PremiumNeena Gupta on Hollywood aspiration and knowing your market value - ‘For us it all depends on how bikaoo we are’ | Exclusive
Neena Gupta has been acing her roles in the Indian film industry for a long while; the actor now talks about her aspiration to get on the Hollywood bus.
Last Updated: 02.25 PM, May 29, 2024
Neena Gupta has to be one of the most celebrated names in Indian entertainment, and her career is soaring in its second innings. None of us want her to descend from this flight, as the nuanced and skilled artistry she offers is the work of legends, and we would love to see more of her. But what’s next for an artist who has achieved so much in one industry? Neena Gupta is an actor who has always thought of broadening her horizons. She hasn't limited herself to one format of visual entertainment but has been excelling in all equally.
Recently, the Panchayat star revealed that she auditioned for a Hollywood movie. Yes, you read that right. And the movie was none other than Christopher Nolan’s much-anticipated directorial Tenet. So, when she sat down with OTTplay to discuss Panchayat Season 3, she also spoke about her aspiration to penetrate the Hollywood ecosystem. The actor was honest about how she is not just looking to try her hand in the West but to increase her market value and bring in more work.
Neena Gupta On Wanting To Enter Hollywood
If you are unaware, Neena Gupta recently spoke about flying to the US to meet Christopher Nolan and audition for Tenet. She recalled how she auditioned for the role that eventually went to Dimple Kapadia, who never went to meet Nolan. Ahead of Panchayat Season 3, she met us for a chat, and we asked her if Hollywood is an aspiration or if she is looking to try her hand there. The actor quickly said that she looks at the market value, which is very important to retain in the business that she is a part of.
“There is no ‘trying hand’ for an actor,” Neena Gupta said. “We will do the same quality work wherever we go at the end of the day. For me, this is a business; filmmaking is a business. The amount of work I get and how much I am paid here depends on my market value. If I manage to go to Hollywood or any other industry, my market value increases, and I get a wider audience, and more work. So that is the aspiration, and it is for everyone. I aspire to move ahead, find more work, and it has been the same.”
She further went on to talk about the market value of an artist and how it needs to be retained to stay in the system. “For us, it all depends on how bikaoo (saleable) you are. No one will offer me work at all if my movies are not hits, which means I am no longer more sellable. I have to look after it. A lot of times, you know what happened at the beginning of my career, when someone offered me work, I didn't know how much money to ask for a particular project because I didn't know my value then. There were people around me who once provoked me to ask for a massive paycheck. But somewhere in my heart, I knew my value was not that high then; I could not be charging that high. So you always know your positioning. If you are even a little bit sensible, you know what your value is,” said Neena Gupta.
Check Out The Full Chat Here
About Panchayat Season 3
The story of Phulera continues as Abhishek, aka Sachiv, is transferred after the Vidhayak is insulted in Phulera. The village is moving on from the tragic loss it suffered last season. But the Vidhayak still aims to make their lives hell. In the scheme of events, Abhishek returns, and the village stands against the atrocities of the politician. But wait, there is now a big danger.
Panchayat Season 3 is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Stay tuned to OTTplay for more information on this and everything else from the world of streaming and films.