Neena Gupta says she never got lead roles, believed she looked better than many actresses

neena gupta

Veteran actor Neena Gupta recently offered a candid reflection on her long career in Hindi cinema, saying that she often feels she “could have done a better job and even looked better compared to many heroines today.” The confession came during a conversation with Humans of Bombay, where Neena spoke openly about her journey, the choices she made and the opportunities she wished she had received earlier in her career.

Neena, whose film and television career spans more than four decades, acknowledged that she never landed the kind of lead heroine roles that many of her contemporaries and younger actors enjoy today — and she partly blames herself for that.

Talking to Humans of Bombay, Neena Gupta said, "I often think that compared to many heroines today, I could have done a better job and even looked better. These thoughts do come, but what is the point?"

Neena said she never got the chance to play the female lead in mainstream Hindi films at the height of her career. Shedding light on the same, she said, "It was my fault because I didn't always have the patience. I looked for the wrong things. Most of the time, I had low self-esteem, and I believe these factors hampered my growth. I also didn't have anyone to guide me, no godmother or godfather. Eventually, I realised this industry is a business. There's nothing emotional about it. I didn't understand the rules or the game."

Neena began her acting journey in the early 1980s with films like Gandhi and Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron, and later gained widespread recognition with television roles in Mirza Ghalib and Saans. After years of supporting roles, she experienced a major career resurgence with the sleeper hit Badhaai Ho in 2018, which introduced her to a new generation of viewers.

Also read: Neena Gupta, Sanjay Mishra starrer Vadh 2 to premiere at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI)

More recently, she appeared in films like Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera and is set to star in Vadh 2, reuniting with actor Sanjay Mishra; the film is scheduled for release on February 6, 2026.