Neena Gupta gives clarification on her ‘faltu feminism’ comment: ‘They only used that chunk to create controversy…’

Finding her life mantra in Mast Mein Rehne Ka

Neena Gupta is 64. The actor says if she doesn’t find happiness in the little things and just run behind achieving the big things in life, she’d end up miserable, and that’s also how she’s navigating her work. Mast Mein Rehne Ka with Jackie Shroff was a story that echoed her life mantra, and hence she took it up. She says, “I feel there are many things in this world that can give you happiness. So if you are not happy with a particular stuff in your life, look beyond it. There’s a lot to live for. It is difficult to find the big things. You can run behind them, but it is important to find happiness in the little things in life. It is possible. The big stuff, it’s difficult to say when you’ll get those or if you’ll ever get them.”

Sharing an anecdote from her life when she couldn’t do what she loved doing the most — shopping, Neena says, “We can also find something which we really like. There have been times when I wouldn’t have the money but shopping ka bohot shauq tha (I loved shopping). I’d go do window shopping. Nowadays, it is so much more fun. Buy stuff online and return them, isn’t it great? So, if you really want to find happiness, toh mil jaayega kuch na kuch (you’ll find something or the other).”

On being competitive

While Neena Gupta has had four releases this year — Shiv Shastri Balboa, Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway, Lust Stories 2 and Ishq-e-Nadaan— she wants more, and for that she’s given up on rest.

Neena shares, “I was recently shooting for Panchayat where I learnt something important that you should be willing to accept your situation. I was standing for long in scorching heat. I was burning and I was feeling like crying and for a moment I wanted to run away from there. One has to wait before their shot. So what do I do? I can’t run away. I have worked hard to be there. So I closed my eyes while I was waiting for my shot to start and I told myself, ‘Neena, accept it, dhoop nahi lagegi (you won’t feel hot under the sun).’ I am saying the truth. I did it and it worked. I instantly felt peaceful. Once you accept your situation, they stop bothering you.”

The actor also shared that she wishes she was younger in order to get opportunities to “sing, dance and do romance”. She says, “I feel bad two-three times a day. Kaash mein ab young hoti toh mujhe kitna kaam mil sakta tha (If I were younger today, I would have got so much more work). I would sing, dance and do romance. I don’t get to do these things at this age. However I am thankful for the opportunities I am getting today. If I don’t dream, I’ll be over. So I dream a lot. I even dream with my eyes open (about doing beautiful work).”

 

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A post shared by Ranveer Allahbadia (@ranveerallahbadia)

On “faltu feminism” comment

Recently, in a conversation with Ranveer Allahbadia, Neena Gupta had said, “I want to say that it’s not necessary to believe in faltu feminism or the idea that women are equal to men.” She has now provided a clarification on her comments.

The actor said, “What they did is that they only used that chunk from the whole interview for promotions, to create a controversy. It said that I don’t believe in ‘faltu feminism’, and after that people are fighting amongst each other. If one person is cursing me for saying that, someone else says, ‘What do you know? Watch the whole interview’. There should be a reference to what I said.”

Neena also confessed that she’s more cautious than ever when she posts on social media because a lot of people follow her. “I have made mistakes a couple of times. Many of us do. I now make sure that I don’t post anything on social media if I am angry, or if I’ve had a fight with someone. One should also not post if they are drunk, because if you do, then you regret it later. Thoda sambhalna padta hai (You have to be careful). You have to use the right language because a lot of people are listening to what you say. I have goofed up big time too,” she concludes.