Neena Gupta

Neena Gupta is an Indian actress, producer, and director. Her repertoire of films includes art-house films, commercial films, and several international films as well. Gupta attended The Lawrence School in Sanawar in Himachal Pradesh. And she pursued her graduation from Janki Devi Memorial College in Delhi. She earned her Master's degree in Sanskrit and completed her M.Phil in the same subject. While studying at Janki Devi Memorial College in Delhi, Gupta started taking part in college plays. Gupta's first appearance on the big screen was in 1982 in Saath Saath (1982), an endearing love story directed by Raman Kumar. In the same year, she was seen in the international film Gandhi (1982), based on the life of Mahatma Gandhi, directed by Richard Attenborough. She played the role of Gandhi's grandniece Abha in the film. She followed it up with Yeh Nazdeekiyan (1982), helmed by Vinod Pande. The storyline was based on an extra-marital relationship. In 1983, Gupta made her mark by acting in Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983), a dark satire directed by Kundan Shah that revolved around corruption in India. She was next seen in Shyam Benegal's dark comedy Mandi (1983). She essayed the role of a classical dancer in the film that centred around politics and prostitution in society. In Trikal (Past, Present, Future) (1985), another movie helmed by Shyam Benegal, she played the role of a maid who acted as a medium for seances. She went on to act in Aruna Raje's Rihaee (1988), a film that dealt with women's choice and sexual frustration when faced with male promiscuity. Her next international appearance on the big screen was in The Deceivers (1988), an adventure movie helmed by Nicholas Meyer that starred Pierce Brosnan, Shashi Kapoor, and Saeed Jaffrey. In 1989, she was seen in Daddy (1989), a television movie directed by Mahesh Bhatt. Gupta appeared in a couple of Malayalam movies, such as Vasthuhara (1991) and Aham (1992). In 1992, she acted in Bollywood action films like Zulm Ki Hukumat (1992), directed by Bharat Rangachary, and Balwaan (1992), directed by Deepak Anand. In the same year, she appeared in The Seventh Horse of the Sun (1992), directed by Shyam Benegal. Her acting in Woh Chokri (1994), directed by Subhankar Ghosh, won her the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1993. She also appeared in Badhaai Ho (2018), a comedy-drama helmed by Amit Ravindernath Sharma Amit Ravindernath Sharma. She essayed the role of a middle-aged woman who gets pregnant. Gupta won the Screen Award for Best Actress (Critics) 2019 and Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress 2019 for her acting in this film. She played the role of a mother in Hitesh Kewalya's romantic comedy Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan (2020). In 2022, she acted in the adventure drama film Misogyny (2009), directed by Sooraj R. Barjatya. The film starred Amitabh Bachchan, Anupam Kher, and Boman Irani in lead roles. Gupta has been a part of several TV series, including Gul Gulshan Gulfam (1987), Junoon (1994), Saans (1999), and Panchayat (2020).