Neena Gupta is celebrated as one of the most talented and evergreen stars in Indian cinema. Her illustrious career began in 1982, and she has never taken a break since. Even at 64, she continues to captivate audiences with her exceptional performances in films like "Badhaai Ho," "Uunchai," "Sardar Ka Grandson," "Goodbye," and "Lust Stories 2." On the personal front, Neena is married to Delhi-based accountant Vivek Mehra and is the mother of Masaba Gupta, a renowned fashion designer. ALSO READ: Panchayat Season 3: Jitendra Kumar-Neena Gupta Starrer All Set To Steal The Hearts Of Their Audience Again!
In a candid interview with Showsha, Neena Gupta opened up about the tough decisions she had to make early in her career due to financial constraints. She recalled taking on roles she wasn't proud of just to make ends meet. She shared, "Need ke hisaab se it has changed. Pehle zarurat thi paise ki zyada toh paise ke liye bahut bure bure kaam karne padte the. Kai baar mai bhagwan se prarthna karti thi ki yeh picture release hi na ho." This translates to her confessing that earlier in her career, she had to do many subpar jobs for money, often praying that those films wouldn't get released. ALSO READ: Neena Gupta On Her Viral ‘Faltu Feminism’ Statement: They Only Used That Chunk Of The Interview To Create Controversy
As her career progressed and her stature grew in the industry, Neena found herself in a position to be more selective about her projects. She expressed, "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." This means she now has the luxury to say no to projects she doesn't find appealing, a freedom she didn't have earlier.
Reflecting on her initial struggles, Neena spoke about the significant lifestyle changes she had to endure when she moved from Delhi to Bombay. Adjusting to the fast-paced life of Bombay was challenging, and she often felt homesick. She shared, "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." This highlights how she struggled initially, wanting to return to Delhi every three months, but the allure of potential opportunities kept her going.
Neena Gupta's journey is a testament to her resilience and dedication. Despite the hardships, she has emerged as a versatile and respected actress, inspiring many with her story of perseverance and success. The veteran actress will be next seen in Panchayat season 3 that premieres on Amazon Prime Video on May 28.
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