Radhika Bhirani (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 11, 2020)

If you’ve been following her social media account or her paparazzi shots, you can’t turn a blind eye to Neena Gupta’s fashion diaries. Rocking her ‘frock ka shauq’, and teaming traditional Indian jewellery with dresses, pants and trenchcoats of late, the actor says there hasn’t been a sudden fashion awakening in her life.

“I was always stylish. I always wore things like I am wearing these days, but nobody saw me. There was no Instagram back then and I didn’t even have films. But it’s only now that people are noticing me,” the 60-year-old says with candour.

A cursory glance at her Instagram page can almost be a mini lesson in how to co-ordinate a ‘satladaa’ with a thigh-high dress or a heavy polki choker with a white dress, almost to a point where you may wonder if she is inspired by her daughter, designer Masaba Gupta, or is it the other way around? “Basically, it is my style,” she says, and goes on, “I’ve learnt a few things from Masaba. Actually, I’m a little orthodox, too... Like I’d never wear white and off white together. But this is what I’ve learnt from Masaba, and it looks very chic now.”

Proud that she often flaunts designs by her daughter, the veteran actor also gives in a little sneak peek into how she likes dressing when she’s at home. “Dekho, mujhe garmi bahut lagti hai,” she says, and adds, “From my childhood, I’ve worn shorts at home. Mumbai is so hot, and I don’t like using the AC at home all the time. So, ek cotton ka patla, lallu sa shirt aur shorts pehenke main ghar pe rehti hun. I’ve always been like that. This is my style,” she says.

The senior Gupta admits that she’s a “very fashionable person” and that half her hours in a day go into thinking about clothes. “I buy a lot of clothes, and they’re all coming in use now. Otherwise, they were just lying in the cupboard as I had nowhere to go to wear them. And I also wear my jewellery now... shaadiyon mein kahaan pehne jaata hai,” quips the actor, who is being loved for her on screen roles of a mother.

After Badhaai Ho, the latest is Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan. And now, she says she’s refusing the offers where “I’m just a mother” and agreeing to the “interesting ones”. She adds, “I’m looking forward to some romantic films with somebody of my age group... I think it can happen.”