Veteran actor Neena Gupta has spoken candidly about the challenges women continue to face within Indian households, arguing that claims of widespread social progress often mask deeply entrenched patriarchal attitudes.

In a recent conversation with Shubhankar Mishra, the Panchayat actor questioned the belief that modern India has become significantly more open minded, particularly when it comes to marriage and expectations placed on women.

Questions Over Virginity And “Modern” Mindsets

Gupta highlighted what she described as a persistent obsession with a bride’s virginity. “They want a virgin wife,” she said, stressing that such attitudes remain prevalent despite narratives of change.

Challenging the idea that society has evolved, she added, “What has changed now? Are you talking about India? Who says that people are open? A lot of things have not changed in our country.”

She pointed out that many women are still expected to conform to traditional norms within marriage, including gestures of deference such as covering their heads and touching elders’ feet.

“You and I are minorities, we are not the real India. People like us who dress well and talk nicely are not India,” she said, arguing that urban, English speaking circles often present a distorted picture of social reality.

Personal Anecdotes Highlight Everyday Control

To illustrate her point, Gupta shared incidents from her extended family that reflected ongoing restrictions faced by married women.

In one case, she recalled a relative who refused to live with her husband’s family in Mumbai after conflicts with her mother in law. The dispute escalated when the young woman was not allowed to display a religious image she worshipped in her own room.

In another instance, Gupta said her niece was told she could not keep a photograph of her own family on her bedside table after marriage.

“We have a long way to go when it comes to changing the condition of women in the country,” she said.

Gupta’s remarks also resonate with her own life story. She became a single mother in her thirties, raising her daughter Masaba Gupta outside marriage at a time when such choices were widely stigmatised.

Through her comments, the actor underscored that while visible signs of modernity have increased, the everyday realities for many women continue to be shaped by control, expectation and deeply rooted social norms.

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