Veteran actress, Neena Gupta has never shied away from speaking her mind, no matter how uncomfortable or controversial the matter might be. The 65-year-old actress has once again shared her unfiltered views on feminism, women’s safety, and the grim realities of women in India. In a heartfelt conversation, the Panchayat actress opened up about the backlash over her “faltu feminist” comment and shared why she believes being born a woman, especially a poor woman, is nothing less than a curse.
Neena Gupta on the grim realities of womanhood in society
Neena Gupta recently graced Lily Singh’s YouTube podcast, speaking up about past controversies, the feminist debate and her personal views of being born a woman. During the chat, the Badhai Ho actress did not shy away from addressing uncomfortable truths, including sex and marital rape. When Lilly asked what she wishes for women in India today, Neena’s response was as honest as it was heartbreaking. She looked visibly disturbed as she shared:
“What I want is not possible. I want them to be safe, but it’s not possible. They say educate women. If you educate them, they will want to do a job, and if they do a job, they are raped… I feel it is a curse to be born a woman, especially a poor woman. The situation is so sad, I have goosebumps. How can I say optimistic things, when I know the real situation? It’s a curse. What happens to women in jhuggi-jhopdis? I want a solution, but I can’t think of a solution.”
In the same interview, Neena spoke candidly about how a section of women in India are socially conditioned to see physical intimacy solely as a duty after marriage and not for pleasure.
Neena Gupta on the backlash after ‘faltu’ feminism controversy
This isn’t the first time that Neena Gupta has sparked controversy over her take on gender issues. She received a lot of flak last year when, in Ranveer Allahbadia’s podcast, she dismissed what she called ‘faltu feminism’. Her analogy on gender equality was:
“I want to say that it’s not necessary to believe in ‘faltu feminism’ or the idea that ‘women are equal to men.’ Instead, focus on achieving financial independence and giving attention to your work. If you’re a housewife, don’t look down on it; it’s an important role. Boost your self-esteem and avoid thinking of yourself as small. That’s the main message I want to convey. Additionally, men and women are not equal. The day men start getting pregnant, that day we will be equal.”
Later, speaking to The Indian Express, Neena addressed the backlash and insisted that her comments were cherry-picked for the sake of creating drama. She remarked, “They only used that chunk from the whole interview for promotions,” clarifying that it needed full context to understand what she actually said in the podcast.
While Neena Gupta’s statements continue to draw mixed reactions, one thing is certain: She is one of the few in the industry willing to speak her mind without sugarcoating the words. Meanwhile, on the professional front, Neena is gearing up for the highly anticipated release of Panchayat Season 4.
What are your views on Neena Gupta’s statement?
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