A few years ago, former Miss India and Bollywood starlet Neha Dhupia famously declared: “Only sex and Shah Rukh Khan sells!” In a desperate attempt to make it, she emerged from the sea in a tiny bikini in her debut film and went on to ‘act’ in skin-flicks like Julie and Sheesha.

But now Dhupia is desperate to prove that she is a serious actress. Her recent film Mithya was a moderate success and her performance was praised. The actress is delighted: “I’m glad that over time filmmakers have realised that I have more to give to the industry than just a beauty pageant-winner face.”

Does she mind the fact that she is best known as a sex symbol? “ I don’t really mind the tag. After all most of the women who are my contemporaries and have acted in 15 films – what’s their recall value?”

Dhupia has a new target: she wants to act with Shah Rukh Khan. “I really want to work with SRK before any of us stops acting.” But will the ‘King Khan’ oblige?

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