Neha Dhupia was born in Cochin, Kerala to a Punjabi Sikh family. Her father, Commander Sandip Dhupia, served in the Indian Navy and mother, Manpinder, is a homemaker. She went to Naval Public School, then transferred to Army Public School, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi. She graduated from Jesus and Mary College, Delhi University with honors majoring in History.

Neha Dhupia made her acting debut in a play in New Delhi called Graffiti. Thereafter she appeared in a music video for Indipop band Euphoria and also modeled for various advertisement campaigns.

She then appeared in the TV serial “Rajdhani”. In 2002 she entered the Femina Miss India pageant finishing in first place, winning the Femina Miss India Universe title, and was subsequently sent to the Miss Universe 2002 pageant in Puerto Rico. She placed in the top 10.