**Neena Gupta's Brutal Honesty: "I Could Have Done Better Than Today's Heroines – But My Mistakes Ruined It All"** Imagine a Bollywood legend confessing that her own impatience and low self-esteem sabotaged a career that could have outshone today's leading ladies. That's exactly what Neena Gupta just laid bare in a raw Humans of Bombay interview.[2] Veteran actress Neena Gupta, celebrated for gems like *Woh Chokri* (where she clinched a National Award for Best Supporting Actress) and her breakout in *Badhaai Ho*, has always been unapologetically frank.[1][2] But in this recent chat, she turns the spotlight inward, owning up to the pitfalls that derailed her path. "As compared to heroines today, I could have done better, looked better," she admits, pinpointing **lack of patience** and **low self-esteem** as the culprits that hampered her growth.[2] Without a mentor or "godmother" in the cutthroat industry, Neena navigated blindly, realizing too late it's "a business" with no room for emotion.[2] Her biggest regret? Starring in her debut film *Saath Saath* (1982) alongside Farooque Shaikh and Deepti Naval. "That film took away my chance of being seen as a leading heroine," she reflects, calling it a career-defining mistake.[2] Despite critical acclaim—think roles in *Gandhi*, *Mandi*, *Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro*, and directing the hit TV series *Saans*—work dried up for years. "I did not get work for years... Mujhe kaam ki zaroorat thi," she shared in an earlier Filmfare interview, frustrated that applause didn't pay bills.[1] Marriage and media assumptions about her settling in Delhi further sidelined her, fueling anger and missed opportunities.[5] Yet, Neena's story isn't one of defeat. *Badhaai Ho* marked her triumphant return, proving her timeless talent at an age when many fade away.[1][3] Now 65, she's thriving on Instagram, controlling her narrative and embracing roles in projects like *Vadh 2*.[3] Her wisdom? Accept your faults to ditch bitterness: "It's better to accept your mistakes and move on—that's the only way forward."[2] From theatre roots at NSD to Bollywood survival without nepotism's edge, Neena embodies resilience, even touching on tough topics like infidelity and societal pressures in recent podcasts.[4][6]
Neena Gupta: A lifetime of bold choices and hard-earned wisdom. (Unsplash free stock image)
Citations
1.https://www.filmfare.com/interviews/exclusive-i-did-not-get-work-for-years-says-neena-gupta-61214.html
2.https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/as-compared-to-heroines-today-i-could-have-done-better-looked-better-neena-gupta-says-she-had-lack-of-patience-low-esteem-which-ruined-her-career-doing-saath-saath-was-a-mistake/articleshow/126358127.cms
3.https://thenodmag.com/content/neena-gupta-cover-story-interview
4.https://shows.acast.com/how-i-masaba/episodes/neena-gupta-on-seizing-your-opportunities
5.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xKRujD0aaA
6.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZS00DLvSws
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