Masaba Gupta may be known today as one of India’s top fashion designers and a confident screen presence but there was a time when she dreamt of being a traditional Bollywood heroine. And it was her mother actor Neena Gupta who gave her a reality check that changed the course of her life. In a recent chat with ANI Neena spoke candidly about Masaba’s early interest in acting. She revealed that as a young girl Masaba wanted to step into films just like many around her. But Neena known for her honest and practical approach did not sugarcoat her advice. Heres what Neena Gupta said to Masaba Gupta “It was not her decision. It just happened. Circumstances were like that” Neena said explaining how Masaba was influenced by people around her who were keen on Bollywood. But Neena told her daughter something very direct. “I told her look your face is like this your body is like this. You wont get the heroine of a Hindi film because you dont look like that. Its a fact. You dont look like the heroine of a Hindi film of that time” she said. Read more: Masaba Gupta Satyadeep Misra Set to Embrace Parenthood With Their First Pregnancy: ‘Two Little Feet On The Way’ Neena Gupta did not stop Masaba Gupta from acting Neena did not stop Masaba from exploring acting but she guided her in a different direction. She encouraged her to train as an actor and think beyond the typical heroine roles. That advice stayed with Masaba. Years later Masaba made her acting debut with Netflix’s Masaba Masaba where she played a fictional version of herself. The show also featured Neena as her on-screen mother mirroring their real-life bond. Neena recalled being deeply moved after watching her daughter perform. “I cried when I saw her work. She is such a good actor. Shes very natural. I was shocked. She was like a pro” she shared. Masaba Guptas journey Masaba had already built a strong name in fashion before stepping in front of the camera. Her acting journey continued with a segment in Amazon Prime Video’s anthology Modern Love: Mumbai. Last year she also appeared in a dance number in Kesari Chapter 2 surprising many with her screen confidence. What began as a teenage dream slowly turned into a career she approached on her own terms without fitting into Bollywood’s old ideas of how a heroine should look.