Kajol’s ‘undying support’ makes Neha Dhupia happy

Mumtobe says her Helicopter Eela costar gives her advice on marriage and parenting

It’s been quite a year for actor Neha Dhupia and she is in a happy space. She got married to actor Angad Bedi, recently announced that she’s a soon-to-be mom, and her film, Helicopter Eela, starring Kajol, has just released.

Neha says they had a blast shooting for the film and she can’t stop gushing about her camaraderie with Kajol.

“She is too natural. She’s great, talented and so easy to work with. When Kajol is on the set, the entire set is alive. That’s the beautiful thing about working with her. The fact she has been in the industry for so long, she knows how to keep everyone happy and charged. She’s such a pro, that she doesn’t need to prepare,” says Neha.

The fact that Neha is a mother-to-be, asked if get she got any tips from Kajol to be a hands-on mother, she says, “Kajol only told me, ‘have a blast, it’s the best phase of your life’. During our conversation [on Neha’s talk show] she said there were so many projects she had to let go as she didn’t want to miss out on time spent with her kids. She’s a hands-on actor and mother. She gave me advice on marriage, that it’s the best thing you’ve done. I get undying support from her, which is great.”

Neha adds she had no clue she’d plan a baby when she signed the film. “The ironic part is it [the film] is about helicopter parenting, and I had no clue when I signed the film. Now I am going to become one. Not a helicopter parent, but I am going to become a parent. It’s interesting how life just turned around for me. It has come a full circle,” she says.

In the film, Neha, who plays a music teacher in a college, says it was challenging as she had never played a music instrument before. “I don’t know head or tail when it comes to playing [a musical] instrument. My director Pradeep Sarkar and co-stars Kajol and Riddhi [Sen] made it very easy. They are so talented and sweet to work with. It was nice to have Ajay [Devgan] as a producer. So, when offered the film, as far as check boxes were concerned, there was Kajol, Pradeep Sarkar, Ajay Devgan. There is no reason not to do a film like that.”

As the conversation veers to films being made these days, Neha feels the concept of offbeat films has changed. “A lot of people say commercial, non-commercial and offbeat. I feel it’s all the same. You give us a great story, and there are enough takers,” she adds.

She’s a handson actor and mother. She gave me advice on marriage, that it’s the best thing you’ve done. I get undying support from her, which is great. NEHA DHUPIA ACTOR

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/NEHADHUPIA