Actor Neha Dhupia has opened up about one of the most emotionally complex moments of her life, discovering she was pregnant before marriage, and navigating the societal reactions that followed.

In a candid conversation with The Hollywood Reporter India, Neha reflected on the early days of her relationship with actor Angad Bedi, and the emotional whirlwind that followed their decision to have a child before tying the knot. The couple, who got married in a hush-hush ceremony in 2018, took many by surprise when they later announced they were expecting their first baby.

Looking back, Neha shared that one of the first people she confided in was her close friend and fellow actor Soha Ali Khan. And the reveal wasn’t exactly planned, it happened during a dinner outing with Soha and her husband, Kunal Kemmu.

“They were the first ones to get to know that we were pregnant,” Neha shared. “Also, because we were eating in a restaurant and I fainted on Kunal Kemmu. At that point, there was just chaos. I was pregnant. The next morning, we met again, and that’s when I told her.”

Neha revealed that the situation was emotionally intense, not just because of the pregnancy, but because her relationship with Angad was still in its early stages. “You are…not married, you barely dated the guy. This information, no matter how unorthodox or orthodox you are, it’s just easier to share with your friends and friends who have just had a baby, as opposed to telling your parents. It’s a tough one to have,” she said.

Opening up about the social scrutiny that followed, Neha said the questions weren’t just personal they came with layers of judgment from society. “You are always questioned: ‘Are you together because this happened, or do you genuinely want to be together?’ It worked out well. There’s no other way I would want it,” she added, reflecting on how love and commitment eventually became the core of their marriage.

Today, Neha and Angad are proud parents to two children: their daughter Mehr, who is now 7, and their son Guriq, who is 3.