Senior and outspoken Bollywood actor Neena Gupta has once again spoken candidly about her personal life, particularly her relationship with West Indies cricket legend Vivian Richards, the birth of their daughter, and her decision not to marry him.
According to Indian media reports, during a recent podcast appearance Neena Gupta was asked about her love story with Richards. Responding in a slightly sarcastic yet straightforward tone, she said the same question should be directed at him. “Everyone is afraid to ask him. Why do you always ask me?” she remarked.
Gupta acknowledged that she and Richards were in love, but admitted their relationship did not last very long. She reflected that at the time she was deeply in love and, as often happens in such situations, one neither listens to others nor carefully weighs decisions.
She said the time they spent together was beautiful and she does not deny that chapter of her life.
Explaining why they never married, Gupta said the decision was not purely emotional but based on practical realities. Either she would have had to leave her work in India and move to the West Indies, or Richards would have had to give up his international cricket career and settle in India a compromise that was not feasible for either of them.
Speaking about becoming a mother, she revealed that giving birth to her daughter Masaba Gupta in November 1989 without marriage was a conscious and well-considered decision.
Before proceeding, she said she had asked Richards whether he agreed, and he gave his consent.
According to Gupta, Richards has never publicly denied acknowledging Masaba as his daughter.
However, she also admitted that raising a child as a single parent is not easy and that such circumstances are not always considered ideal for a child, underscoring the emotional and practical challenges she faced.