Neena Gupta says: Bold characters don't work here, they become vamps

Veteran star Neena Gupta is a name that commands respect in the film industry. In a field where actresses are often thought to have limited careers after middle age, Neena has consistently defied expectations and redefined the roles of women in cinema. Recently, she opened up about how progressive female characters are perceived on screen.

In an interview with PTI, Neena Gupta discussed the reception of progressive women in media. She stated, "You can’t, they become vamps. Like, in my television show, Khandaan, I played the role of a progressive woman, and it became like a negative character. Bold characters don't work here. In movies, we see them as sati savitri.”

Neena is currently reprising her beloved role as Manju Devi in the third season of TVF’s popular web show "Panchayat," which is now streaming on Prime Video. The series is set in the fictional village of Phulera in Madhya Pradesh.

When asked about the show’s widespread popularity, Neena noted that characters like Manju Devi are drawn from real life and reflect many women in our society. 

"Panchayat" is a comedy-drama that also stars Jitendra Kumar, Raghubir Yadav, Faisal Malik, Chandan Roy, and Sanvikaa. The first season premiered in April 2020, followed by the second season in May 2022. Despite having played Manju Devi for two seasons, Neena shared that it still requires significant preparation each time she steps into the role.

On the work front, Neena Gupta was last seen in "Kaagaz 2" and is set to appear in the Hotstar web series "1000 Babies" soon.