Actress shuts down ageist question, champions body positivity and women’s choices, credits yoga for inner strength and youth

Actress Neha Dhupia gives a befitting reply to age-shaming and suggestions of altered beauty, credits yoga for her glow in her 40s At a recent dermatology event packed with medical professionals, actor and producer Neha Dhupia took an unexpected question in stride and turned it into a powerful moment of advocacy.

While addressing the audience, Dhupia was asked by a male dermatologist about her “secrets” to looking young in her 40s, with the insinuation of possible cosmetic procedures. Calm yet assertive, the actress steered the conversation 

toward the broader issue of ageism and the scrutiny women face regarding their appearance. Dhupia responded that her vitality and youthful energy are the result of a long-standing yoga practice, which she credited for keeping her grounded and rejuvenated — a revelation that received enthusiastic applause from the crowd.

“I’ve been practicing yoga for years, and it has genuinely helped me stay balanced, calm, and healthy from the inside, which reflects on the outside too,” she said. “But I want to say this clearly — it’s okay to follow any pattern you wish to look and feel a certain way at any age, but passing judgments on how someone looks, especially a woman, is not okay.” She went on to criticize the normalisation of questioning women about their appearance, calling it a backhanded and outdated approach.

“This is so backhanded and so normalised — to ask women what their ‘supposed’ secret to beauty or looking younger is. I don’t think such comments should be welcomed. We need to stop putting women under a microscope for their appearance, whether they are in their 20s or 40s,” she added.

Her candid words were met with warm applause, reinforcing her image as a strong advocate for women’s autonomy, confidence, and choice. With several projects lined up and a continued focus on wellness, Dhupia remains a powerful voice encouraging women to embrace themselves — one yoga session and one honest conversation at a time.