The evening of October 1 could have been much like any other for many in Dhaka, but for a select 400, it was slightly more memorable. Former Miss India and Bollywood star Neha Dhupia was in town to attend the gala fashion show of the Gitanjali Wedding Festival and we caught up with the glamorous showstopper for an exclusive interview at the Radisson.
Neha Dhupia
As you can probably tell, Bollywood has a huge following in Bangladesh so we're excited to have you. Is this your first visit to Bangladesh? What have you made of it so far?
Neha: This is actually my second visit to Dhaka and I absolutely love it here -- you guys only seem to get better with time. The audience today has also been fantastic and they truly deserve a round of applause.
Over the years Gitanjali has worked with fantastic brand ambassadors. What initially drew you to them? How has the experience been so far?
Neha: Well, to be honest they made me an offer that I could not refuse. Jewellery is always a great product to endorse and they're one of the biggest players in the market. I've been their brand ambassador for three years and they have a way of really looking out for all the actresses that work with their brands and make sure they're taken care of.
What does the brand signify for you, personally?
Neha: I represent a line called Gitanjali Divas and it's one of their more minimalist, daily wear jewellery collections. Which is exactly how I like it. I'm not too flamboyant so this is a great reflection of my personal taste in jewellery. I think they actually put a lot of thought into choosing the right ambassadors for the right products.
Since the fashion show was the finale to a two-day long wedding festival, the ambiance tempted me to ask you what kind of bride you envision yourself to be?
Neha: To me brides should always be traditional. I love what I'm wearing now, which is a signature Ritu Kumar bridal lehenga and I wouldn't mind wearing something like this for my own wedding. Her designs stand for beautiful, regal brides and that really appeals to me.
Every girl has plans for a dream wedding, what would yours entail?
Neha: I think I want a simple wedding. Maybe by the beach, relaxed. And I definitely want to get dressed up for only one event, not seven! In our line of work, we have to wear heavy make up so often that I hope it doesn't take the charm away from when I do it for my wedding.
Towards the beginning of your acting career you did some unconventional roles in bold movies. Do you have any other exciting projects coming up?
Neha: I actually do. I'm working on a movie called “Maximum” with Sonu Sood and Nasiruddin Shah where I play an encounter specialist. Then there's a comedy called “Pappu Can't Dance Saala” and “Raftaar” with Emraan Hashmi.
I'm sure our readers would love to know your secret (as they say). Are there hair/skin/fitness regimes that you follow?
Neha: Nothing religiously. I think it's important to stay hydrated and exercise once a day, but other than that, just be happy!
The gala fashion show was the grand finale to the two-day long Gitanjali Wedding Festival that ended on September 30. It showcased bridal collections by famed designers from across the border including Ritu Kumar, Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Kavita Vinitia, Preeti S. Kapoor and our very own fashion powerhouse, Ogaan Signature Collection. True to the show's namesake, its focal point was the exquisite pearl, gold, kundan, kolki and diamond jewellery from Gitanjali Lifestyle that met with collective appreciation from the audience. As the night ended with a performance by Habib, Gitanjali Lifestyle promised to continue this event in subsequent years.
News Source: The Daily Star