Speaking at the 21BY72 startup conference season 4, Neha Dhupia finally opened up about the real challenges of transitioning from Bollywood stardom to building a business empire to being a full time mom.
The Fireside Chat between Neha Dhupia and our Moderator (co-founder), Prateek Tosniwal, and Rachit Poddar was inspiring to say the least. The roles she played on and off screen, she says, has made her resilient, adaptable, and courageous, something that every entrepreneur needs on their journey. From being crowned Miss India to building her own ventures and embracing
motherhood, Neha’s story is a reminder that success isn’t linear—it’s built on constant evolution, learning, and the ability to reinvent yourself.
You can watch the conversation here.
Neha Dhupia is a woman with multiple talents! She won Femina Miss India 2002 and was among the top 10 in the 2002 Miss Universe. Which took her on the path for stardom and starring in popular movies like Qayamat: City Under Threat (2003), Chup Chup Ke (2006), Singh Is Kinng (2008), De Dana Dan (2009), Tumhari Sulu (2017), and more. She is also part of popular shows like Roadies. But, she is also the founding pillar of Big Girl Productions and the driving force of her talk show, No Filter Neha (#NoFilterNeha) on JioTV.
Moreover, her role as a mother is one of the most precious phases of her life, a phase where she discovered more of herself. Through her own motherhood journey, Neha found out how new moms’ struggles with breastfeeding. This led to her starting the Freedom to Feed initiative to highlight and overcome the stigma related to breastfeeding in public. She is also an investor and has become an equity shareholder and ambassador of BlackCarrot, an eco-friendly cutlery creating D2C startup.
So, what made Neha Dhupia such a Renaissance Woman?
This was the first question our Moderator, Rachit Poddar, asked. Neha Dhupia shared how she has always been a hustler, someone who is always striving to be better and learn more. What motivates her are the people around her, inspiring her to do more and overcome her challenges.
So, if one thing any entrepreneur can learn from her is this, how to motivate themselves and find inspiration from the people surrounding them.
Insights for the Entrepreneurs from FireSide Chat with Neha Dhupia
We had an amazing and inspirational conversation with Neha Dhupia, and here are some inspirations and insights from the entrepreneurs from the Keynote Speech.
No fear of failure
Neha shares that failures are inevitable, and she has her fair share of them. Behind her glamorous and successful projects, there is life not a lot people get to see. Therefore, entrepreneurs need to take on a challenge and work for it without worrying about startup failures. If you fail, you must try again.
Luck may not work, but you will!
When asked about her journey and whether it was planned or just luck, Neha shared how she grabbed the opportunity to be in Miss Femina India and worked hard for the role. Likewise, all the success she has achieved is based on the work she has put in.
To the entrepreneurs in the audience she advised them not to give up on a hard journey. While facing hardship is inevitable, dedication, hard work, and a never-give-up attitude will help you stay ahead and succeed. She later also highlights the power of cooling off and taking time to rest and regain your strength to continue.
The power of saying NO: Work life balance tips!
Neha Dhupia emphasises the importance of saying no and taking time for yourself apart from work. You don’t need to be available 24/7; you need to say no when you don’t get any results from the task. It is especially true for women entrepreneurs. Women need to learn that their role in startup entrepreneurship is as important as their role as moms. Thus, strike a balance
and say no to some tasks that may not give you any real value.
Saying NO also helps you set boundaries. The role of women in entrepreneurship has become crucial in this modern age. They need to create an environment where women don’t feel the need to put their lives on hold for their careers. She emphasised again how saying no is crucial for entrepreneurs’ mental health. Thus, learn to say no and rely on a team to help you manage your tasks without burning out. Be strategic about when and to whom to say no.
Social media is part of your world, not the whole world!
One of our attendees asked Neha about her take on social media influencing people and their choices. Neha shares that social media is a great part of her life; however, she doesn’t let it become her whole life. She emphasises putting social media off when it takes you to a dark place or has a negative impact on life. She suggests using social media to enjoy life, get entertainment, and show your work to the world. However, one must remember that social media doesn’t become their whole life.
Partner up with someone who fills in the gaps
As entrepreneurs, we depend on people much more than anyone else. Therefore, you need to choose a team that you believe in. Neha shares that when she looks for startups to invest in, she focuses on the skills and passion of the founders. It shows how well they work together to achieve their goals. You should choose someone who aligns with your morals and has expertise in skills that you lack.
Neha Dhupia shared how she found our startup summit inspiring and amazing. She is one of the most talented people to work with.
21BY72 is dedicated to helping startups and investors connect to grow and find investment opportunities. Whether you are looking for a networking opportunity or growing your startup, you must attend Bharat’s Leading Startup Summit to promote your business and get inspired by our guest and panel experts. We have organized 4 successful seasons and will return in 2026 with a more interesting and insightful startup summit.
Stay connected with 21BY72 for more inspiring stories and entrepreneurial insights!
