Sonil Dedhia (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 6, 2020)

When it comes to giving life advice, very few come close to the intellect that Neena Gupta possesses. The actor, who is currently in Mukteshwar (Uttarakhand), where she reached just two days before the Coronavirus lockdown, is keeping herself busy by making her own Instagram video series titled Sach Kahoon Toh, in which she gives her opinion about various topics. These include — not falling for married men and how to cope with stress during this crisis. “I speak from the heart and like to share whatever I feel I can with women. It’s not necessary that I make these videos every day or give advice all the time. The other day, I just felt like dancing and telling people to stay in their houses. I am planning to make a video about how one can do away with fancy shampoos and soaps during this time. It’s a way of keeping myself and the audience entertained,” she says.

The actor says that it is ideal to avoid discussing negative subjects and instead do things that please us at the moment. “It’s very difficult to stay positive in this time. I keep myself busy so that I don’t have time to think. I am taking online classes for classical singing. Apart from that, I am cooking, too. The other day, I tried my hand at rava dosa and it turned out well,” she says.

Gupta, who has spent four decades in the industry, was part of many television shows including Buniyaad, which the government has decided to re-telecast on Doordarshan. “Everyone doesn’t have a subscription to OTT channels. Many still watch Doodarshan. So, I think it’s a great initiative. Even the younger generation will be exposed to the series which I think is relevant even today and has stood the test of time. While I don’t have a huge role in it, I have fond memories of the serial,” she concludes.