“Everyone wants to go by the length of the role in a movie, but I feel that if you’ll make the whole film on me, with me in every frame, nobody will like it. Even if you make a whole movie on Shah Rukh Khan, with him in every frame, then also koi dekhne jayega kya dhai ghante Shah Rukh ko? Nahin jayega. So, my funda is different. Instead of doing a whole film and not even being appreciated, I might as well do films where I have 7-8 powerful scenes for which the audience remembers me. I am very particular about the audience’s reaction,” says the petite actress.
Talking about moving from one role to another with ease, Neetu says, “I don’t come from a cine background, where people are waiting to sign the best films with me; neither do I have the luxury of saying, ‘Oh! I don’t like this director,’ or ‘I will not work with this co-star’ – I don’t belong to that category. I always keep that in mind, and hence make an effort to do films that are different, where people can see my glamorous side as well as my acting talent. I always see to it that my audience doesn’t get a feeling of monotony because of my looks or roles, no matter how long or short my role is,” she says.
“I feel blessed and on top of the world. This industry has accepted me with open arms, and I couldn’t have asked for more,” adds Neetu. Though fairly new to the industry, she has worked with filmmakers like Priyadarshan, Madhur Bhandarkar and Ram Gopal Varma in a short span of time. What’s the secret? “I would say, working with the right director on the right script. I feel that a good director plays a very important role, but a good script is equally necessary,” she explains.
Too much has also been written about her weight and dress sense. “I don’t know why, if an actress puts on weight, it becomes some kind of national news. I’m a foodie, man, so what? I love Punjabi food. But then, I also have a toned body. I’m not like those skinny girls around. I might be broad, but I’m toned,” she says, and adds, “Who loves Julia Roberts’ body? I’m sure not many. But you will find many who love Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, Beyonce and Kate Winslet’s bodies. I don’t advocate size zero at all. Voluptuous and curvaceous is what I believe in.”
About criticism for her dress sense, she says, “People have these perceived notions about everyone and these days, they take seconds to rip someone apart. ‘Oh! Look at her films, look at her, she must be this one behenji who has no idea what to wear, or how to wear make-up, or carry herself.’ But let me tell you, I wear designers like Marc Jacobs and Roberto Cavalli. It’s not that if I play a street vendor in Traffic Signal, I actually am like that. I have my own look, position; the way I see things are different. People have to realise that I am a normal human being who has her own taste and dressing sense,” she argues.
Considering that she hails from a middle class family in Haryana, how does her family react to controversies like her infamous swimsuit shoot? “I am what I am today because of my mom,” Neetu says, “She has supported me throughout. It was not easy to convince my family about my decision to join the glamour industry. But when I decided to be an actress, it was my mom who encouraged me to take the plunge. I lost my dad four months ago, so I just have my mother now. My dad was never very supportive, actually, but in the last six months, I realised that he had started supporting me a lot. I don’t know how or what happened. Maybe he realised that my happiness lies in acting.”
What is she currently working on? “I have No Problem with Sanjay Dutt, Kushar Prasad Ka Bhoot with Paresh Rawal and Apartment by Jag Mundhra. Then there is a film with Vipul Shah and another with Raj Kanwar,” she says. And is she happy with the kind of roles being offered to her? “Absolutely. In these four years, I have done only main characters and leads. I haven’t done any sidey roles, or character-artiste type of roles. I don’t deserve to do that, I deserve to do what I’m doing right now. I deserve every bit of my success as I have worked very hard for it,” she signs off.
- Madhumitha
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