Neha Dhupia Says Director’s Remark About Her Smile Hurt Her Confidence

MUMBAI -Actress Neha Dhupia recalled how a remark from a casting director about her smile affected her confidence for nearly a decade, as she opened up about self-doubt and body image on her chat show ‘Double Date with Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi’.

During a conversation with actor siblings Huma Qureshi and Saqib Saleem, Neha said a casting director once told her, “You look bad when you smile. You have no power on your face when you smile, so don’t smile.”

“I think that stayed with me for eight or nine years of my life. Imagine hearing something like that even after becoming Miss India. You start believing it somewhere,” Neha Dhupia said.

The actress said the comment gradually affected how freely she smiled during shoots and public appearances.

Actor Huma Qureshi also spoke during the discussion about dealing with insecurities related to appearance and public criticism.

Neha added that maturity and self-awareness eventually helped her move past those insecurities, making her realize that authenticity and confidence matter more than fitting into someone else’s standards of perfection. (IANS)