Neena ‘chickened’ out of a big soap
Veteran actor Neena Gupta (left) created quite a buzz when she recently took to Instagram and Twitter, asking for work. She also informed filmmakers in these posts, that she is living in Mumbai and is available to play good roles. Though everyone thought that she’s completely out of work, the 62-year-old clarifies that she still gets offers for TV shows and it was the film industry that has forgotten about her.
“I didn’t take them [TV offers] up because it’s like a 24x7 job. In fact, I signed a very big daily soap recently, but I chickened out, as they wanted me glow morning- to night for the next 30 days,” shares Neena. “I’m still waiting for something nice. If I am putting in 30 days for something, it has to be worth it,” she adds.
Asked if she’s happy with the kind of content being shown on TV these days, the 62-year-old says, “No, it has become regressive again. And maybe that’s the reason why I am not doing work on TV.”
Best remembered for her role in the daily soap Saans, which aired almost two decades ago, Neena says that those days were much better as compared to present times.
“Today, the cost of production has gone up and many crores are spent to launch a show, so it has become a big task. Hamare zamane mein to launch nahi hota tha… bas do chaar banner lag gaye. But that’s not the case nowadays,” says Neena.
The actor also feels that nobody wants to try out fresh and new scripts. “People will say, ‘It’s nice, but we’re not sure if it would work or not.’ They want to do whatever is tried and tested like naagins and dayans,” she says.
I keep getting good TV offers, but I didn’t take them up, as it’s a 24x7 job. I’m waiting for something nice. If I am putting 30 days into a project, it has to be worth it NEENA GUPTA, ACTOR