Neena Gupta once recalled Vivian Richards’ reaction to her pregnancy: 'If you don’t want this child then...'

From powerful performance in 'Metro In Dino' to winning hearts in 'Panchayat Season 4', Neena Gupta is truly having a golden run. But while her career is shining, she’s also known for being brutally honest about her personal life. The 'Badhaai Ho' actress has never shied away from speaking about her past, no matter how unconventional it may have seemed at the time.

One such chapter in her life was her relationship with legendary West Indies cricketer Vivian Richards. Neena once opened up about the moment she told him she was pregnant, and how he responded.

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From NSD To National Treasure: Neena Gupta’s Inspiring Journey

Vivian’s support meant everything to her

In a past chat with Humans of Bombay, the 'Uunchai' actress shared how she broke the news to Vivian during a phone call. She was upfront about her situation and offered him the choice to step away if he didn’t want the responsibility. She explained, “I was not very giddy with joy. I was happy because I loved him. I called him and asked him that if you don’t want this child then I won’t have it. He said, ‘No no I would love for you to have this child’.”

Facing judgement from those around her

Back then, having a child outside marriage was still taboo in many circles. Neena had revealed that everyone around her was against the idea of raising a child alone. Her father, too, wasn’t in favour of the decision at first, but time helped change his mind, “Everyone told me, ‘No, no, no how can you do it alone?’ because he was already married and I couldn’t marry him and go to Antigua to live there.” She didn’t let the negative voices stop her. Like many people in love, she followed her heart, even when others thought she was making a mistake.

Neena says, ‘Jawani mein you are blind’

Looking back, Neena knows that love in your younger years often makes you ignore advice and warnings. She admitted,“But what happens is jawani mein you are blind. (You are blind in your youth) When you are in love, you don’t listen to anybody. No children will listen to their parents and I was the same.”

Neena’s unique take on love

In the same interview, Neena spoke openly about how she views love between a man and a woman. According to her, “I don’t think there is anything called love between a man and a woman. It starts with lust and then If you get along, you become affectionate to each other and then, it becomes a habit. The only love that I have felt is for Masaba. I don’t know what other people might have felt, but mujhe nahi love samajh mein aata (I don’t understand love).”

Her daughter Masaba is her world

The 'Goodbye' actress further explained that the only form of love she truly believes in is the one she feels for her daughter Masaba, “Ye sab wo lust hota hai shuru me, uske baad (there is lust in the beginning, but after that) it can take any direction, you marry or you go to somebody else. It’s only with a child that I feel that love, that I can do anything for her. For my husband I will do, I do a lot, but I will not do anything for him like I will do for Masaba.”

Life after Vivian Richards

Neena Gupta has long been a fearless and inspiring figure in Indian cinema, known for speaking openly about life, love, and motherhood. In the late 1980s, her relationship with West Indies cricket legend Vivian Richards attracted significant attention, especially as the two never married. Choosing to raise their daughter Masaba as a single mother, Neena made a bold and unconventional decision that resonated with many. Years later, in 2008, she found companionship and stability when she married Vivek Mehta, a Delhi-based chartered accountant.

On the work front, Neena Gupta was last seen delivering a powerful performance in the film 'Metro... In Dino', directed by Anurag Basu. The film features a stellar ensemble cast including Aditya Roy Kapur, Anupam Kher, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Ali Fazal and Sara Ali Khan alongside Neena.

Neena Gupta has also received a lot of appreciation for her role in web series 'Panchayat', playing the character of Manju Devi as the elected village Pradhan (head) of the fictional village Phulera in Uttar Pradesh.