‘He never hesitated to acknowledge Masaba’: Neena Gupta opens up about Viv Richards' relationship with their daughter

Reflecting on a pivotal chapter of her life, Neena Gupta clarified that her journey into motherhood was a path she chose for herself. “It was my decision to have a child. Then I asked him (Vivian) if he was okay with me giving birth to his child, and he said yes,” she shared in a recent interview. According to Neena, Richards never hesitated to publicly acknowledge Masaba as his daughter, providing emotional validation for their child even if their lives were lived in separate worlds.

'I had so much pride'

Despite the support from the former West Indies cricketer, Neena was adamant about funding her daughter's upbringing entirely on her own. “I didn’t feel like it. I had so much pride,” she explained, noting that this trait extended to her relationship with her parents as well. Neena recalled that she never asked her parents for money, accepting only what they offered voluntarily. Her drive for self-sufficiency was fueled by her decision to move to Mumbai to pursue acting—a career her parents initially viewed as less than respectable. “Since I came to Mumbai against their wishes, how can I ask them for money?” she remarked.

Viv Richards and Masaba’s Bond

While Neena cherishes the memories of her time with Richards, she is candid about the fact that raising a child alone is fraught with difficulties. She has often spoken about the emotional and practical hurdles of single parenthood, describing it as a path that is "not easy." Regarding the relationship between the father and daughter today, Neena noted that while they share a bond, Richards remains a private individual. “He’s not a social person, he’s in his own world,” she said. Masaba, who has earned global acclaim as a designer, frequently credits her mother’s immense strength for the life they built together.