The movie follows the narrative of a naive girl from Goa who, after facing severe betrayal and emotional exploitation by the men she trusted, enters high-society sex work to survive. The narrative was designed as a direct critique of societal hypocrisy. However, it was the film's unfiltered aesthetic and intense romantic sequences that dominated public discourse.

Julie (2004) film featuring Neha Dhupia is a significant moment in Bollywood's erotic-thriller genre, focusing on a protagonist's journey through betrayal and the harsh realities of urban life Key Feature: The Transformative Journey of Julie

The film's promotional strategy heavily targeted the audience's interest in its bold content. Dhupia herself acknowledged that she and the director "bound each other by contract" regarding three specific high-profile scenes: The Swimsuit Appearance : A sequence featuring Neha in a two-piece swimsuit. The Bare Back Shot

In the age of YouTube (2005 onwards), Neha Dhupia’s Julie scenes were uploaded, clipped, re-uploaded, and slowed down. She became a search keyword for pornography, even though what she did was soft-core at best. Search algorithms lumped her name with explicit terms, making it nearly impossible for her to rebrand as a "serious actress" for years.