Neena Gupta has opened up about how she spoke to her daughter, Masaba Gupta, about her father, former cricketer Viv Richards, as she grew older. The actor said she believed it was important for Masaba to know the truth about her family circumstances.
In a recent conversation, Neena explained that she chose to discuss the subject gradually rather than presenting everything at once. She said she answered Masaba’s questions as they came up and shared information according to her understanding and age.
Neena also said that she wanted Masaba to understand her father without developing hatred towards him. Rather than hiding the circumstances surrounding their relationship, she tried to explain what had happened as Masaba grew older.
The actor’s comments highlight a broader challenge faced by parents when children grow up in complicated family situations. Conversations about an absent parent, separation or relationships between adults can be emotionally difficult, particularly when a child is old enough to begin asking questions but may not yet understand the circumstances fully.
Experts often emphasise that age-appropriate honesty can help children make sense of family situations, while avoiding unnecessary details that may place adult emotional burdens on them. The way such conversations are handled can also influence how children understand themselves and their relationships with both parents.
Neena’s approach, as she described it, involved revisiting the subject over time rather than treating it as a single conversation. She also reflected on the emotional weight of those discussions and said she has apologised to Masaba for aspects of the situation.
Her experience underscores that there is no single formula for discussing complicated family relationships. Parents may need to balance honesty, the child’s emotional needs and respect for everyone involved while allowing the conversation to evolve as the child grows older.
