Neena Gupta has long stood out in Hindi cinema for her honesty about the unconventional choices she made in her personal life. Even during difficult phases, she remained steadfast, choosing to move forward with courage and self-belief. The actress fell in love with West Indies cricketer Vivian Richards and went on to have their daughter outside of marriage.At the time, Neena faced intense criticism, especially since Vivian was already married. Despite advice from many around her to terminate the pregnancy, she chose to keep the child and raise her independently, without relying on anyone’s support.
Financial struggles marked that period as well. When she was close to delivering her daughter, Masaba Gupta, Neena reportedly had just Rs. 2,000 in her bank account. A C-section delivery, which she eventually needed, would have cost Rs. 10,000, an amount she couldn’t afford then. In a twist she describes as nothing short of a miracle, she received a tax refund of Rs. 10,000 just days before delivery, taking her total balance to Rs. 12,000 and allowing her to go ahead with the required procedure.Over the years, Neena raised Masaba—now a celebrated fashion designer—on her own, navigating both personal and societal challenges. Reflecting on her journey in an interview with Mumbai Mirror, she admitted to having certain regrets. She said,“I would not have a child outside marriage. Every child needs both parents. I was always honest with Masaba, so it did not affect our relationship, but I know she suffered.”Neena and Vivian first crossed paths at a dinner hosted by the Maharani of Jaipur. She had already seen him play and felt an instant connection. Although they didn’t exchange contact details then and briefly lost touch, a chance meeting later at the Delhi airport rekindled their bond, eventually leading to a relationship.In a recent conversation with journalist Shubhankar Mishra, Neena was asked about her feelings for Vivian. She confirmed that they were indeed in love and explained why marriage was never an option at the time. “It wasn’t practical. Either I would have had to leave behind my job and go to the West Indies, or he would have had to give up his career and come to India; neither of which was possible.”
