NewKerala.com

Neena Gupta Recalls Lonely Mumbai Start: "No Money, No Work, No Family"

Veteran actor Neena Gupta has candidly shared the profound loneliness and financial uncertainty she faced upon first arriving in Mumbai to pursue acting. She revealed she came with a boyfriend for courage but was eventually left alone with no work, money, or family support. Gupta reflected that a lack of guidance led to early career missteps, advising that actresses should not begin with comedy films. Despite these struggles, she has built an acclaimed, decades-spanning career and is set to appear in the upcoming thriller 'Vadh 2'.

Key Points: Neena Gupta on Early Mumbai Struggles & Loneliness

  • Recalled early loneliness in Mumbai
  • Had no money or work initially
  • Boyfriend also left her
  • Warns actresses about starting with comedy
  • Now a celebrated National Award winner
3 min read

"No money, no work": Neena Gupta recalls feeling "lonely" during early days in Mumbai

Veteran actor Neena Gupta opens up about her lonely, financially tough early days in Mumbai, recalling having no work, money, or support.

"I felt lonely. No mom, no dad, no money. - Neena Gupta"

New Delhi, February 2

Veteran actor Neena Gupta recalled her early days in Mumbai, candidly opening up about the 'loneliness, fear and uncertainty' she experienced when she first arrived in the city to pursue a career as an actor.

Speaking to ANI in an exclusive interview, Neena Gupta shared that she came to Mumbai with her then boyfriend but had no money, no work and no family support. Recalling the emotional and financial struggle, the actor said the initial phase of her life in the city was deeply unsettling.

"I felt lonely. No mom, no dad, no money. I was living at someone else's place who didn't want me there. It was scary and very lonely," she said.

"She added that although she did not have the courage to come to Mumbai alone and arrived with her boyfriend, he eventually left her as well. "Although I came with my boyfriend, as I didn't have the courage to come alone. But he also ditched me. Somebody said a very nice thing. 'You don't die of old age. You die of loneliness'. That was very bad here. I had no work," the actor said.

The actor further reflected that during her formative years in the industry, Neena wished she had someone to guide her through the complexities of entering the film business.

"I wish I had someone who would have guided me on the rules of entering the film business. One of the biggest disasters was doing the film 'Saath Saath'. The film was a big hit and I became very confident. And that was the end of it. Actresses who want to lead should not begin with comedy," she added.

Despite the early struggles, Neena Gupta has gone on to carve a celebrated career spanning several decades. She continues to remain active across films and streaming platforms and was most recently seen in the romantic drama 'Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri'.

A three-time National Award winner, Neena's acclaimed body of work includes 'Badhaai Ho', the 'Panchayat' series, 'Uunchai', and the award-winning 'Who Chokri'.

Neena Gupta's upcoming release, 'Vadh 2', described as a spiritual sequel to the 2022 thriller 'Vadh', is scheduled to hit theatres on February 6, 2026.

As per the trailer, lead actors Sanjay Mishra and Neena Gupta return as Shambhunath and Manju, respectively, in Vadh 2, which offers a glimpse into their lives: Manju has been jailed, and her husband undertakes a dangerous mission to get her out.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Her story hits home. So many of us come to metro cities from small towns with big dreams, and that initial phase of having no contacts and no money is terrifying. Her success gives hope.
A
Aman W
The line about dying of loneliness, not old age... that's so profound and sadly true for many in big cities. We build these huge towers but forget about human connection.
S
Sarah B
It's interesting she mentions wishing for a guide. The film industry, like many others in India, seems to run heavily on networks and 'godfathers'. It must be incredibly hard to navigate without that.
K
Karthik V
Mad respect for her resilience. From 'no money, no work' to a National Award winner – what a journey! Shows that talent and hard work eventually win, even in Bollywood. Can't wait for Vadh 2!
N
Nisha Z
While I admire her honesty, I feel the article focuses a bit too much on the past struggle. She's such a powerhouse actor now – I wish there was more on her current craft and the advice she'd give. Still, a legend! ❤️

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50