Masaba Gupta Says Only A Certain Kind Of Face Sells In Bollywood. That’s The Unfortunate Truth, Even Today

I once read somewhere that nearly 500 people (of course this is the pre corona era) come to Mumbai to become actors and join Bollywood. I don’t have to tell you how many of those people make it, because well, Kangana Ranaut has already drilled that information in our heads. The thing is, Bollywood has certain expectations from its actors and actresses. Like the rest of the world though, in Bollywood as well actresses are held to higher and more unrealistic standards than actors are. And needless to say, that dissuades a lot of talented people from joining the industry as actresses. Masaba Gupta, for instance. 

Yep, fashion designer Masaba Gupta told PTI that her dream was to follow in her mother’s footsteps and become an actress. But she didn’t because she felt like she didn’t have the kind of face that would sell. 

She said, “A certain kind of an actor gets a certain role, a certain kind gets to make their debut, a certain kind lands a bigger, meatier, nicer role. A certain kind of face sells and a certain kind doesn’t. It is nobody’s fault.” Further adding, “I never said openly that I want to act. I was busy with fashion and I still am, that’s my first baby always. I don’t want to go to people asking for work, to somebody who doesn’t even believe in me.” 

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Unfortunately, only a certain kind of face and figure sells in Bollywood. Our industry, unfortunately, is very stereotypical that way. Always rigidly sticking to its beauty standards. Although, I wish Masaba had gone after her dream. We would’ve loved to watch her. And if her acting skills are half as good as her mother’s, then you know she would’ve been a success. 

However, Masaba’s acting wish is finally coming true since she will be staring in her show, Masaba Masaba, that releases on Netflix. The show, described as an “inspirational, joyous celebration of her life” is not entirely based on her life but takes huge inspirations from it. The scenes draw heavily from true incidents but they also have an element of fiction merged with all that. 

Talking about her scepticism about her show when it first came to her, Masaba said, “For the longest, I thought it was a reality show and I was a bit sceptical, but that’s when she told me it is a scripted series. I thought it would be super fresh territory for India and a completely new show for our TV.” 

Also Read: 5 Thoughts I Had While Watching Netflix’s ‘Masaba Masaba’ Trailer. Mainly, Masaba And Neena Gupta’s Combo Makes This Fact+Fiction Ride Fun!

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Talking about merging fiction and fact, the designer said that the team was very clear on which aspects of their life need to be shown on screen. And that the show is heavily packed with a kind of tongue-in-cheek humour and inside jokes about the industry. Having said that, it’s all done in a very humorous way. She says, it’s honest but no one person will feel ganged up on or offended. 

Masaba said, “Which is why the names have been carefully changed, the characters are a mix of a bunch of people. It is not like anybody will feel they haven’t been given their due or walk away being offended. But you also have to be a bit fearless on this kind of show. You can’t go into it thinking ‘what will people think now?’ They are thinking anyway about you, you might as well say what you want.”  

I think everyone is very excited to watch Masaba Masaba and especially since Masaba shares the screen with her mother, Neena Gupta. It’s going to be a whole new genre of the TV for us! 

Masaba Masaba released on Netflix on 28th August!

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