderful. But even if it simply leads to more interesting work here, I'll be equally happy.”
Praise from Prakash Jha meant a lotOne of the most memorable moments for Neha came after the London screening when filmmaker Prakash Jha personally appreciated her performance.
She recalled, “Prakash Jha was in the audience yesterday. After the film, he came up to me, patted me on the back and said something that stayed with me. Sometimes all you need is for filmmakers to suddenly notice something in you that they hadn't seen before. Even that is enough.”
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