Neena Gupta is keen on exploring South cinema: ‘I would like to work with Mani Ratnam’

The Badhaai Ho actress’ latest film Vadh has earned a lot of critical appreciation

Neena Gupta has expressed her desire to work with Mani Ratnam

Buoyed by all the critical appreciation and awards her latest Netflix film Vadh has earned, noted actress Neena Gupta - whose 2018 film Badhaai Ho marked a turnaround in her career - feels that she is in the best phase of her work life, as “there is a never-ending desire to play exciting roles”. In fact, the actress has expressed her desire to work with Mani Ratnam, whose latest epic historical action adventure film Ponniyin Selvan 2 has been creating waves.

In an interview with PTI Neena said, “I have about eight projects and every role is different. It is not what I used to do earlier, like a supporting actor. I’m the main actor now. There is a responsibility to carry the weight of the film. This is amazing. I can’t believe it sometimes, whether it is a dream or reality?”

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Next, Neena the actress will be seen in Vishal Bhardwaj’s much-awaited web series Charlie Chopra & The Mystery Of Solang Valley R Balki’s short in Lust Stories 2 and Anurag Basu’s Metro… In Dino. Meanwhile, there are also projects like Pachhattar Ka Chhora, Baa, Ishq-E-Nadaan and Sabun in the pipeline.

When asked if there is a desire to try out any other genre, the 63-year-old actress said, “Many. I want to do action, love stories, horror and a whole lot of things as yet. I am feeling very lucky as I am working with a lot of people with whom I never thought I would work with. But I would like to do some south films, like work with Mani Ratnam and others, because it is totally different and I would love to do that.”

Also read: Exclusive! Neena Gupta: Earlier, even small achievements in life felt big

Speaking about how the representation of women on screen has evolved in recent years, the Shiv Shastri Balboa actress said, “Earlier a woman was only (seen) as a mother, daughter, daughter-in-law or aunt as this was happening in real life. However, today women are working (and have an agency), which is reflected in the roles written for them. I am very lucky that I am getting varied, interesting, and substantial roles to play.”

Meanwhile, her 2022 family comedy-drama film Goodbye - also starring Amitabh Bachchan and Rashmika Madanna - is all set to make its television premiere.

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