Neha Dhupia’s complete beauty evolution

Neha Dhupia has always followed her own path, whether it was by flaunting pink eyeshadow in the early ’00s, or by adding the grey-hued streak she leaves in her hair now. She started her career on the heels of a pageant win, and is now a gang leader on MTV Roadies, as well as the host of TV Show BFFs with Vogue, proving that she’s ready to try just about anything. 

Neha Dhupia: The early years

After being crowned Miss India Universe in 2002, Neha Dhupia made her mark at the Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico, where she booked a berth in the top 10. As is custom, she soon graduated to the film industry, making her big debut opposite Ajay Devgn in Qayamat: City Under Threat (2003). She then starred in a string of ensemble comedies, including Garam Masala (2005), Singh is Kinng (2008) and De Dana Dan (2009). These days, Dhupia serves as the only female judge on the popular reality series, MTV Roadies, while simultaneously getting the who's who from Bollywood to drop truth bombs on her tell-all podcast, #NoFilterNeha and the TV show, Bffs With Vogue. Here, we chart her beauty evolution from her pageant days to now.

The wonder years 

In 2002, Dhupia's makeup couldn’t be more on-trend—she favoured lavender and pink eyeshadow accented with silver shimmer, pink blush and lip gloss. Fresh on the block, Dhupia’s face was defined by razor thin eyebrows back then. However, in an interview with Vogue India, she revealed that it was a beauty faux pas she wishes she’d never made: “My mother would always tell me not to get my brows done, because once you start threading your brows you have to keep shaping them. But if you let them be, they look natural. I didn’t take her advice and got my brows threaded at 14, and I regret it till date,” she said. In 2007, as she geared up for the promotions for Singh in Kinng, Dhupia held on to her shimmery eyeshadow and lip gloss, but added eyeliner to the mix as well.

In 2008, she grew her dark hair longer, styling it in curls instead of leaving it straight like the previous years. When she attended the premiere of Bollywood Hero (2009) in New York, she upgraded her early ’00s beauty staples with a more modern approach—matte lipstick and fluffy lashes became her new go-to. In 2011, while promoting Pappu Can’t Dance Saala (2010), she often put her hair up in updos. When she attended Lakmé Fashion Week the next year, her straight, long strands were back to their original texture. She left her grey streak uncoloured even when she changed up her hair, making it a signature part of her look.

In 2012, Dhupia chopped her long lengths into a voluminous bob for Rush. She wore her strands the same way while promoting the film as well. As she began working on comedy show Nautanki, Dhupia's makeup began to include coloured lip gloss, lots of eyeshadow and strip lashes. However, for casual outings, she chose to go completely bare-faced. “I don’t use makeup in the day unless I’m at an event,” she shared. While 2012 was all about natural tresses with their kinks and curls intact, 2013 and 2014 had her stepping out with nude gloss and minimal makeup.

Shake it up 

The star gave her beauty kit a major shakedown circa 2015. Cue smoky eyes and textured hairdos that included buns, braids and plaits, especially for red carpet events like the IIFA Awards in 2016 and 2017. “For a more formal or red carpet appearance, I like to wear my hair pulled back with smoky eyes and a nude mouth—it’s my signature look,” she said at the time. In 2018, Dhupia married actor Angad Bedi in a small private ceremony, and her pale pink lipstick, traditional bun and larger-than-life lashes have been much-loved by her fans. 

2019 saw Dhupia work on her multiple TV shows, and she let her traditionally curly hair take centerstage, with red colour to boot. “I love the texture I get from my second- and third-day hair—messy and a little distressed,” she said. Now, the actor has allowed her finely-threaded brows to grow into a defined shape, quirky hairdos are now her go-to and her no makeup selfies live up to the name of her podcast. No filter needed, indeed.

Flip through the photos below to trace Neha Dhupia’s beauty evolution over the years.