Neena Gupta on marrying Vivek Mehra: It was a very difficult time

Bollywood actress Neena Gupta made her acting debut in 1982's Saath Saath. She went on to appear in a number of films, such as Mandi, Rihaee, Drishti, Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda, and many others. She took a break from acting, though, and made a triumphant return with the film Badhaai Ho, which was warmly received by both the audience and the critics.

On her personal front, Neena Gupta fell in love with former West Indies cricketer Vivian Richards. Masaba Gupta, the couple's daughter born outside of marriage, was born in 1989. Vivian was already married and needed to care for his family, so Neena reared Masaba alone. Neena later wed Vivek Mehra, a chartered accountant, in 2008.

Neena Gupta talks about her first meeting with her husband, Vivek Mehra, and the decision to get married in an interview with the Humans of Bombay. The actress described it as a pleasant phase but said that it was challenging for her because Vivek was a married man with two children. 

She said, “I have some connection with planes. I met him in the plane. Yes, that was a very nice phase. It was difficult because he was already married with two children. It was a tough time for me, very very tough time. Nikal gaya (that time has passed).”

Neena stated in the same interview that she does not believe there is anything comparable to love between a man and a woman. She remarked, “It's only with a child that love I feel 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.”

In addition to Amitabh Bachchan, Anupam Kher, Boman Irani, Danny Denzongpa, Sarika, and Parineeti Chopra, Neena was most recently featured in Sooraj Barjatya's "Uunchai." Both the critics and the audience gave the movie favourable reviews.

She will next be seen in Sanjay Mishra and Jaspal Singh's film "Vadh." The movie is billed as a thriller drama. The film is all set to hit the theatres on December 9.