If there is one name in Bollywood that is synonymous with living life on their own terms, it is that of Neena Gupta. The veteran has always lived her life authentically, whether it is on the topic of raising her daughter Masaba Gupta on her own or using her art to express herself. However, that also comes with dealing with excessive scrutiny. In the day and age of social media, there are too many opinions to count. Now, Neena Gupta is again at the receiving end of trolling, this time for a simple attire. Here is what happened.
Women in Bollywood, and in general, are incessantly shamed and schooled for how they look and what they wear. Even in 2024, we are still fighting the sexist and misogynistic practice of policing people’s clothing choices. When Neena Gupta recently stepped out for the screening of her much-beloved show Panchayat Season 3, trolls came out in full force, commenting on what she wore and age-shaming her.
Neena Gupta looked cool and casual in comfortable shorts and a white button-down shirt. She completed the look with some statement jewelry and a crossbody bag. The outfit looked fresh and entirely appropriate for a screening. But trolls came after her in full force, leaving nasty comments like, “Yeh to Malaika ban rahi hai” and “Ab budhape me 16 saal ki ladkiyo wali dressing karengi ye.”
While what you choose to wear is definitely subjective and people can like or dislike clothing based on taste, the fact that these comments all shamed Neena Gupta not for the clothing, but for wearing it at her age is the real issue. Age-shaming someone for perfectly normal attire that you may not like based on your personal choice is an absolute no-no.
For centuries, we have been policing women on what they can and cannot do at certain ages, and it’s time we let them choose what they wear (and do with their life) without judgment.
As such comments came pouring in, Masaba Gupta came to praise her mama with a sweet, “Hiii mommmmmm looking gooood” comment. And while it can be burdensome seeing so many naysayers in the comments, there were also voices of reason—people who came to Neena Gupta’s defense for her autonomy and choices.
One such positive comment read, “I love women taking care of themselves and not caring about the society…. She is not wearing anything revealing….. It’s just shorts and a shirt with that confidence and smile.” Another echoed the same view, “No judgement, everyone has life to live the way they want and she is happy with what she is doing, respect.”
It’s really time we keep our opinions on women’s age and appropriate clothing to ourselves. It’s a totally personal choice, and honestly, none of our business.
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