Neena Gupta was replaced by Tanuja in an Amitabh Bachchan film: ‘My blouses were also stitched'

Indian Express

4 hours ago

Actor Neena Gupta has always been known to speak her mind. She embarked on a second innings in her career some years ago, after boldly reminding filmmakers that she was available for work and not disinterested. However, in a recent interview with Nayandeep Rakshit, she shared that the struggle is still ongoing. Neena, who will soon be seen in the fourth season of the web series Panchayat, recalled how she was replaced multiple times in films without even being informed.
Sharing how actors her age still struggle to find work, Neena said, 'Men of my age or even older continue to play heroes on the big screen, but I am considered for a grandmother also at times. Men have more character roles, and we don't. I know other actresses who are friends, and they still don't have any work.'
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Also Read: Neena Gupta once told Amitabh Bachchan that Ayushmann Khurrana was initially against casting her in Badhaai Ho: 'She's too hot'; what it takes to prove professional competency
She added, 'I still message and reach out to people for work. If I see on Instagram that a film has been announced or I see an actor visiting a producer's office, then I call my manager and get the director's number and send a message asking if there is anything for me. You need to do that, no matter how big a star you are.'
Neena also shared a recent incident where she was replaced in a film, and only learned about it through a paparazzi photo. 'There have been times when people sign you and then replace you. Recently, I was called for a film and they said you have to do it. I said okay. They were discussing the money and dates, but a few days later, I saw on Instagram that an actress of my age is going to their office. I asked my manager to find out and learned that she was signed in my place. Instagram is not stupid; sometimes it's very useful. Then I wrote a message to that producer saying that they should at least inform if they changed their mind. He realised his mistake, and said sorry. Now, we are doing a film together soon.'
Neena Gupta also recalled a time when she was replaced from an Amitabh Bachchan film even after her costumes had been made. 'Once, in an older film of mine with Amitabh Bachchan, my blouses were stitched, the costume was ready, and they went ahead and took Tanuja for that role. Then I got to know I was no longer in that film. But one should not feel bad and bitter about it, just move on.'
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Other than Panchayat, Neena Gupta will also be seen in Anurag Basu's Metro In Dino… She is paired opposite Anupam Kher in the multi-starrer film.