SACH KAHUN TOH: Neena’s Struggle in Her Own Words

Sindhiya Shrestha



Neena Gupta was born on 4^th June 1959 in New Delhi to Roop Narayan Gupta and Shakuntala Gupta. She did her master’s degree and M.Phil. in Sanskrit, and is an alumnus of National School of Drama   (NSD), New Delhi.  Her mother wanted her to become an IAS officer but she did her three-year course from NSD in 1982. She is a two-time National Award-winning actor, filmmaker, producer, and television personality. She started her career in Delhi’s booming theatre scene in the 1980s but decided to switch to film and television after acting in the 1982 Academy Award-winning Gandhi. She went on to star in several critically acclaimed television shows such as Khandaan and Mirza Ghalib. She also worked extensively in art houses and independent films such as Mandi, Trikal, and Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro. She has directed, produced, and acted in assorted television shows, including Saans, Siski and Son Pari. Her most recent works include award-winning performances in Badhaai Ho, Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, Panchayat, The Last Colour, Made in Heaven, Masaba Masaba, and Dial 100.

Sach Kahun Toh was published on 14^th June 2021 by Penguin Random House India. It is a witty, hilarious, and unapologetically honest autobiography that addresses issues like the casting couch and industry politics. Born in New Delhi in a conventional Gupta family, Neena Gupta had a path-breaking journey from her debut film Saath Saath in 1982 to her biggest break Badhai Ho in 2018. Sach Kahun Toh unfolds the journey of this extraordinary lady who has overlooked all the societal pressures and stereotypes and paved her way on her own with unimaginable hardships to accomplish her ever-desired success at the age of sixty.

The book is divided into five parts wherein her memories are presented chronologically. Part one ‘Delhi Girl’ is about her childhood days in Delhi and years at NSD where she mostly talks about the constraints of women in the past. Part two ‘Bombay Girl’ is about her early years of struggle in Mumbai. Part three ‘The Princess Arrives’ is about how Neena’s life changed when she decided to become a single parent to Masaba. Part four ‘Mad Times’ is about her career-high in TV followed by finally getting her big break in film and the last part ‘Four Guptas and a Mehra’ is where she dedicates a chapter each to her mother, father, brother, daughter, and husband.

Addressing the language, it is very simple and easy to understand. It is an engaging read despite the repeated words, sentences, and cut short explanations. The black and white pictures in between the texts and the colorful album at the end have added some elegance to the book.

Neena Gupta is the epitome of struggle and patience. When her wedding got called off at the last minute, the reason of which is still unknown to her, when her daughter’s father Vivian Richards didn’t talk to her for five years, when Subhash Ghai embarrassed her while shooting a song when she had no money for a C-Section delivery during Masaba’s birth, when she asked for work on Instagram, etc. she understood the challenges in life have no limits and one must prepare oneself to survive those challenges. This is how life taught this naïve girl to be bold and rebellious when needed be. She has her say on people calling her rebel. She feels she is called a revolutionist because she brought a child into this world out of wedlock.

 She is a woman as she says who ‘didn’t listen to anyone but myself’ and that is always inspiring. Through this book, she also imparts her life lessons such as:

·        I want the whole world to know that you won’t get anywhere if you aren’t besharam. (Page 198)

·        Good things come your way no matter how old or young you are. Because no matter what anybody says, nobody is a nobody. All they need to do is keep trying. (Page 228)

·        Getting what you want from life is often not easy. (Page 240)

·        The industry is a business and nobody is your friend. They don’t necessarily wish you ill but they don’t go out of their way to wish you well either unless there is something in it for them. (Page 213)

·        When it comes to determining your market value, remember you know best. If you think you are worth more, then you are. And if you think you need some more roles before asking for a higher price, go with your gut. (Page 213)

One thing that I liked the most about her is her respect towards every people she met and learnt from in life. The readers might feel that majority of the people she trusted were only meant to pile up problems and create more melancholy in her life. But the truth is that despite all those undesirable situations, she stood tall and to this date, she has no grudges upon anyone. Even though her mother attempted suicide and her family suffered a lot due to her father’s second marriage, she never went against her father and instead, she considered him as her biggest support system during the tough times in her life.

Neena Gupta has unveiled her many truths in this book. Not to forget, some of the names of her friends are changed, some of the incidents and identities are concealed out of respect for the families of those people. “I didn’t want to be the reason they saw someone they loved in a different light all of a sudden”, she clarifies. Also, looking back, she says she has so many regrets in life. She regrets not having any photoshoot to cherish her pregnancy, she feels apologetic about not spending enough time with her parents, she rues for being so naïve and not knowing her worth back then. Besides all these mistakes and remorses, she always learnt at least a thing from every situation life pushed her into. She generously thanks Vinod Khanna, Om Puri, Satish Kaushik, Gulzar, Ayushmann Khurrana, Gajraj Rao, Amit Sharma, Vikash Khanna, etc. who helped her in various stages of her learning journey.

 In a nutshell, the book explains the struggles faced by any outsiders or aspiring actors in Bollywood. The autobiography of a National Award-Winning actress is nothing but a heartfelt memoir with no pretense and plagiarism. From becoming an actor from a middle-class background to breaking stereotypes, to being a single mother, to finally finding love and having a family on her terms – this is Neena Gupta’s story told in her own words.