Neha Dhupia missed all the excitement surrounding the release of her Julie.

"I was in Toronto, catching up with family and friends," she explains.

Unlike Mallika Sherawat's film Murder, Julie has been appreciated by women audiences. "Julie has not been perceived as a sleazy film, and I am grateful for that. I feel for a film to be accepted, women have to take to it. The women bring the rest of the family to the theatres. Before the release, I kept saying Julie isn't for sleazy men only. Thank god the audience agreed with me. Otherwise, I'd have ended up looking silly," she says.

The actress refuses to fall into the sleaze trap.

"I have to watch my moves very carefully because if there are people to support you, there are also those who would like nothing more than to see you fall."

Apparently, Sherawat had remarked she did not know who Neha Dhupia was. Neha laughs. "I am glad at least someone doesn't know me. But I'd like to rustle Mallika's memory. We know each other from our modeling days. In fact, for one contest we even traveled together. She was generous enough to give me a ride. I can never forget that. I never forget a good turn."

Neha is happy that director Deepak Shivdasani signed her for Julie.

"The entire film -- from its conception to execution -- is his doing. If it wasn't for him, I may have given up."

The former Miss India Universe 2002 admits her debut in Harry Baweja's Qayamat (Ajay Devgan, Suniel Shetty, Sanjay Kapoor, Arbaaz Khan, Isha Koppikar, Riya Sen, Ashish Chowdhury and Chunkey Pandey) was disastrous. While the film was a semi-hit, Neha's role was more like a special appearance.

"After Julie, I'd like to team up with Ajay Devgan again. I feel more confident and capable."

Will the actress shed clothes for another film? "No, for sure. I don't want to be stuck in one image."