Neena Gupta Addresses Pregnancy Speculation After Vijay-Rashmika Reception, Says ‘I Got Annoyed’

Neena Gupta has spent much of her life dealing with public scrutiny over her personal decisions, relationships and appearance.

From her relationship with former West Indies cricketer Vivian Richards and raising daughter Masaba Gupta as a single mother to her choice of fashion, the actor has frequently faced questions and criticism.

In an exclusive interview with News18, Neena opened up about how she has handled such intrusive attention over the years. Recalling questions about why she was not married, she said she would ask people why they were concerned about her choices when she was financially independent. She also recalled facing complaints from neighbours and said she eventually stopped maintaining a cordial relationship with those involved.

NEENA GUPTA RECALLS PREGNANCY RUMOURS

Neena recently found herself at the centre of another round of speculation after attending Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna’s wedding reception in Hyderabad.

Photos and videos from the celebration showed what appeared to be a slight bulge around her stomach. Social media users quickly began speculating that the actor was pregnant, despite there being no basis for the claims.

Neena revealed that the episode left her irritated. She explained that she had worn a saree made from heavy fabric, and the way the pleats were positioned created the appearance of a bump.

“I got annoyed with it,” Neena said.

She also chose to turn the unwanted speculation into a joke. According to the actor, she began telling people who asked her about the rumours that she was pregnant. She jokingly referred to reports of women giving birth at an advanced age and quipped that she might still have a chance.

WHEN NEENA FACED CRITICISM FOR HER OUTFITS

Pregnancy speculation is not the only time Neena has faced unwanted commentary about her appearance. The actor has also been criticised for wearing outfits that some social media users considered unsuitable for her age.

In 2023, she attended the success party of her OTT project The Trial Period in a black dress paired with boots. While some comments focused on her choice of outfit, others praised her confidence and supported her decision to dress according to her own preferences.

Neena has previously explained that occasional negative comments do not concern her when she receives a much larger number of positive reactions. Her main consideration, she said, is whether she feels comfortable in what she is wearing.

She has also said that she chooses outfits based on what she feels suits her body. If there is something she does not feel comfortable highlighting, she prefers to cover it, while she is happy to accentuate features she feels confident about.

NEENA GUPTA ON MAKING HER OWN CHOICES

Neena’s comments reflect her long-standing approach towards dealing with social expectations around age, relationships and appearance. Rather than allowing conventional ideas to dictate her choices, the actor has continued to make decisions based on her own comfort and confidence.

On the professional front, Neena was recently seen in Netflix’s Chumbak, where she plays a woman who wants to end her marriage and seek a happier life later in adulthood.