Moments Of Truth With Neena Gupta

Neena Gupta can do it all — she acts, she writes, and she’s the coolest single mom on the block. In a freewheeling conversation on all things life, Gupta delves into details about her second innings, her best choices, and her dreams

- Jigar Shah

In 1998, my mother — a massive fan of Saans — introduced me to this terrific actor that is Neena Gupta. She told me that the show was so popular that many women imitated Neena Gupta's bindi style (a line and a black dot below the big red bindi). Soon enough, I learnt that Gupta is not just an actress; she is also one of the leading producer directors on television. Her famous “aap jaa sakte hain, namaste” from Kamzor Kadii Kaun is still referenced in memes and jokes. Cut to today, this two-time National Award-winning actor has been a part of the movie business for nearly three decades.

Despite being an actor of repute, Gupta was in the spotlight for reasons other than her acting. The best part about fate is that it can change at any time, and it changed for good for Neena Gupta in 2018, when she became a part of one of the biggest hits of the year, Badhaai Ho. Everyone took notice, stood up, and applauded her acting chops. From here on, there was no dearth of projects coming her way.

Her second innings appear more destined than planned. It was commonly mistaken within the industry that Gupta, post her marriage to Delhi-based Vivek Mehra, had left Mumbai and the film industry, and settled in Delhi. One fine evening, she was headed to meet Zoya Akhtar for a small role in her web show Made in Heaven, and the assistant enquired, “Arey, when did you return from Delhi?” Gupta decided that she needs to put out a #jobs post that instant. She posted a headshot of herself on Instagram, asking for work. It said: “I live in Mumbai, and working as a good actor, looking for good parts to play.” The rest, as they say, is history.