Neena Gupta was in conversation with Kareena Kapoor Khan who launched the former's autobiography 'Sach Kahu Toh', virtually.
Veteran actor Neena Gupta's autobiography titled 'Sach Kahun Toh' was launched Monday by none other than Bollywood diva Kareena Kapoor Khan, virtually.
In their interaction, posted on Neena Gupta's page, the two -- Neena and Kareena, are seen discussing the autobiography, how the senior actor has openly talked about her past relationships, the loneliness she experiences in her prime years and thereafter, and how forthright and bold Neena had been to be able to talk about it.
Neena who is married to Vivek Mehra and is currently in Mukhteshwar owing to the pandemic said that besides a few 'small affairs', she didn't really have a companion after moving to Mumbai.
Neena told Kareena Kapoor Khan, "While I was writing the book, I realised in my prime years I have been without a lover or husband. Because I came here, then small affairs, nothing really materialised. Basically, I was all alone."
She continued, "Even with Vivian, he was far away, he had his own life. We met very seldom."
For the unversed, Neena and cricketer Vivian Richards' love affair was a topic of discussion in the industry circles as much as in the media back in the day. The two have a daughter, Masaba Gupta.
During the conversation, Neena also recalled being on the verge of marrying a man who she said cancelled at the 'last minute', while she was shopping for clothes in Delhi. "Till today I don't know," she said adding, "That happened. But what can I do? I moved on. I would have loved to get married to him. I had a lot of respect for his father, mother. I was living in their house. He's going to read, he's alive, he's happily married. He has children."
She said that she wanted a normal life and still feels envious when she sees people in regular relationships. "People say I lived my life on my own terms. Actually, I never did. Wherever I went wrong, I accepted it and moved forward. I wanted to have a normal husband, children, my in-laws. When I see other people I do feel a little envious. But, I did not blame, I did not become an alcoholic or go in a wrong direction because what I wanted I did not get," she said.
"What you read in the book is not how I wanted my life to be," Neena said.
On whether she was worried back in the day that people would judge her for the way her life was turning out to be, Neena said "I was. I would not have written this (autobiography) if my mom and dad were alive."
She added, "It used to bother me sometimes that people would say 'isiliye yeh raise hi', but now I'm beyond that. Now, I'm appreciated for my work, my daughter and husband love me, this is what I want."
The book will take readers through Neena's journey from her time at the National School of Drama (NSD) to moving to Bombay (Mumbai) in the 80s and her single parenthood. Additionally, the autobiography will also touch upon topics like film industry politics, the casting couch, and also what it takes for a young actor to survive without a godfather in the Hindi film industry.
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