Neena Gupta’s mistake...

The actress says making men priority was a wrong thing to do

Her on-screen characters challenged social norms, but in real life Neena Gupta says men became a priority and her focus shifted from career to finding the right partner. The actor, who is known for her performance in TV shows such as Khandaan, Bharat Ek Khoj and Saans and movies like Woh Chokri, Gandhi and Muhafiz, says her desire to have a healthy relationship diverted her attention from work.

“I always wanted to do good work and play strong parts. But when I look back now, I feel men became my priority and it was a big mistake. My focus shifted from career to finding the right man. Men should never be the prime focus of women’s life,” Gupta said. “I was doing really well. I was writing, directing and producing some great things on television. What I went through in personal life had a big impression on my professional choices,” she added. The veteran actor believes women are conditioned to keep their relationships above their personal goals. “As women, we always crave for family and a loving partner and in our quest to find that happy space we overlook a lot of things. I now understand I should have prioritised things better.”

Gupta said it is still hard for women to have a life they aspire to and be with a man who treats them as an individual. The actor, however, believes #MeToo movement in India will change the status quo. “#MeToo has shaken the whole industry. But the sad part is that it is so hard to prove such incidents. I have been on my own for the longest time and have faced a lot of such incidents during my days in college, National School of Drama. I don’t know how we can get a proof of a person groping us or touching us inappropriately. All we could do at that time was get used to it or try our best to avoid it,” she said.