Neena Gupta

Neena Gupta is an enigma in television industry. This bindas girl, who chose to live the life the way she deemed fit, has come a long way. Her journey as a person and professional, has been full of a glitches and leaps, but had it been some other way,she would not have become the persona that she is today. The various facets of her personlity are complete in themselves, and yet compliment each other beautifully.

THE CHILD: She comes form a very orthodox and strict family. Like other north Indian parents, they too had their strict code of discipline. "I was like any other child. Avery normal child, living each day as it came. My parents were orthodox but well educated and that is what made all the difference. They were very loving. Even as she grew up, Neena had never planned tobe an actress. Like other girl of her age, she had dreams of becoming an air hostess. "It was another issue that I went to the professional school of drama later but I also did my M.phil,in Sanskrit, she says,

THE ACTRESS: From theatre it was natural to move to films. Her ambitions were great and dreams unlimited. "Well, at that time every body is very ambitious. Everyone thinks oneself to be a great actress.You believe that people will come after you and you do not want to be anything lesser than a heroine. But it is not so easy,"she speaks with her usual straightforwardness. Films could not give her whaat she wanted. Although Neena was noticed but the due recongnition never came her way. Around this time DD happened and the serial Buniyaad fetched her the accolades that she had been seeking as an artiste."I decided then that the smaller screen was better,"she smiles.

PRODUCER: "I did my first documentary Balraj Sitaiam for which I also got a national award, from then onwards it was a journey to the greener pastures only. Dard, Gumrah, Saans and Pal Chhin followed and established her as a versatile creative person on the small screen. As a producer, she prefers to slot herself an an honest producer. According to her there are two categories on producers. Honest and dishonest. "Dishonest are the ones who make a commitment and do not pay their people on time or pay them less than what was promised. I am not lilke that. That is why I am successful because poeple work for me with all their heart." Even with her staff technicians she shares a friendly relationship, but when it comes to work they know who is she.

DIRECTOR: Her switch over to direction happened along side her production. As she started directing, she encountered neither any competition nor major hurdles. The switch over was very natural. "I had done so much of acting and I knew so many people around in the industry and the media, that is worked out fine. That helped a lot in tiding over the initial hiccups. This trust in me also hepled them to rely on me and giving money without fear," she mused. Being a woman also never posed any problems. The only time she faced major hurdles was with DD during making of Dard. otherwise since the onset of the private channels, the going has been good.

THE PERSON: She is caring, honest and totally dedicated to her work. She has accepted the fact that to be on the top, she has to put in that extra bit. However, she cares two hoots about what people may speak about her. "People do not know me. They know only what is written.If they form a good opinion, they are most welcome (laughs), if they want to imagine the worst of me, then also it does not lmatter. They are not my friends. Only the people who are close to me, matter," she quips.

HER STRENGTH: Her straightforward personality and go-get-it attitude. Being a woman has never hampered her style because she firmly believes in nothing else but pure hard work. She goes on to add that for women, who want to get married and have a successful career also, it may be difficult. But then you can't eat your cake and have it too. To build up a career, a woman has to sacrifice the security of marriage. Both cannot work out simultaneously. "Today getting married is more difficult for a woman than making a career,"she says.

ATTITUDE: Everyone makes mistakes. Only the ones who can spot one in time, admit it and then rectify it, can really succeed. That is why she does not think twice before turning down an assignment or changing tracks if her earlier decision is full of holes. She had a major role in the serial Angan but the minute it went on to become a daily, she opted out of it. Why make a dab job of a role because of you are short of time but do not want to let go because of the extra money?.Then her own production Pal chhil developed snags. Too many tracks confused the viewers. Even at the cost of losing money and chaos, she cancelled one whole schedule to rehash the story."We cut off the unwanted tracks. Now it is compact and is well liked." She refuses to argue that her mistakes were creative experiments. For her they are mistakes and have to be corrected.

LIKES & DISLIKES: Now, this is big range. She likes acting eating, shopping, her work, walking, playing tennis, reading, singing, ....As for her dislikes, dishonesty puts her in a foul mood.

HER MESSAGE: "There is nothing like hard work and there is no word like limitations. You should always know how much do you want to compromise. Be honest with your work and yourself. Hard work is the truth. It may sound difficult but it is not impossible."