Flashback: Neena Gupta agreed to Sooraj Barjatya’s Uunchai without reading the script.
Veteran actress Neena Gupta, known for her roles in movies like Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron, Mandi, Swarg, Khalnayak, and more, made a strong comeback in the 2018 film Badhaai Ho. Neena has been open about her journey in Hindi cinema. The 65-year-old actress recently won a National Award for her supporting role in Sooraj Barjatya’s 2022 film, Uunchai. Did you know that Neena accepted Barjatya’s offer without even reading the script?
During an interview with Pinkvilla in 2022, Neena Gupta shared her experience of landing the role in Rajshri Productions’ Uunchai and how she couldn’t pass up the opportunity to work with Sooraj Barjatya.
“I was shocked. He called me to his office to narrate the script. I was thinking that even if I didn’t hear the narration, I would have done it,” Neena said.
“I had been waiting for 30 years, never even imagined meeting him. So, when it happened, I was thrilled,” she added.
Neena Gupta also revealed that she faced difficulty meeting renowned directors during the early stages of her career. She mentioned that she had no connections or godfathers in the industry.
Neena Gupta mentioned the challenges of meeting filmmakers in the past. She praised director Shyam Benegal, stating that even though he didn’t offer her major roles, he would still meet her because of her background from the National School of Drama.
In a recent interview with Hindustan Times, Neena Gupta shared her initial reaction upon winning the National Film Award for Uunchai. She asked her manager to verify the information after seeing her name on the winners’ list.
Aside from Neena, Uunchai also starred Amitabh Bachchan, Anupam Kher, Boman Irani, Danny Denzongpa, and Sarika.
ALSO READ: EXCLUSIVE: Sooraj Barjatya’s Uunchai Trailer attached to Akshay Kumar’s Ram Setu