Neha Dhupia said she lost a few plans during her second pregnancy last year. In a new interview with Hindustan Times, she spoke about the opportunity Behzad Khambata gave her by making changes to her script for One Thursday. She also said that she lost a few plans when she was pregnant with her son, Guriq.

Neha had Guriq in October last year, a month after she wrapped filming on Thursday. Speaking to Hindustan Times, Neha said, “Would I say that I was not fired from different projects (during her second pregnancy)? I was. Am I upset? I’m not. Just for this moment, (you feel bad). You’re like ‘oh my God, I’m not part of the project but maybe as an actor physically I had to look a certain way and I wasn’t cut out for the part. Behzad worked around that and was ready to shoot when I could. He had shot for a day or two and told me he would do it again.

Neha said she bagged Thursday before her pregnancy. “I was hired to do the role when I was not pregnant. Then there was the second wave (of coronavirus) and everyone left not knowing what was going to happen. I got pregnant. So, I went to see Behzad and I asked him, ‘Do you agree to take me in the film? I was also hired for my appearance. What I look like now is completely different.” And he didn’t even think for a second. He immediately said he would definitely take me. He said ‘Not like the cops don’t get pregnant.’ He thought I was fit for the role. And, he worked around that.

When we called Behzad’s gesture sweet, Neha said, “Using a word like sweet would be an understatement. For me, it was more about (the fact that an opportunity was created for a pregnant woman to work in the film). It’s often thought that “okay, she’s married, then there’ll be kids, then there’ll be a sabbatical, then a comeback.” I would also wonder (earlier) if I could one day make (this trip) because obviously there will be my professional aspirations and my personal dreams. I’m grateful that Behzad took that chance on me.” She insisted she was speaking out so that more opportunities would open up for women who want to work while pregnant.

Slated for release on Disney+ Hostar, One Thursday features Neha as a pregnant cop, and Yami tries out for the role of a young school teacher who turns into a kidnapper. Atul Kulkarni is seen as a policeman while Dimple Kapadia appears as India’s Prime Minister in the film.

Talking about the discomfort she felt during filming, Neha said, “It was more discomfort than pain. Because every pregnant woman would know you have these fake contractions and stuff. week 36 towards the end of our filming. We shot until September and Guriq was born the first week of October. There are gunshots in the film. I was worried and asked my gynecologist “Is this loud noise going to disturb my child or wake him up?” She said to me, “No, no. Do what you must”.

Neha added, “Filming was physically difficult, especially because of the rains. I would be soaked all day. The jeans were sticking to my legs and I just stayed on the sets. Everyone was asking me to go rest in my trailer but I couldn’t come back. The trailer steps were so high. I couldn’t do so many things.

Also read: Neha Dhupia heartbroken as Rannvijay Singha’s Roadies exit

She also said that she grew two sizes during the film. “I was in my sixth month when we had fittings and then I went up two sizes every time I came back and said my button wouldn’t close. But no cravings or anything like that. I had morning sickness, so for a 7 a.m. call, I would wake up at 5 a.m. throwing up, then later ask for a break on set because I got up so early.