Neena Gupta Breaks Silence on Daughter Masaba’s Divorce: ‘I was Devastated’

Neena Gupta is an inspiration to many as her struggles as a single mom are truly heartening. She was dating former West Indian cricketer Vivian Richards in the 1980s, with whom she has a daughter, Masaba Gupta. Neena never married Richards and chose to raise Masaba as a single mother, and moved the family from New Delhi to Mumbai.

Neena opens up on how her friends sympathised with her for having a child out of wedlock. She reveals her friends asked her to get married to them so that Masaba could have a father’s surname. 

A lot of people started being sympathetic. My friends started telling me, I'll marry you, at least your daughter will have a surname. And I was like, just to give her a father's name, I'll get married. I told them I can fend for her myself and I started working relentlessly to make things work.

- Neena Gupta told Pinkvilla.

Further, the actress reveals that she has never restricted Masaba’s relationship with Vivian after their separation. Neena said,

Yes, I was angry but I controlled my anger kyuki uski (Masaba) kya galti hai (because she's not at fault)? If me and her father didn't get along or we have to separate, if she wants to maintain her relationship, I will not stop her. And when you fall in love, you liked him that's why it happened na. If you separate, the guy won't become a bad guy right. I always say that. I don't hate my exes. Why should I? I was in love with them. I liked them at that time. So why should I have anything against them?

-

Masaba Gupta, who is now a renowned fashion designer, had made headlines during her  separation with husband Madhu Mantena. After mutually parting ways, the duo got officially divorced in September 2019.

Masaba’s mother Neena had maintained her mum over her daughter’s separation, but has now finally broken her silence as she shares, 

I was devastated when I heard it. Actually, it was Masaba who helped me come to terms with it. Initially, I couldn't accept it at all and it affected me.

-

Further, Neena reveals how she first objected to the idea of live in, but with changing times, she concurs to it, and wouldn’t stop Masaba from going into a live-in relationship. "I feel today I'll tell her to go for a live in. Fayda kya hai, itna paisa kharcha karke shaadi Karo and phir divorce kar lo. Toh live in hi kar lol," she said.