Cricketer-actress link-ups

NEENA GUPTA-VIVIAN RICHARDS:
Jab They Met: Neena Gupta was a brilliant TV actress who had also made a name for herself in the art cinema circuit. Her life changed forever when she met the dashing West Indian cricketer Vivian Richards while he was touring India. He was already married at the time while she was dealing with a heartbreak. Insiders say she was engaged to a guy but he broke the relationship on a flimsy excuse leaving her devastated.

The Romance: Vivian was charming and a refreshing change from the other men she had dated. They clicked instantly and soon were having a roaring affair. They continued to see each other throughout his stay in India.

Why It Soured: Things changed when Vivian had to head back to his country. The young, unmarried Neena discovered she was pregnant and Vivian was the father of her child. It created a huge scandal then especially since Viv was a married man.

Getting married to him was impossible but Neena did the unthinkable – she decided to raise the child on her own! Going against the norms of society, she bravely embraced single parenthood.

Vivian tried his best to be a support to Neena and his daughter Masaba. Today, Masaba is a bright, upcoming designer and is very friendly with her dad who visits her whenever he is in India. Neena too is on good terms with Vivian. All’s well that ends well perhaps.