Actress Neena Gupta, known for hits like Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron and Khalnayak, made a major splash with her 2018 comeback in Badhaai Ho. Now, at 65, she’s clinched a National Award for her role in Sooraj Barjatya’s Uunchai. Neena agreed to the role without even reading the script! In a 2022 interview with Pinkvilla, she had revealed how the chance to work with Barjatya was too good to pass up.
“Main toh shocked thi. Mujhe bulaya unhone apne office mein script sunane ke liye. Main soch rahi thi na bhi sunao tab bhi karungi (I was shocked. He called me to his office to narrate the script. I was thinking that even if I didn’t hear the narration, I would have done it),” Neena had said, adding, “Kyunki 30 saal se wait kar rahi thi, milne ki bhi sambhavna nahin hoti thi unse. Uske baad yeh hua toh I was flying high (Because I was waiting for 30 years, there was no possibility of meeting him. Then this happened).”
Uunchai, which was released in 2022, was directed by Sooraj Barjatya and revolved around three septuagenarian friends who embark on a trek to the Everest Base Camp.
In an exclusive chat with News18 Showsha after the big win, Neena Gupta said she “didn’t believe” the win initially. “I was happily surprised. I told my manager to reconfirm it. I didn’t even know that the National Awards winners would be declared on this date (August 16)! It has now sunk in, and I feel really good. This proves that if you really work hard, you’ll get something truly rewarding in return,” shared the 65-year-old.
At the 70th National Film Awards, Sooraj Barjatya was also honoured with the Best Director award for Uunchai. Talking about it, Neena said, “I was even more thrilled when I came to know that Sooraj ji won the Best Director award. I have great respect for him. It was a dream come true when he called me and offered me a role.”
With Uunchai, she believes that life has come full circle for her. “I used to try really hard to meet him some 30-35 years ago. I could never meet him. From there to now, it feels great. I’m very happy that he received the honour. He always told us that the film came straight from his heart and that he had been wanting to make a film about four friends for a long time,” she added.
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