Neena Gupta’s film career began with bit roles 30 years back in Raman Kumar’s Saath Saath and Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi. She suffered a mid-career crisis but made a suitable comeback with Badhaai Ho.
“Rather than count the number of candles on my cake, I would rather count blessings. A fabulous life, a good career at a time when the biggest of stars are facing a career crisis, a satisfying family life, and a beautiful daughter who is doing well in life. What more can I ask for?” Neena Gupta couldn’t be in a happier place.
She admits Amit Sharma’s Badhaai Ho changed her life. “It happened late in my career, but it was the break I was looking for. I am a different person now, more confident… I could write my autobiography Sach Kahun Toh because of Badhaai Ho. Success gives you confidence on another level. No matter how much you know your own value, you are not confident until you get that recognition and success. I was able to write the book so easily because of Badhaai Ho. Now my low self-esteem is less low (laughs). I am forever grateful to (Director) Amit Sharma for giving me this chance.”
Neena Gupta, who was at the forefront of the avant-garde movement, also known as the parallel movement in Indian cinema, says she has never been in a better place as an actor. In the 1970s and 80s, when Shyam Benegal, Govind Nihalani and Kundan Shah spearheaded the parallel movement in Hindi cinema, the plum roles in all the prestigious realistic films went to Shabana Azmi and Smita Patil. Neena Gupta was left with the leftovers.
Neena admits, “There was nothing for me then. The actor in me would have died if television had not come along.”
Directing and acting in the serial Saans, which was about an extra-marital affair way back in 1998, gave a new boost to Neena’s career. But as far as cinema is concerned, she has always been in a dry zone. In 2017, Neena posted a message on social media asking for movie assignments.
“I think that really worked for me. I resumed doing a whole lot of work. I got Kareena-Sonam Kapoor starrer Veere Di Wedding. I also got interesting roles in Nikhil Advani’s Mulk and Dibakar Banerjee’s Sandeep Pinkie Farar. Then of course came Badhaai Ho,” says Neena.
On 2 November 1989, actress Neena Gupta gave birth to her daughter Masaba, whose father, the legendary West Indian cricketer Vivian Richards, was not married to Neena. By becoming a single mother, Neena sent shock waves across the conservative corridors of the Indian entertainment industry.
Looking back, the Badhaai Ho actress has no regrets about her decision. However, she wishes Masaba had a father at home to share Neena’s parenting responsibilities. “Having Masaba is the best decision of my life. But if I had to live my life again, I’d want to have a family and a husband to support my parenthood. I’d want the child’s father (cricketer Vivian Richards) with me. Not so far away.”
However, Neena is thankful for her daughter. “What I’ve got is most precious. Sure, I made sacrifices. But it’s all worth it. Masaba is the best thing to happen to my life.”
