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Time of India
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Neena Gupta says 'I've never been in love' — Anupam Kher recalls watching her from a far at NSD!
Anupam Kher and Neena Gupta , who were classmates at the National School of Drama (NSD) in the late 1970s, have shared a long and layered professional journey. Years after their student days, they reunited for Rakesh Bedi's acclaimed stage play Mera Woh Matlab Nahi Tha, and later appeared together in two 2022 films—Sooraj Barjatya's Uunchai and Ajayan Venugopalan's Shiv Shastri Balboa. Now, the duo returns to the screen in Anurag Basu 's upcoming film Metro… In Dino, a spiritual successor to his 2007 anthology Life in a... Metro. In the film, they portray former college mates whose youthful affection never blossomed—until they reconnect decades later at a reunion, reigniting a sense of what might have been. A Candid Conversation: NSD, Nostalgia, and New Beginnings In an exclusive interview with SCREEN, the two actors reminisced about their NSD days, their views on love and heartbreak, and their current relationship with the city of Mumbai. When asked if they remembered the moment they first met, Anupam shared: 'At the National School of Drama, the boys and girls stayed in the same hostel. She was a year junior to me. I first saw her when she came to the sink to wash her glass. I also used to watch her walk to a shop near Mandi House. I wasn't the kind of guy who'd get noticed. She was hard to miss. I'm pretty sure she doesn't remember me.' On working with Anurag Basu's famously impromptu style, Neena said: 'Yes, we're used to last-minute dialogues. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Perdagangkan CFD Emas dengan Broker Tepercaya IC Markets Mendaftar Undo We don't need to say 'Excuse me' and go to a corner to memorize lines. We can do that on the spot, especially if it's in Hindi. If it's in English, I might take a little longer. But this film was in Hindi, so we were happy.' Anupam echoed her thoughts on the director's approach: 'Anurag's characters come from everyday life. We already understood our characters. Without realizing it, we worked the way we do in theatre. Even Shiv Shastri Balboa had that quality—it could easily be turned into a play. That's the advantage of being experienced and trained actors—we bring our own layers to the work, something not always possible in commercial cinema.' On Love, Loss, and Life Both actors have evolved their own philosophies on love over the years. Neena believes she has only known one true love—her daughter. 'I don't know what romantic love is. I only understood what love truly meant when Masaba (Gupta) was born. That's the only kind of love I've felt deeply. Maybe I'm too practical to fall in love or be loved. I worry a lot and wonder if something's wrong with me. When I watch love stories or Western shows, I question why I've never felt like dying for someone.' When asked about the time the late Satish Kaushik offered to marry her to shield her from social stigma, Neena reflected on the different kinds of love: 'That was the love of a friend. I can fall in love with anyone—my neighbour, my dog, my staff, my cook, my friends. Sometimes, love in friendship is something else entirely.' Anupam, meanwhile, takes a broader view of love: 'We often limit the idea of love to just romantic relationships. But love exists between parents and children, siblings, friends, and even pets. A love story doesn't have to be just about a man and a woman.' About the Film: Metro… In Dino Metro… In Dino is an upcoming romantic anthology film that explores contemporary relationships through four interconnected stories. Directed by Anurag Basu, the film features a stellar ensemble cast including Aditya Roy Kapur, Sara Ali Khan, Anupam Kher, Neena Gupta, Pankaj Tripathi , Konkona Sen Sharma , Ali Fazal, and Fatima Sana Shaikh. Set in present-day urban India, the film captures the emotional complexities of love, longing, and commitment. Metro… In Dino is slated for release on July 4.
Indian Express
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Anupam Kher says long-distance marriage with Kirron Kher doesn't bother him much, Neena Gupta feels she's too practical to love
Anupam Kher and Neena Gupta studied at the National School of Drama at the same time in the late 1970s. They went on to do Rakesh Bedi's long-running play Mera Woh Matlab Nahi Tha years later. They've also acted in two films together in 2022 — Sooraj Barjatya's Uunchai and Ajayan Venugopalan's Shiv Shastri Balboa. Now, they've been paired together again in Anurag Basu's Metro…In Dino, the spiritual sequel to his 2007 anthology romance Life in a… Metro. They play college batchmates, who never fructified their infatuation for each other, who meet years later at a college reunion and give their romance another chance. In an exclusive interview with SCREEN, the two actors talk about their NSD and theatre days, successful and failed relationships, and their equation with Mumbai today. Do you remember when you first met each other? Anupam: In National School of Drama, the boys and girls had the same hostel. She was one year junior to me. She came to the sink to wash her glass, that's when I first met her. I also used to see her walking to a shop near Mandi House. I wasn't one of those who'd get noticed. She was easy to spot. I'm pretty sure she doesn't have a memory of me. Neena: (Laughs) I can't recall. Anupam: We made most of the memories working on the stage together. Otherwise there are so many classmates and seniors that you don't remember each of them. Neena: And he's been very busy working all the time. I also remember him from the show mostly. Since you're both NSD graduates and have worked together extensively on stage, was it easy to adapt to Anurag Basu's impromptu style of working? Neena: Yes. If someone gives us dialogues last minute, we won't have to say 'Excuse me,' go into a corner, and mug up our lines. We can do that on the spot, especially in Hindi. If it's a scene in English, then I may take time. But since this was in Hindi, we were very happy. Anupam: Also, Anurag's characters in this film come from a common man's life. We already know what our characters are like. Without realizing, we've worked like theatre in this film. Even in the case of Shiv Shastri Balboa, we did that. That film can be adapted into a very good play. So that's the advantage of being experienced, educated actors. We can incorporate our experiences into these films which we probably can't in others. Neena, you said at the trailer launch that you've never fallen in love. What is the gold standard of love for you? Neena: I don't know. I got to know what love means when Masaba (Gupta, daughter) was born. That's the only love I know. I haven't been able to wrap around any other kind of love so far. Maybe I'm too practical to love or be loved. I get worried a lot if there's a problem in me. When I watch love stories or shows from the West, then I wonder why I don't feel like dying for someone. Anupam: I think falling in love with somebody is an extension of falling in love with yourself. That's why when you say 'I love to you' to someone, you feel like hearing 'I love you too.' There's a sense of belonging. I've had many relationships. It's a beautiful feeling in the initial stages, but a very unhappy feeling in the last few years. Anupam, do you think Neena is being too hard on herself? Anupam: No, she knows her life better than anyone else. Who am I to say that? Neena: I've liked people and been with them, sometimes for years, sometimes for short periods. But they've never lived up to my expectations. When you had Masaba, the late Satish Kaushik proposed to marry you in order to save you from social stigma. Where do you find men like that? Neena: But that's a friend's love. I can fall in love with anyone — my neighbour, my dog, my staff, my cook, my friends. Sometimes, love in friendship is something else only. Anupam: Unfortunately, the concept of love has been reduced to a boy and a girl. But you also love your parents, siblings, friends, and pets. So it's not necessary that a love story can be between only a man and a woman. Anupam, your relationship with Kirron Kher has evolved from friendship to a long-distance marriage. How have you fallen in love with her over and over again, like Metro…In Dino urges you to? Anupam: Yes, we were the best of friends. She was married to Gautam (Berry), Sikandar's father. And I was in a relationship. And then, we finally got married. Yes, there's a lot of strength in love, but there's so much else to do as well. There's mutual acceptance and understanding. Love from plays like Romeo Juliet, Shirin Farhad, and films like Aashiqui is very difficult in practical life. You do feel you can't live without somebody. I'm not saying this cynically, but you do divorce that person eventually and then say 'I love you, I want to love you' to another person with the same passion. So, that's a human folly. The trailer of Metro…In Dino tells us that a city which gives us a lot also takes a lot away from us in return. Anupam, you recently celebrated your 44th anniversary of relocating to Mumbai at the trailer launch. Neena, you told me earlier that the smell of the sea, that you first experienced when you arrived in Mumbai, now reminds you of missed opportunities. What is your current relationship with the city? Neena: It's become a habit now. Good or bad, my husband is my God. Mumbai is my God now. I can't help it anymore (laughs). Anupam: Mumbai is a very intoxicating city. It's like a security blanket. There's no other city in the world, other than New York to an extent, which is so generous. It gives at least one chance to everyone who comes here. It's true that if you've lived here, you can't live anywhere else. It's truly bindaas. Neena: I have an electrician who does all my chores, including plumbing. Since I don't have any gents at my home, I even call Motilal to repair a fuse. When I offer him money, he says, 'Baad mein le lunga.' And then he doesn't take money for even six months. Have you seen anything like that anywhere else? That is love. Anupam: But Mumbai is very dominating in the beginning. Because you're part of the crowd. But any kind of a person can live here. I haven't seen anyone starve to death here. Someone was telling me vada pao has been one of the top seven meals of the world. I've had so much vada pao myself! Neena: Me too (smiles). Neena, in the trailer, your character's daughter, played by Konkona Sen Sharma, tells you she never wanted to be like you but has invariably ended up becoming like you. How have you ensured that Masaba also takes her own decisions instead of being influenced by yours? Neena: Yes, I'm very careful about that. I do know that she won't become like me, but I'm alert about it. It's always on my mind somewhere. But I don't have to say anything to her. At a young age, kids don't listen to you anyway. Even she didn't. But now, she's a bit more composed. So it happens organically. I don't give her any instructions. Anupam, you're directing a film Tanvi The Great after 23 years. Neena, you also turned director with the TV show Saans in 1998. Was direction a natural progression for both of you? Anupam: I directed a film after 23 years because I had something to say. I made Om Jai Jagdish in 2002, where the story wasn't mine, but I was excited to be given the task of directing it. This time, I wanted to share a story wholeheartedly. Since I returned to direction after working as an actor for so many years, I wanted to tell this story from my heart, and chose great people to work with. It's been one of the finest experiences of my life to direct Tanvi The Great. Neena: When I was doing TV, I had to do a lot of roles and projects I didn't like. I used to crib a lot then. So a friend suggested why don't I make a show and write a good role for myself. That's when I made Saans. But now, itni achchhi dukan chal rahi hai acting ki main yahin rehna chahti hoon. Why should I go anywhere else? I'm very satisfied with what I'm doing. Also Read: Neena Gupta slays at 66th birthday celebration dressed in 'biscuit bra' and kaftan, fan says, 'Looking at you for all the right reasons' Finally, your character says in the trailer that age is just a number. At this point of your respective careers, what's the ambition? Anupam: We've just begun. You're talking to people who actually think age is just a number. I can speak on her behalf also that we're proving it to the world. Because when you feel it yourself, you know there's a lot more to achieve. We never hide our age, but this is the time when we've started to know each other well. Once that happens, you either love yourself or hate yourself. We love ourselves and are very proud of the journey we've taken, but there's so much more to do. Metro…In Dino is slated to release in cinemas on July 4.
Hindustan Times
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
'Gaon vale roles hi milte hai': Neena Gupta rues not getting to show off her bold fashion on screen
Recently, when Neena Gupta celebrated her 66th birthday at the trailer launch event of Dino, the actor faced criticism on social media for her biscuit bra outfit. In a recent interview with Times Now, Neena spoke about her love for styling and revealed that she enjoys dressing up at home and clicking photos to show off her fashion choices. (Also Read: Neena Gupta on getting National Film Award for Uunchai: I would like to dedicate it to myself) Neena Gupta reveals she likes dressing up and styling herself. Neena revealed that she does her own styling and added, "I am very fond of my clothes and jewelry. Ab jo mujhe role milte hai vo toh gav vale roles hi milte hai toh mai apne kapde kaha pehnu. Yaha toh mujhe aise (simple) pehnne padte hai, toh kaha dikhau. I get up in the morning and I do styling. Mere room me jaha kapde hai mai vaha jaati hu, styling karke, photo kheech ke rakhti hu. And I enjoy that. (I'm very fond of my clothes and jewelry. But the roles I get are mostly village-girl characters, so where do I even wear my outfits? Here, I have to dress simply for the role, so there's nowhere to show them off. I wake up in the morning, go to where my clothes are, style myself, take pictures, and save them).' Neena Gupta has often made headlines for her bold and stylish outfit choices, from chic bodycon dresses to effortlessly pulling off shorts and crop tops. While she has occasionally faced trolling for wearing such outfits at her age, her fans have consistently come to her defence, praising her for confidently embracing her style and refusing to conform to societal expectations. Neena Gupta upcoming projects Meanwhile, Neena is set to entertain audiences with her upcoming projects. She will be reprising her role as Manju Devi Dubey, the Pradhan, in the fourth season of Panchayat. The show also stars Jitendra Kumar, Raghubir Yadav, Faisal Malik, Chandan Roy, and Durgesh Kumar, among others in key roles. The new season is set to premiere on Amazon Prime Video on June 24. She also has Anurag Basu's Dino in the pipeline. The romantic drama is a spiritual sequel to Basu's Life in a... Metro. The film also stars Aditya Roy Kapur, Sara Ali Khan, Jalak Thakker, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Konkona Sen Sharma, Pankaj Tripathi, and Anupam Kher, and is scheduled to hit cinemas on July 4.
Hans India
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Neena Gupta talks about striking a balance between work and time with granddaughter Matara
Neena Gupta talks about striking a balance between work and time with granddaughter Matara Veteran actress Neena Gupta opened up about the delicate balance she maintains between her professional commitments and personal life. As a doting grandmother to little Matara, Neena shared how her priorities have gently shifted—from once managing her career while raising daughter Masaba Gupta to now eagerly wrapping up work to spend time with her granddaughter. She mentioned that life has come full circle as she embraces this new chapter with joy and grace. Speaking to IANS, the 'Uunchai' actress spoke about how her priorities have shifted over the years. Earlier, it was about juggling work with raising her daughter, Masaba. Now, her heart rushes home for a different reason—spending quality time with her granddaughter, Matara. Despite her busy schedule, she makes it a point to carve out time to play with the little one, describing life as a constant act of balancing. 'The circle is repeating. Earlier, I had to balance between my work and Masaba. Now, I am in a hurry to come home so that I can somehow get to see and play with my granddaughter, Matara. I try to make time to play with her — now I have to balance that. Life is always a game of balance. We are always doing that. I am enjoying it.' Fashion designer Masaba Gupta and actor Satyadeep Mishra became proud parents to a baby girl, Matara, on October 11, 2024. Announcing the joyful news on social media, the couple also shared the significance behind their daughter's name, explaining that it represents the divine feminine power drawn from nine Hindu goddesses. Speaking of Neena Gupta's work front, she is gearing up for the release of her next project, 'Panchayat Season 4.' Amazon Prime Video's hit series also stars Raghubir Yadav, Faisal Malik, Chandan Roy, Sanvikaa, Durgesh Kumar, Sunita Rajwar, and Pankaj Jha. The show will stream on June 24 on Amazon Prime Video. Besides this, the veteran actress is also awaiting the release of her upcoming film 'Metro... In Dino.' Presented by Gulshan Kumar and T-Series, in association with Anurag Basu Productions Pvt. Ltd., 'the romantic drama is set to arrive in cinemas on July 4, 2025.
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Neena Gupta recalls being replaced by Tanuja in an Amitabh Bachchan film: 'My blouses were also stitched', says now one gets to know through Instagram
Neena Gupta is known for a number of movies - right from 'Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron', 'Mandi' to movies like 'Badhaai Ho' and 'Uunchai' in recent times. But Neena doesn't feel shy to ask for work even now. The actress admits that she approaches the producer or director if she gets to know a film is announced even through social media. Neena who is gearing up for her next, ' Dino' with Anupam Kher has revealed that these days one gets to know that they are replaced in a film through Instagram. She also recalled an old film where she was suddenly replaced. Neena also spoke about the difference in the way male actors still get roles as heroes, as opposed to female actors of her age who get 'dadi' roles. Neena said duirng a chat with Nayandeep Rakshit, 'Men of my age or even older continue to play heroes on the big screen, but I am considered for a grandmother also at times. Men have more character roles, and we don't. I know other actresses who are friends, and they still don't have any work.' She added, 'I still message and reach out to people for work. If I see on Instagram that a film has been announced or I see an actor visiting a producer's office, then I call my manager and get the director's number and send a message asking if there is anything for me. You need to do that, no matter how big a star you are.' Neena recalled that recently she saw a paparazzi video of another actress of her age on Instagram visiting a producer's office and that's how she got to know she was replaced. Gupta said, "There have been times when people sign you and then replace you. Recently, I was called for a film and they said you have to do it. I said okay. They were discussing the money and dates, but a few days later, I saw on Instagram that an actress of my age is going to their office. I asked my manager to find out and learned that she was signed in my place. Instagram is not stupid; sometimes it's very useful. Then I wrote a message to that producer saying that they should at least inform if they changed their mind. He realised his mistake, and said sorry. Now, we are doing a film together soon.' Recalling an earlier time, she said, "Once, in an older film of mine with Amitabh Bachchan , my blouses were stitched, the costume was ready, and they went ahead and took Tanuja for that role. Then I got to know I was no longer in that film. But one should not feel bad and bitter about it, just move on.' While Neena didn't name the film, Tanuja and Amitabh Bachchan had starred together in a film called 'Pyaar Ki Kahani' in 1971. Other films which starred Amitabh Bachchan and Tanuja both, included Yaarana and Khuddar
