Neena Gupta | Biography, Affairs, Best Movies, Controversy

Learn about Neena Gupta, one of Bollywood's most versatile actors, a lady whose career has been as inspirational as it has diverse. We offer an inside look into the life of Neena Gupta, showcasing everything from her remarkable on-screen persona to her sophisticated fashion sense and complex personal life.

Profile Summary

Biography

Actress, director, model, and producer Neena Gupta has garnered numerous accolades for her work in both movies and television. She became well-known for her daring roles and acclaimed performances. She made a name for herself as an actress with the movies 'Woh Chokri' and 'Badhaai Ho.' She has worked on a number of popular films.

She also portrayed strong characters. She appeared in international films such as In Custody Gandhi Cotton Mary and Deceivers. Her performance alongside Madhuri Dixit in the dance number 'Choli Ke Peeche' is what the audience most recalls about her.

Early in the 1980s, she was considered one of the best actors. In 2021 she published her autobiography under the title 'Sach Kahun Toh' with one of the publishing houses Penguin Random House India.

Indian actress and filmmaker Neena Gupta works in both film and television. For Woh Chokri she received the 1994 National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress. She is a well-known actress in Indian commercial film but it was her work with Indian art filmmakers that helped her establish a solid reputation as an actress.

Additionally, she hosted the quiz show Kamzor Kadii Kaun on Indian television. Gupta has appeared in a number of foreign films including Gandhi (1982) in which she played Mahatma Gandhi's niece as well as The Deceivers (1988) In Custody (1993) and Cotton Mary all of which were directed by Merchant Ivory (1999).

In the 1993 film Khalnayak in which she co-starred with Madhuri Dixit, she was featured in the hit song 'Choli Ke Peeche.' Gupta has made several appearances on television including a starring role in the drama series Saans (1999) and as the host of Kamzor Kadii Kaun an Indian adaptation of the game show The Weakest Link.

Neena Gupta Age

Neena Gupta was born on the 4th of June. She was born in the year 1959. As of 2024, Neena is 64 years old. She was born in Calcutta, India.

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Childhood

Neena Gupta was born on June 4 1959 in Calcutta India to Shakuntala Devi Gupta a former teacher with dual master's degrees in political science and Sanskrit and R.N. Gupta an LLB and official in the State Trading Corporation of India. Neena Gupta’s mother was a Punjabi while her father belonged to the Baniya ethnicity.

Neena Gupta is the oldest of four children; she also had two half-brothers from her father's second marriage and a brother who was a chartered accountant named Pankaj Gupta. Her father remained married to both women until their deaths.

Neena Gupta attended the Bal Bharti School for her elementary education and Vidya Bhawan for her secondary education as she grew up in New Delhi's Karol Bagh neighbourhood.

Education

After completing her BA at Janki Devi Mahavidyalaya she went on to complete her MA in Sanskrit at Delhi University. She also received an MPhil for her thesis 'Stage Techniques in Sanskrit Drama: Theory and Practice ' from the same university. Due to disagreements between her and her Sanskrit PhD advisor, she gave up her research in the middle of it.

During her time in college, she was involved in the theatre scene and was close to fellow actor-director Satish Kaushik who inspired her to join the National School of Drama. Gupta joined NSD in 1977 and studied there under the guidance of luminaries like Ebrahim Alkazi and B.V. Karanth. In 1980 she received the top honours in her class. At the institute, she was friends with Alok Nath and Annu Kapoor.

Family

While still an undergraduate Neena Gupta married Amlan Kusum Ghose who was a student at the IIT-Delhi. The couple's marriage lasted only a year before they jointly and amicably decided to divorce.

Neena Gupta had a brief engagement with Shaarangdev Pandit Jasraj's son. In the late 1980s, she was involved with former West Indies cricketer Vivian Richards. They have a daughter named Masaba Gupta who was born in 1989. Richards was already married so Neena Gupta made the decision to raise Masaba alone as a single parent. Gupta wed chartered accountant Vivek Mehra in 2008 in a discreet wedding in the US. Mehra is from New Delhi.

Neena Gupta was born on June 4 1959 in Calcutta India to Shakuntala Devi née Kinra a former teacher with dual master's degrees in political science and Sanskrit and R.N. Gupta an LLB and official in the State Trading Corporation of India. Her mother was a Punjabi while her father belonged to the Baniya ethnicity.

Relationships

Alok Nath

Neena Gupta is a Bollywood actress who is well-known. In her career, Neena has produced a number of successes and superhit movies and she continues to be a highly well-liked actor. Neena Gupta and Alok Nath who met while filming a TV show allegedly had a romance in the 1980s that ended in divorce according to various media sources.

Following this Sharangdev the son of Indian classical musician Pandit Jasraj became known as Neena Gupta. The two according to certain media accounts were also engaged to be married until for unknown reasons their romance ended.

Vivian Richards

Vivan Richard and Neena Gupta started dating in the late 1980s. The West Indian cricket team arrived in India for a series led by Captain Vivian Richard who was well-known for his ladies' man characteristics. For the uninformed Vivian had two kids at the time and was married although apart. According to media accounts Neena and Vivian connected at a Mumbai party though they didn't have much in common. Although Neena Gupta was shortly expecting a child getting married to Vivian was never going to happen.

When Neena Gupta was growing up it was unheard of to have an unmarried child. Her parents were traditional. Given the kind of attention celebrities receive today, even celebrities would think twice before having a child in a romantic relationship. Neena Gupta however was not someone who was intimidated by society or its traditional conventions. She decided to carry through her pregnancy and give birth to Masaba Gupta against the advice of her friends and family.

Vivek Mehra

The 13-year marriage of Neena Gupta and Vivek Mehra. At the age of 50 Neena Gupta fell in love and wed Vivek Mehra a chartered accountant from New Delhi in 2008. However, Neena and Vivek didn't live together as husband and wife until the lockdown the previous year.

In the interview, Vivek Mehra also discussed his relationship with Masaba which he described as 'amazing.' He said that because she listens to him and Neena doesn't he gets along better with her. 'It's great with Masaba. These days she is taking a lot of my time as we discuss work. She trusts me because I assist and counsel her. And I also have complete faith in her ' he said.

Career

Neena Gupta has worked in theatre indie Indian cinema and on the global stage to carve out a niche for herself. After gaining deep theatre experience in India Neena made her big-screen début in 1982 with 'Yeh Nazdeekiyan.' Neena Gupta was given the opportunity to collaborate with Sir Ben Kingsley in the same year's international Academy Award-winning movie 'Gandhi.'

Neena Gupta has a history of appearing in well-received movies like 'Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro', 'Mandi', and 'Utsav' to mention a few. Her international projects also include the movies ‘Cotton Mary', 'In Custody', and 'The Deceivers.' Neena Gupta captivated audiences with the contentious song 'Choli Ke Peeche ' mirroring Madhuri Dixit's dancing in the movie 'Khalnayak.'

Neena Gupta has a remarkable career in television as well. She made her debut with the show 'Khandaan' and later enlightened the screen with her extraordinary character performances in the serials 'Mirza Galib', 'Bharat Ek Khoj', 'Dard', 'Gumrah', 'Saans', 'Saat Phere', 'Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahi', and 'Kitni Mohabbat Hai'. She always portrayed a headstrong woman which is very similar to how she actually is. Successful TV serial directors include her for 'Saans', 'Ans Siski', and 'Kyunn Hota Hai Pyaar'. She co-owns Sahaj Production a production company with actor and NSD comrade Rajendra Gupta.

PlayNeena was far more progressive than the conventional 1980s women. She never gave in to social pressure and conducted her life according to her own rules. This can be correctly inferred from her newsworthy marriage to former West Indian cricketer Vivian Richards with whom she had a daughter named Masaba Gupta.

Despite the harsh criticism she received for her actions she was able to rise above it and raise her kid on her own. Later she was said to have been dating Sarang Dev and Alok Nath. She wed Delhi-based chartered accountant Vivek Mehra in 2008.

Best Movies

Mandi (Short Film)

The classic Urdu short story 'Aanandi' by Pakistani author Ghulam Abbas served as the inspiration for this movie. It involves a brothel in the centre of a city in a location that some politicians consider to be prime real estate.

In the name of morality, they organize a protest against the brothel and its occupants and soon everyone in the neighbourhood joins them.

The politicians promise to build a different location for the prostitutes to live but it is miles distant and remote from the city. The madam of the house is forced to agree but by the end of the story, things start to make more sense.

Men will still be men after all. In another Bengali movie, Neena Gupta portrayed a sex worker. Shabana Azmi Soni Razdan and Smita Patil were among the movie's star-studded ensemble cast but Gupta's performance cannot be disregarded.

Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda

A fantastic novel has been expertly adapted into the film 'Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda.' The adaptation by Shyam Benegal deftly explores the topics in Dharamvir Bharti's book.

Rajit Kapur's portrayal of Manek Mulla the storyteller recounts his companions three tales of three women he knew at various times in his life: Rajeshwari Sachdev a symbol of the middle-class class Pallavi Joshi a smart and wealthy woman and Neena Gupta (the poor).

As seen from the perspectives of the many key characters in the movie the three stories are actually three separate strands of a single story. A group's or society's overall speed or development is determined by the lowest sluggish or weakest members. The movie's title which serves as a metaphor for the whole thing compares modern civilization to the mythological imagery of the Sun's chariot pulled by seven horses.

The Last Color

The movie tackles a long-standing taboo that surrounds widows in Varanasi and Vrindavan India. It describes how a young tightrope walker just 9 years old befriends one such widow and vows to make her life more colourful.

The Last Color a novel by Chef Vikas Khanna that explores the bond between a teenage tightrope walker and a widow named Noor in Vrindavan is the basis for the movie. On the occasion of Holi, the couple longs to play with colour but Noor and the other widows are constrained by custom. Indian-American chef Vikas Khanna is the producer and director of the Indian feature film The Last Color.

The movie tackles a long-standing taboo that surrounds widows in Varanasi and Vrindavan India. It describes how a young tightrope walker just 9 years old befriends one such widow and vows to make her life more colourful. Khanna's own book 'The Last Color ' which was published by Bloomsbury Publishing served as the basis for the movie. Additionally, some Banaras Hindu University students served as interns on this project.

Jaane Bhi do Yaaro

This is the tale of two buddies trying to launch their own photography business Vinod (Naseeruddin Shah) and Sudhir (Ravi Baswani). Even though business is extremely slow prospects appear promising until Shobha (Barve) editor of the publication 'Khabardaar ' contacts them.

Shobha gives the two of them a speech about morality and integrity before giving them the task of observing and documenting the dubious interactions between Tarneja a property developer and Police Commissioner D'Mello (Satish Shah) (Pankaj Kapoor).

The two discover bribery and corruption while working on their task to win the flyover construction tender. D'Mello Tarneja and his opponent Ahuja are the primary participants in this (Om Puri). Sudhir and Vinod detect the scent of a murder while spying on the sinister three but they are unable to identify the culprit.

They succeed in getting the body back as evidence but then they misplace it. What happens next and pretty much the entire rest of the film is a protracted chase between the good guys (Vinod and Sudhir) and the evil guys (Tarneja and Co.) who are after the corpse.

Mulk

Mulk which is based on a true tale follows a Muslim joint family from an Indian hamlet as they try to regain their honour after one of its members turns to terrorism. Lawyer Murad Ali Mohammed (Rishi Kapoor) resides amicably with his family in a Varanasi neighbourhood with a varied population.

He performs Namaz at a local mosque every day and then he chats with his close Hindu neighbours while sipping tea at a tea shop that is both run and owned by that neighbour. When her own family becomes embroiled in a dark dispute one family member attempts to assist them. Mulk is based on a true event and the film highlights the fight of a Muslim family to reclaim their privilege when one of their family members is caught up in terrorism.

Murad Ali Mohammed (Rishi Kapoor) is a well-known lawyer with Hindu contacts in his neighbourhood. His wife Tabassum (Neena Gupta) his younger brother Bilaal (Manoj Pahwa) and his wife Chhoti Tabassum (Prachi Shah) their son Shahid Mohammed (Prateik Babbar) and daughter Aayat make up his family. Soon after his daughter-in-law Aarti Mohammed (Taapsee Pannu) returns from Germany following a squabble with her husband.

However, when Shahid becomes embroiled in terrorist operations and is shot down by the investigating detective Danish Javed's life in the Mohammed family takes a sharp turn (Rajat Kapur). The Mohammeds find themselves in a situation where they not only have to defend themselves but also demonstrate their devotion to their 'mulk' due to the perception their faith unintentionally leads them to be connected with. Deepak Mukut and Anubhav Sinha are the producers of Mulk under the auspices of Banaras MediaWorks & Soham Rockstar Entertainment.

Badhaai Ho

PlayAmit Ravindernath Sharma is the director of the 2018 Bollywood coming-of-age comedy-drama Badhaai Ho. Ayushmann Khurrana Sanya Malhotra Gajraj Rao and Neena Gupta play the key characters in the film. Actors like Alka Amin Sheeba Chadha and Alka Kaushal played prominent supporting roles.

The film tells the tale of a young man named Nakul Kaushik who in his late 20s is able to come to terms with the arrival of a new sibling. Nakul a 25-year-old in a relationship with Renne intends to wed her shortly. His mother Priyamvada is a housewife who is constantly made fun of by his grandmother while his father Jeetender Kaushik works for the railroads.

Nakul begins to ignore their parents friends and society after he learns that his mother is pregnant at the age when Nakul is set to wed. Following the success of Badhaai Ho Neena Gupta was offered a variety of roles that allow her to give her very best performance. However, as seen by her earlier appearances she has always been a brilliant performer.

Goodbye

Goodbye is a Hindi family comedy-drama film that hit the big screens in 2022. This movie is written and directed by the skilled Vikas Bahl and produced by multiple talented individuals including Viraj Savant, Ekta Kapoor, Shobha Kapoor, and Bahl. The movie is created under the banners of Good Co, Balaji Motion Pictures, and Saraswati Entertainment Pvt Ltd.

The star-studded cast consists of well-known actors such as Amitabh Bachchan, Rashmika Mandanna (who had her Hindi film debut with this film), and Neena Gupta. Other key roles are portrayed by Sunil Grover, Pavail Gulati, Ashish Vidyarthi, Elli AvrRam, Sahil Mehta, Shivin Narang, and Shayank Shukla, with new faces like Abhishekh Khan and Arun Bali in supportive roles. It's important to mention that this film is graced with Arun Bali's last performance, as he passed away on the same day of the film's release.

Despite its bad performance at the box office, Goodbye received positive reviews from several critics and was acknowledged for its emotional depth, humour, and examination of family dynamics.

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Neena Gupta's Co-Star From Goodbye

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Uunchai

Uunchai written and directed by him was created by Rajshri Productions in collaboration with Boundless Media and Mahaveer Jain Films. Amitabh Bachchan, Parineeti Chopra, Anupam Kher, Boman Irani, and Danny Denzongpa are among the ensemble cast and Neena Gupta and Sarika also play significant roles.

The movie was released on November 11 2022 in theatres. The movie follows three buddies who plan to hike to the Everest Base Camp. As they struggle with their physical constraints and learn the true meaning of freedom what starts out as a straightforward hike becomes a personal emotional and spiritual adventure.

Shiv Shastri Balboa

Shiv Shastri Balboa is a 2022 Bollywood comedy-drama film that explores the mix of cultural identities, economic inequality, and human connections. The film is written and directed by Ajayan Venugopalan and casts acclaimed actors Anupam Kher, Neena Gupta, and Jugal Hansraj in lead roles. The movie hit the theatres on 25 September 2022.

Anupam Kher portrays Shiv Shankar Shastri, a retiree and widower from India, who moves to the USA to be with his only son. Neena Gupta portrays Elsa, an undocumented housekeeper, with whom Shastri forms a special bond. Despite the cultural and social differences, they embark on an unexpected road trip through the American heartland, teaching each other, and the viewers, that it is never too late to reinvent oneself.

Movie List and Career Timeline

Upcoming

Metro... In Dino

Metro... In Dino, the upcoming romance-drama is the sequel to the 2007 Life in a... Metro. The director of the first film, Anurag Basu, will be handling this one as well. The movie is scheduled for release on September 13, 2024.

The cast of Metro... In Dino includes Anupam Kher, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Aditya Roy Kapoor, Ali Fazal, Pankaj Tripathi, Konkona Sen Sharma, Kay Kay Menon, Sara Ali Khan, and Rohit Roy.

Struggles

Neena Gupta a veteran Bollywood actress has frequently spoken about her financial difficulties before the birth of her daughter Masaba. Such discussions have never been avoided by the actress. Similarly in a recent interview with a top daily she described how she developed the confidence to be self-sufficient and financially support herself.

I was certain I would have done something. I learned from my mum that there is no shame in doing any work. I would sweep floors and wash dishes but I would never ask for money. As a result, I was confident.

Neena recently opened up about her struggles with child-rearing and how difficult it was back then to raise a child outside of marriage. In an interview with the Mumbai Mirror, she claimed 'Outside of marriage I would not have a child. Each child needs two guardians. I was always honest with Masaba therefore it had no effect on our relationship. But I know she persevered.'

Neena Gupta also expressed a year ago how she felt guilty for raising a daughter without a traditional family. She said 'I believe that was a narrow-minded response on my part. Some of my companions informed me that it would be unreasonable on the part of the child Neena Gupta stated.

Controversies

• Satish Kaushik proposed marriage to Neena Gupta while she was pregnant with Masaba Gupta. In a new interview, he claimed that he did it out of friendship for her.
• Satish Kaushik told a top newspaper that he has known Neena since 1975 and has a good friendship with her. His proposal to marry her sprang from his affection for her as a friend he explained adding that he did not want her to 'feel alone.'
• Neena was carrying an unwed child Masaba at a period when the idea was frowned upon in India. It was proposed to Neena at the time that she marry a gay man. 'I laughed them off since I didn't want to marry only to avoid controversy.' Stated Neena Gupta.
• In the 1980s Neena Gupta was in a relationship with former West Indies cricketer Vivian Richards. Later in 1989, Neena delivered Masaba Gupta whom she raised as a single mother after Vivian refused to leave his wife for Neena.

Networth

The amount of assets that exceed liabilities is referred to as net worth. Cash real estate and anything else of value are examples of assets. It is the value of everything you own less everything you own. Net worth is not calculated on a yearly basis. So how much is Neena Gupta currently worth?

Neena Gupta's net worth is expected to be Rs 72 crores ($10 million) in 2024. Neena Gupta charges around 50k per episode. Neena Gupta's monthly salary is 10 lakhs and her primary sources of income include acting modelling and brand endorsements.

Awards and Achievements

Filmfare Awards

• 2019 Critics Award Best Actress Badhaai Ho
• 2020 Best Actor In A Supporting Role In A Comedy Series (Female) Panchayat Season 1

National Awards

• 1993 Best Supporting Actress Woh Chokri
• 1993 Best First Non-Feature Film Bazar Sitaram

16 Interesting Facts About Neena Gupta

• 'Sach Kahun Toh ' Neena Gupta’s autobiography will be published by Penguin Random House India in June 2021. Actress Neena Gupta describes her incredible personal and professional journey in Sach Kahun Toh from her formative days in Delhi's Karol Bagh through her time at the National School of Drama to migrating to Bombay in the 1980s and dealing with the hardships of finding work.
• The actress described an instance in which a 'big-shot' producer from the South Indian film industry urged her to 'stay the night.' 'One day a pal instructed me to go visit a producer who was a big shot in the south ' she said in an excerpt from her book. When I arrived at the hotel I dialled the producer's number from a phone in the lobby. 'Sure yes I had expected you ' he said. 'Come on up there.''So sir what is my role?' I finally asked him when he paused to catch his breath. 'The heroine's pal ' he explained. When he explained it to me it sounded like a little role. 'Ok … 'I must depart now sir.' 'My buddies are waiting for me ' I added. Go? Where? he inquired. He seems genuinely surprised. 'Are you planning to spend the night here?' I felt as though someone had just dumped a bucket of icy water over my head. 
• Neena's daughter fashion designer Masaba Gupta is a force to be reckoned with yet the veteran actress stated that she could not afford to give birth to her through a C-section. 'As my due date approached I began to worry because I had very little money in my account ' she said in an excerpt from her book. I could afford a natural birth because it would only cost $ 2,000 to have one. But I knew if I needed a C-section I'd be in big difficulty because the surgery costs about $ 10,000. Fortunately, a tax refund of $900 arrived a few days before my delivery and I ended up having $12,000 in my bank account.'
• Neena also mentioned being lonely during her 'prime years.' She did however open up about a romance in which she almost married. 'I was in Delhi getting my clothing made when he called and said 'I don't want to marry you.' I'm still not sure why but what can I do? I proceeded. I wished I could have married him. I admired his father and mother because I was living in their home. He's going to read he's alive and he's happily married. 'He has kids ' she wrote.
• The actress remembers shooting the classic dance number from the 1993 film Khal Nayak. Subhash Ghai directed the film which stars Madhuri Dixit and Sanjay Dutt in prominent roles. 'They clothed me in a tribal Gujarati garb and sent me to Subhash Ghai for approval ' she wrote. 'No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No 'Kuch bharo ' he says. I felt really humiliated. He was in my perspective referring to my choli and saying that it needed to be filled. I knew it wasn't anything personal. He had envisioned something... larger for the rendition. I didn't shoot on that particular day. But the next day I was dressed differently with a fully padded bra and he appeared to like it.
• The experienced actress made headlines a few years ago when she asked for jobs on Instagram. She was offered a role in Badhaai Ho after many years which won her critical acclaim. However, following her post Neena expressed her guilt and fear of what her Masaba might say. 'The media I could handle; my friends asking me if I was okay whether my life and marriage were okay I could handle ' she wrote. 'What scared me was my daughter Masaba Gupta a well-known and well-known fashion designer and public figure.' Instead, she received a 'long and beautiful response from my daughter who had shared my article with her followers ' she wrote.
• Neena Gupta is a well-known veteran Indian actor.
• Her mother reportedly wanted her to work as an IAS official.
• When she was a college student she played hockey.
• According to the sources she married a boy from Calcutta who graduated from IIT Delhi when she was 16 years old but the union barely lasted two years.
• In 1982 she graduated from a three-year programme at the National School of Drama.
• She made her acting debut in the 1982 Bollywood movie Saath Saath. She later appeared in numerous other Bollywood movies such as Gandhi (1982), Mandi (1983), Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron (1983), Rihaee (1988), Swarg (1990), and Drishti (1990).
• She won Rs. 10,000 for the 1982 movie Gandhi.
• She began performing in Hindi TV series in 1985. Daddy (1989) Drishti (1990) Saans (1999) Siski (2000) Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin (2004) and Kitani Mohabbat Hai are just a few of the TV series in which she appeared (2009).
• She has appeared in a few Malayalam movies including Aham (1992) and Vasthuhara (1991).
• Alongside Madhuri Dixit, she made an appearance in the well-known item song Choli Ke Peeche from the 1993 movie Khalnayak.

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