Men my age still get to play the hero: Neena

Neena Gupta talks award shows, bias against older female actors, and enjoying social media

The year 2018 was a turnaround year for actor Neena Gupta. She starred in Veere Di Wedding, Mulk, and Badhaai Ho, and the year ended on a high note with her winning a string of awards. And looks like she is quite enjoying this attention — she is even attending award shows, something that she hasn’t done since her hit TV show, Saans in the late 90s.

The veteran actor says that throughout her career she would only get to play “sidey” roles so there was never a question of her winning any award. Neena, 59, also rues how male actors her age still get to play the hero in their films and opens about how her image as a strong and bold woman played havoc on her career. Excerpts:

Your career seems to have taken a complete flip after Badhaai Ho?

I feel happy and a little anxious because after all that, I can’t do just anything. I only want to grow now; so, I’m waiting for good and better work, and that’s a little frustrating.

You have already won three awards this season. How are you taking it all in?

It’s nice to attend award shows. The last time I used to be busy with awards was during the Saans days. Of course, I never got awards for my films because I never got [major] roles. I got very ‘sidey’, supporting, and small parts in films. I was just there in the films, but had nothing to perform. So, yes I am enjoying it now.

How does it feel to get nominated alongside younger female actors such as Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt?

Alia is like my child. Of course, it is a strange feeling. But there is still a taboo about [older] female actors. Men my age still get to play the hero, but I won’t get that so easily. That will take more time to change. Pata nahi main tab tak zinda bhi rahoongi ya nahi. There has to be more stories around women. That is the only way.

You are also now very active on social media and you regularly share pictures from your daily life. Are you enjoying the space?

Earlier, I used to think that you should not post personal pictures. I still am very shy and not very proactive and make mistakes. I have a feeling that people are getting to know more about me this way, which is different from the image which was created about me. And because of that, I had to suffer a lot in my professional life. I feel that it (social media) is helping me change that and I needed to change that.

What kind of image are you referring to?

Well, that of a bold, strong woman who does things according to what she wants to do. And a strong woman means a negative woman in our films. I used to get all negative roles, such as a dominating woman in the household. But I told them that I want a ‘bechari’ woman role. Also, discussions about having a child out of wedlock (referring to her daughter Masaba) went on and on and on. Wo child toh woman ho gayi; abhi bhi child hi bol rahe hain.

PHOTO: RAAJESSH KASHYAP/HT