Neena Gupta, who is all set to reprise her role as Manju Devi in the third season of Panchayat, recently talked about many aspects of her life. The actress, who is often termed as a ‘rebel star’ and ‘bold actress’, in an interview addressed how she doesn’t resonate with these epithets and how media gave her this image because she is a single mother. The veteran star also spoke about her initial days in Mumbai and the advise she gave to her daughter Masaba Gupta, who is expecting her first baby with her husband Satyadeep Mishra.
Neena Gupta has been active in the industry since 1982 and is one of the most cherished actors. However, her initial days as an actress were not easy. In an interview with Showsha, the Badhaai Do star recalled how she wanted to pack her bags and leave Mumbai every three months. She said, “Mai toh waise bhi Delhi se aayi thi na toh Bombay waise bhi mushkil shehar hai shuru shuru mein. I think har teen mahine mein I wanted to pack up and go back. I was educated, I said, ‘I will go and do my PhD. I can’t handle this.’ Lekin Bombay aisa shehar hai, maine socha chal kal jaa rahi hu toh aaj raat ko lagega ki kal koi kaam mil jayega. Rok ke rakhta hai (I came from Delhi and Bombay is a difficult city to adjust too initially. I thought I would return and finish my PhD but this city doesn’t let you leave). It happens so many times, it is how it is.”
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While her journey has been inspiring, it had its ups and downs. The actor says she is finally at a place in her life where she can say no to roles. She said, “Need ke hisaab se it has changed. Pehle zarurat thi paise ki zyada toh paise ke liye bahaut bure bure kaam karne padte the. Kai baar mai bhagwan se prarthna karti thi ki yeh picture release hi na ho. Ab mai na keh sakti hu, pehle kabhi na nahi keh sakti thi. Jo script mujhe bahaut achi lagti hai, role bahaut acha lagta hai woh han karti hu jo nahi acha lagta woh nahi karti hu (Earlier, there was a greater need for money, so one had to do very bad things. Many times I used to pray to God that this movie shouldn’t release. Now I can say no, I couldn’t say no before. I agree to the script that I really like, and I don’t do what I don’t like.).”
The actress who has a daughter, Masaba Gupta, with cricketer Vivian Richards out of wedlock, said this aspect of her life associated her with terms like ‘bold’ and ‘rebel star’. She, however, doesn’t agree to the titles. “Pata nahi kyu kehte hai rebel, maine toh bechare role bhi kiye hai. Maine strong role ya glamorous role toh kiye hi nahi hai. I think woh isiliye bolte hai kyuki meri na media ne ek image banake rakh di hai. Kyuki single mother hone ki wajah se na ek image banake rakh di hai. Mai ek interview mein keh rahi thi ki jab mai mar jaungi toh woh aayega, ‘The bold Neena Gupta is no more. Matlab, woh tab bhi mujhko chhorenge nahi. Toh theek hai mujhe koi farq nahi padta (I don’t know why they call me a rebel; I’ve even played innocent roles. I haven’t done strong or glamorous roles. This is because the media has created this image as I am a single mother. In an interview, I said when I die, they’ll write, ‘The bold Neena Gupta is no more.’ I mean, even then they won’t leave me alone. So, it’s okay, I don’t care.).”
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While Neena has played roles of a mother and grandmother in several films, she is all set to become a grandmother in her real life with her daughter and fashion designer Masaba Gupta expecting her first child. In the interview, the Goodbye and Uunchai star revealed the one advise she gave to her daughter.
She said, “I always told her (Masaba) that family is the most important thing in life. Kitna bhi ap uncha pahauch jao kaam mein, agar apke pass wapas ghar nahi hai jaane ko toh kuch nahi hai. Toh usko mai humesha kehti hu ki humesha ap apni family banao.”
Panchayat season 3 is all set to stream on Prime Video from May 28.
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