Four decades after starting her career, veteran actor Neena Gupta says she is finally in a space where filmmakers consider her a bankable performer.
Gupta had a career turn around following the box office success of her 2018 film "Badhaai Ho" and her future projects as lead include film "Baa", directed by Hardik Gajjar; R Balki's segment of "Lust Stories", anthology "Ishq E Naadan" opposite with "Saans" co-star Kanwaljit Singh and "Shiv Shastri Balboa" alongside Anupam Kher.
The actor said getting leading lady roles in her sixties is a "big deal" for her.
"This is a big deal for me. This is what I wanted throughout my career. You need that break where your film, in which you have a pivotal role, becomes a hit. That never happened to me in films, it happened on TV.
"When ‘Badhaai Ho’, in which I had a solid role, became successful, things changed. Then suddenly I became a very good actor. My market value rose. It is a business... If your market value is good then you will get lead roles,” Gupta said in an interview.
Gupta said following her debut in 1982 with “Saath Saath”, starring Farooque Shaikh and Deepti Naval, she was hopeful that filmmakers would queue up outside her house but destiny had some other plans for her.
The desire to become a "heroine" wasn't fulfilled and for the longest time in career, she was pigeonholed in "small parts".
“There was a desire and dream… Like in ‘Saath Saath’, although I had a small comic role, I would think I have done such a good job that people would queue up outside my house (to work with me).
"But it is a different business. You cannot do a small comedy part in a film and expect to become a heroine because there is a thappa (tag) on you for small parts. We would yearn to get a good part and I never got it.” Gupta said during the 1980s and 1990s it was a difficult to score lead roles solely on the basis of talent, be it in commercial or parallel cinema. She believes most of the filmmakers wanted to cast a "saleable face".
“There was no chance of meeting the producer and director in commercial cinema. There was this parallel cinema and there again the main roles were going to Shabana (Azmi), Smita (Patil) and if it’s a small (film), then Deepti (Naval). We had no chance in these films also.
"Shyam (Benegal) never gave me a major role. I have always played smaller parts in his films. So, the situation was similar in commercial cinema. It is a business, they want to take a saleable face,” said the actor, whose filmography also boasts of critically-acclaimed performance is “Mandi”, “Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro”, “Gandhi” and “Woh Chokri”.
As a performer, Gupta said her goal is now to straddle between mainstream and independent cinema. She is also clear about not picking any typical "mother roles".
"I say no to stereotypical roles. And no mother roles. It is good that people are looking at women in different spaces," she said.
The actor's latest release is “Shiv Shastri Balboa", directed by Ajayan Venugopalan.
The film is billed as a "fascinating tale of survival of an Indian in a small town in America." Gupta said she found the script and her role of a Telugu-speaking woman from Hyderabad interesting.
“In tough times also she is hopeful, enjoys life and that is the best part. It is a very identifiable role as people often enjoy some moments even when they are in tough situations, they just don’t cry. It is a very interesting role,” she added.
“Shiv Shastri Balboa” also features Jugal Hansraj, “The Family Man” actor Sharib Hashmi and Nargis Fakhri of “Rockstar” fame.
(PTI)
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.