Neena Gupta says her biggest mistake was doing Saath Saath: ‘That film took away my chance of being seen as a heroine’

Neena Gupta blames her debut film for late success. (Photo: Neena Gupta/Instagram)

Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri may have turned out to be a box office disappointment, but if there was one performer who truly stole the show, it was Neena Gupta. Her acting, effortless style, and fashion sense made her the most compelling presence in the film. Whenever she appeared on screen, all eyes were on her—neither Kartik Aaryan nor Ananya Panday could overshadow her. The same held true for Metro… In Dino. While the film did not receive overwhelmingly positive reviews, it was Neena’s character that stood out—one that inspired, resonated, and left audiences with something to take home.

These roles belong to what Neena Gupta often refers to as her “second innings,” which started with Badhaai Ho. However, most of this recognition came only after she entered her 50s—despite having debuted back in 1982 at the age of 23.

Now, as success has finally found her, Neena admits she often reflects on why it came so late.

Speaking to Humans of Bombay, she said, “I keep thinking—what did I do wrong that I got my due so late? I see that, mostly, it has been my fault. But now there’s no point thinking about the past. I have to move on. At my age, I can’t have everything anymore, nor can I play younger roles. Whatever is coming my way now is quite nice. I try not to think too much about why I didn’t get these opportunities when I was younger—when I could have done so much more.”

She added candidly, “I often think that compared to many heroines today, I could have done a better job and even looked better. These thoughts do come, but what is the point?”

Neena Gupta went on to take responsibility for her career choices. “It was my fault because I didn’t always have the patience. I looked for the wrong things. Most of the time, I had low self-esteem, and I believe these factors hampered my growth. I also didn’t have anyone to guide me—no godmother or godfather. Eventually, I realised this industry is a business. There’s nothing emotional about it. I didn’t understand the rules or the game.”

When asked if she could pinpoint where things went wrong, Neena reflected on her very first film, Saath Saath, in which she played a supporting role while Farooque Shaikh and Deepti Naval were the leads.

“My biggest mistake was doing Saath Saath. That film took away my chance of being seen as a leading heroine,” she said. “So yes, it’s my fault. And I’ve realised that once you accept it as your mistake, you become less bitter. Otherwise, you keep blaming the world, and that never ends. It’s better to accept your mistakes and move on—that’s the only way forward.”