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. Also read: Neena Gupta On Being Brutally Honest In Her Autobiography Sach Kahun Toh: Being Transparent Gives You A Certain Power - EXCLUSIVE
Looking back the Badhai 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 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.”
In an interview with me in 2008 when Neena got married to Delhi-based Vivek Mehra ,she had said to me, “Much as I'm thrilled with the new developments in my life, Masaba is my top concern. She always will be. I can't leave her alone in Mumbai where she is studying fashion designing. So I guess I'll be shuttling between Delhi and Mumbai. You see, at the end of the day it’s just me for Masaba. So I can’t afford to slip up.”
Image source: Instagram/neena_gupta