Neena Gupta on winning the National Award for Uunchai, "I am happily surprised and I am flying high in the clouds saying thank you to God"

Although the feisty Neena Gupta worked with the best of directors in the early part of her career, she feels accepting small parts was a mistake. “I have worked with Mr. (Shyam) Benegal, Mr Kundan Shah, I have worked with many, many filmmakers, but at that time with them I got only smaller roles. I never got the main role as they call it, the leading lady. So, I was always very frustrated. I used to think I am much more capable, I am quite good looking also, so why didn’t I get it? But everywhere it's the same thing,” she said.

“So, filmmaking is a business, whatever sells, they take that,” added Neena. “It's your market value. Because every filmmaker has to have a financier. So, this is a business. You have a good market value, good market rate, as you can say, like a commodity, then you get the leading part. I think the mistake I made was that I settled for smaller parts initially because one was desperate for work and for that then I was labelled as a supporting actor, as an actor for smaller parts. That changed with Badhaai Ho, but it took me a long, long time. But I had a very, very good phase on TV when Saans was there. I produced, directed, acted, and I did a variety of roles and I got good money also. But again. at that time TV was much smaller than films.”

This, according to Neena, has changed now. “All big, big filmmakers are going on to OTT platforms, actors are working on OTT platforms, which is seen on TV on a smaller screen, obviously. But in my time, when I entered here, it was only films. It was a very difficult phase. Today's actors are very lucky that they have so many platforms. Filmmaking has also changed because of OTT platforms. Writers, directors are experimenting with newer subjects. You don't need a star for your project to be a hit. The best example is Panchayat. If the content is good, people love it. We should stop thinking that people don't understand. The public understands everything. You give them something good, they will appreciate it. That's what I have come to know. Writing is the most important part of any project. I think Panchayat has surpassed the level of writing. That's one reason it is such a big hit.”

It’s never been all bed of roses for Neena. “I have had my share of unpleasant situations being a woman, like so many other women, other actors who have gone through that. But I took it in my stride because I knew it happens. But when it happened to me, I was very surprised and shocked. But what saved me was what my mother used to say, education. I say education because I did not compromise in that situation. I was confident that I am educated. I can do so many things to earn my living, to earn my food. So, I did not compromise and that saved me. It saved me internally and externally,” she said.

Neena has advice for girls who are stepping out in life. “That is a very important thing which I would always say to younger girls,” she added. “You should have a plan B. You should know how much you want to compromise. I have nothing against women who do compromise because their situation could be different than mine. But it's each to its own. I got saved because of my education, I will always say. Even till now, I say that if I need work, if roles run out, I can do so many other things and earn my living because I believe in dignity of labour. I believe no work is small. If need be, I can do anything.”

Neena is blissed by the Best Supporting Actress National award for Uunchai, although she gave far more awards-worthy performances earlier. “I am very, very happy. I was very surprised, happily surprised and I am flying high in the clouds saying thank you to God and I am grateful to everyone, and I am patting myself on my back saying, ‘Baby, keep on working hard, you will get appreciation.’ Funnily, the first project, if you can call it a project of mine, which made me a little famous was an ad for Hawkins Pressure Cooker. After that, I think I struggled, struggled, struggled for a long, long time, many, many years and then my serial Saans happened, which was a game-changing thing for me. And after that, Badhaai Ho happened,” she said.

Neena continued, “I think these are the three things which changed my career path, career growth. I'm very proud of the girls today who are balancing their family life and their careers and are successful in both, which is a very amazing thing, very difficult task to do. Earlier, if the woman heroine got married, she never got work. Now the girls are working, actresses are working. Even after having kids, they work hard on their body. They lose weight and they are there. They look after their kids, their in-laws, their families, their parents and still work. So, that is a very, very big thing which has happened. It has happened with very few people, but it's a very major beginning of our times.”

Speaking on the institution of marriage Neena said, “I don't know because I don't see any other alternative to the institution of marriage. About live-in relationships, I actually do not know. I have not understood whether it is good or bad for people. The point is that our patience has grown very low because we live in a very complicated world, a very competitive world. And as women are getting more and more educated, getting more and more financially independent, they won't take any nonsense from anybody. Marriage, I think, is a lot of compromise, a lot of adjustment to each other, which is becoming more and more difficult every day. So actually, I'm very confused as to what should happen. Should one get married or live in or stay single or adjust to have a longer marriage where they have a companion, children in their old age? Because I feel family is the most important thing in this world.”

“Your work will come and go, your fame will come and go,” added Neena. “You can be very successful and famous, but eventually it's the family you need as your strength. I think a very important reason for declining mental health, depression is because one is lonely. So that problem will, I think, mount slowly and people will have to learn how to cope with it and think as to what is important for them. And there is no right or wrong way, there is no easy way. You are single, lonely, that's a problem. You are married, bad marriage, that's a problem. You are divorced, that's a problem. Problems are everywhere. So, it is on you what is your priority. I have learned because I have been alone for almost more than half of my life and it is very difficult.”

Looking back on her journey so far Neena said, “I feel that I got my first break at the age of 60. And that changed everything for me. I became a good actress. I got solid roles, substantial roles. And I got a lot of respect from the industry and friends. So, Badhaai Ho changed everything for me. If Badhaai Ho hadn't happened, then I would still be doing small little roles of mother here and there. I am very grateful for that. It came late. I sometimes feel frustrated that my break came so late. But then I am very thankful to God that at least it came before I died. And I am really enjoying this phase. During the past three years, I have worked almost every day. I have shot. And five, six of my projects are complete and awaiting release, which is making me a little anxious because while you work, so that more and more people watch you, watch your work, praise you for your work.”

She has no regrets about being a single mother so early. “I think my being a single mother has been talked a lot about,” said Neena. “But it was not planned. It just happened. I just went with it. I was happy and I am very happy. That I have such a beautiful daughter. So, that was not planned. If I want to change anything in my life, I want to change everything, apart from Masaba. I would want a very normal, happily married life with a good career, which I think is quite a task. It doesn't generally happen, but I'm very proud of the girls today who are having a proper family.”

Also Read: Neena Gupta recalls losing a role to her co-star and friend Sunita Rajwar: “There is a bit of jealousy”

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