Neena Gupta talks about challenging ageism in Bollywood

Panchayat, over its last three seasons, has become one of those shows that bring a smile to our face. It has the same effect on Neena Gupta too. But the actor, who plays Manju Devi, one of the central characters in the dramedy, says that she was surprised by how the humour had been upped in the fourth season. “This season has amazing humour. There are certain sequences in which all of us actors would start laughing while performing,” she chuckles.

The Prime Video dramedy also stars Raghubir Yadav, Jitendra Kumar, and Sunita Rajwar, among others. Gupta is among the senior cast members, and enjoys immense respect from her co-stars. Does she dole out advice to her younger co-actors, considering she has a rich four-decade career behind her? She knows better than doing that. The actor explains, “These days, everyone’s ego is so [inflated] that you have to think a hundred times before you say something to someone. They don’t like it. I had a couple of such experiences [outside of the show]. Once, I said something in a friendly manner to another actor. That person took off on me. I was in tears.”

(From left) Jitendra Kumar, Neena Gupta, and Raghubir Yadav in Panchayat. Pics/AFP, Instagram

Such experiences have made her wary of reaching out to not only younger co-stars, but also those senior to her. “I had a senior co-star who would act well, but didn’t believe in give-and-take as co-actors. I can advise some people, like Sunita. She knows I don’t have ill intentions if I’m making her understand something.”

At 66, Gupta’s thriving career is an antidote to Bollywood’s ageist culture. But then, there has been nothing conventional about the veteran actor, be it her 2017 candid post about not getting work, or making style statements. Breaking the rules is far from easy, she says. “You have to pay the price for [being unconventional]. But it’s my priority. Today I’m wearing a saree, tomorrow I’ll be wearing shorts. It’s what I feel like doing. 

I’m not hurting anyone, right? If it had affected the roles I would get, I might not have worn them. Also, I want to say that I didn’t get work because of what I wrote in that post. I got work because of Badhaai Ho [2018]. Basically, your film should be a hit and you should have a good role in it; only then you’ll get more roles,” she laughs.

Busier than ever

Neena Gupta has had two releases this year in Dil Dosti Aur Dogs and Aachari Baa. She will be seen in Anurag Basu’s Metro… In Dino soon

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