Neha makes a comeback . . .

Manoj Bajpai's actress wife Neha who made her debut opposite Bobby Deol in Vidhu Vinod Chopra's Kareeb (1998) is back on the big screen after a hiatus of over five years (last seen in Rahul and Ehsaas in 2001).

She will be seen in White Feather Film's Alibaug, being directed by Sanjay Gupta, opposite Sanjay Dutt.

Excited

Says Gupta, "We picked Neha because she suited the character. We wanted someone who was pristine and delicately pretty. Neha came in for a screen test on Tuesday and we approved her on the spot.

Her character's name is Shelley and our crew was excited that 'Shelley mil gayee!' Alibaug is a film about friendships and relationships, and Neha forms an important part of the love triangle between her, Sanjay Dutt and Dia Mirza."

Neha says she is ecstatic. "When they told me that I had been finalised, I was stunned. I think it was destiny," she says. So why did she take a break from films for so long?

"I wasn't getting the work I wanted. I saw no point in doing projects that wouldn't see the light of day or be appreciated."

Name game

On another note, Neha will return to her birth name Shabana Raza for all her future films, starting with Alibaug. She says, "I hated the name Neha from the word go. Personally, it sounded sweet, insipid and vague, which I am not.

It doesn't have colours and textures in it. I took that name at my producer's (Vidhu Vinod Chopra) insistence, but my passport, bank account and marriage certificate carries my original name."

Talking about marriage, Neha's coupling with Manoj Bajpai has been a blessing for her.

Feeling great

"It's almost three years and it's been great. We have grown with each other. Manoj is very excited that I am doing Alibaug.

He has always introduced me to people as an actress and not as his wife. We are two actors living under the same roof. I guess he is also happy to have me out of the house," she laughs.