Neena Gupta Reveals Her Ex-Boyfriend Asked For Cigarette Money: ‘Thank God I Didn’t Marry Him’

October 22, 2024: Neena Gupta, known for her candid and unfiltered responses, recently shared an intriguing anecdote about her past during an interview with Siddharth Kannan. Reflecting on her early years in Mumbai, the veteran actress opened up about her struggles and a troubling experience with an ex-boyfriend.

Neena recalled moving to Mumbai with her then-boyfriend, both aspiring to make it in the film industry. She recounted, “When I came to Mumbai, I came with my then-boyfriend… Neither of us had any work. I used to work at Prithvi Café, where I would make bharta in the evenings. Prahlad, the owner, would give me free dinner, just as a gesture of support. We would spend time at the café, hoping to be noticed by some director.”

She then shared a revealing moment from their relationship, stating, “One day, my boyfriend came over, and I think he was drunk. He asked me if I had come all the way from Delhi just to become a waitress here. I responded, ‘At least I am doing something, while you ask me for cigarette money!’ That was the kind of standard we were at. Thank god I didn’t marry him.”

Neena Gupta’s candidness has often been appreciated by her fans, and her story reflects the resilience she has shown throughout her career. In 2008, she married Vivek Mehra, a chartered accountant, in the US. She also has a daughter, Masaba Gupta, with former West Indies cricketer Vivian Richards.

Recently, Neena received the National Award for her role in Uunchai. She has been actively seen in projects like Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway, Lust Stories 2, Ishq-e-Nadaan, and Mast Mein Rehne Ka. Additionally, she played a pivotal role in Vishal Bhardwaj’s web series, Charlie Chopra, and stars in the Malayalam web series 1000 Babies, streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.