Veteran Bollywood actress Neena Gupta has addressed the long-standing perception of her being 'brave' for choosing to raise her daughter, fashion designer Masaba Gupta, without being married. In a candid recent interview, Gupta reframed her life choices, stating they were born out of circumstance rather than a deliberate, rebellious decision.
'Circumstances Force Decisions,' Says Neena
Gupta, who was in a relationship with legendary West Indian cricketer Sir Vivian Richards after meeting him at a dinner hosted by the Maharani of Jaipur, became pregnant in the late 1980s. In her autobiography, 'Sach Kahun Toh', she revealed she faced immense pressure to abort the pregnancy but chose to continue. She gave birth to her daughter, Masaba, in 1989.
However, the actress now clarifies her stance. "I had never thought or decided that I will have a baby without getting married," she stated in Hindi. She emphasized that life often forces people into corners where they must make difficult choices. "Circumstances put you in situations where you have to choose certain things, where you have no way out. We make decisions out of compulsion. Let's not judge people based on their decisions," she advised.
Revealing a Painful Past: The Broken Engagement
To illustrate how life can take unexpected turns, Gupta recalled a personal heartbreak from her past. She revealed she was once engaged to a man who called off the wedding at the last minute. "I was engaged to one guy who ditched me at the last minute. We had exchanged rings," she shared. She had even traveled to Delhi to shop for her wedding attire when he backed out, citing a need for a sinus operation as his reason—an excuse Gupta found unconvincing.
Despite seeking answers from his family, the reason remained a mystery. "He came to me after six months and said let's marry, I said 'f**k off' now I don't want," she recounted. This experience, she implied, was one of the many unpredictable circumstances that shaped her life's trajectory.
Unbothered by Opinions and Candid Career Advice
Neena Gupta also spoke about her thick skin regarding public perception. She firmly believes that unless someone is offering emotional or financial support, their opinion holds no weight in her life. "Neither are you going to come and help me emotionally or financially, so why should I even listen to you?" she questioned.
Concluding with heartfelt advice, Gupta had strong words for young girls. She explicitly warned them against romanticizing her path. "My advice to all the young girls is that do not even think of having a baby without getting married, just because I did. It's very difficult, don't do it," she urged.
She also offered a reality check about the acting profession. Labeling it "not a very nice profession," she advised pursuing it only if one cannot imagine doing anything else. She highlighted the industry's unpredictability, where success depends on a film's production, release, and audience reception—factors far beyond an actor's individual performance.
