Neena Gupta and Masaba Gupta 
Celebs

‘The way you look, you will never become a Hema Malini or Alia Bhatt’: Neena Gupta on how she discouraged Masaba Gupta to act

Neena said she told Masaba if she did want to become an actor, she should go abroad because the way she looks, and the way her body is, even if she becomes a good actor, she will not get heroine roles

N.J. Pinto

Bollywood actor Neena Gupta has been been in the film industry from the 1980s and has been popular for many of her roles, including Saans in 1999 and Buniyaad later. However, her recent role in Badhaai Ho has brought her back into the limelight, and in a recent interview, the actor opened up about all things personal, including her daughter Masaba Gupta’s acting aspirations. 

Neena said she told Masaba if she did want to become an actor, she should go abroad because the way she looks, and the way her body is, even if she becomes a good actor, she will not get heroine roles in India. The 59-year-old actor said she told Masaba even if she does become an actor, she will never be able to become a Hema Malini or an Alia Bhatt and that is how she discourage her from taking up acting. 

Interestingly, while Masaba did not become an actor in Bollywood, she is one of the most successful designers in the film industry today. The 30-year-old designer is the daughter of Indian actor Neena Gupta and West Indies cricket legend Sir Vivian Richards. In the same interview, Neena also said that she did feel guilty for not bringing up Masaba in a conventional family setting, and said it was selfish on her part for doing so. 

On the work front, after the success of Badhaai Ho, Neena will next be seen in Panga in 2020. The sports drama film is based on the life of a Kabbadi player, and will also star Kangana Ranaut, Jassi Gill and Richa Chadha, among others. 

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