Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Oct 17: Actor Neha Dhupia has revealed that she regrets turning down two major projects, Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Chak De India and the critically acclaimed web series Operation Safed Sagar, admitting that she had always wanted to explore sports and military-based stories.
Neha opened up about the missed opportunities during a board game session on her celebrity chat show Double Date. Looking back on her career, the actor said both projects belonged to genres she had long wanted to explore.
“Sometimes, when you look back at the opportunities you turned down, you realise what you may have missed. Chak De India and Operation Safed Sagar were two such opportunities that stayed with me. I always wanted to do a good sports film, a good military film, but have missed these two big opportunities,” she said.
Released in 2007, Chak De India was produced by Yash Raj Films and featured Shah Rukh Khan as Kabir Khan, a former captain of the Indian men's hockey team who takes charge as coach of the women's national team.
The sports drama also starred Vidya Malavade, Shilpa Shukla, Sagarika Ghatge and Chitrashi Rawat, among others. The film received widespread acclaim for its portrayal of women's hockey and the team's journey towards international success.
Operation Safed Sagar: The Untold Story of the Kargil War is a 2026 Netflix series inspired by the Indian Air Force's role in the 1999 Kargil War. The six-episode series follows the Golden Arrows squadron as its pilots undertake challenging combat missions during the conflict.
The series features Siddharth, Jimmy Shergill, Abhay Verma, Dia Mirza and Adil Hussain, among others.
Neha made her Bollywood debut with Qayamat: City Under Threat in 2003 and went on to appear in films such as Julie, Kya Kool Hai Hum, Singh Is Kinng and Tumhari Sulu. Over the years, she has also explored television and digital entertainment.
In May 2026, she launched Double Date, a celebrity chat show on YouTube that she hosts with her husband, actor Angad Bedi. The show has featured celebrity couples, including Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa, as well as Tejasswi Prakash and Karan Kundrra.
Neha was also recently seen in Don't Be Shy, a film produced by actor Alia Bhatt.