Notedly, the 8th edition of Barkha Dutt’s
“We The Women” festival in Mumbai turned into an unexpectedly candid space as Sidharth Malhotra and Masaba Gupta daughter of actress Neena Gupta opened up on two very different yet equally personal journeys — the struggle to find a foothold in Bollywood, and the emotional reality of new motherhood.
Masaba Gupta is a fashion designer and entrepreneur, acknowledged for her distinctive and contemporary style that blends modern and traditional elements.
Sidharth Malhotra recalls sleeping in an editing studio; Masaba Gupta opens up on postpartum struggles at We The Women 2025
Sidharth Malhotra, who joined Barkha for a conversation to kick off the event, revisited the uncertainty and grit of his early years in the industry. Reflecting on how he chose acting regardless coming from an army family, he said, his father and he had discussed very early on about what he would want to do with his life. Very early in his teen he had faced the small camera, had a little bit of that performance aspect and just being in front of stage and giving different emotions but the journey took many many years.”
The actor also shared how his first big break never materialised, forcing him into survival mode when he moved to Mumbai in his early twenties. “The actual journey took very long. He was 21 or 22 when he decided to come to Mumbai, thinking that he had bagged a film in Hindi cinema at that time. He admitted one year goes by, the film never took-off,” Recounting his early days of house-hunting and makeshift living arrangements, Sidharth added, “When he first came in, the production house and director that signed him and he stayed in their editing studio, because that was the only place with a long sofa. So at night they put him there for like a week and then in the day he used to be out since they used to edit.
Designer and entrepreneur Masaba Gupta later joined Barkha Dutt along with gynecologist Dr. Nozer Sheriar, where she spoke with honesty about navigating postpartum emotions while balancing work and motherhood. Even as they speak she was struggling with some form of postpartum, not aware what it is. Strange enough. But just thought yesterday she had like three breakdowns throughout the day, multiple times. One time was just reading to her and broke down, because was thinking that going to be in the US for the next five days and what would happen.
Masaba also reflected on the scrutiny her mother, actor Neena Gupta, faced while raising her as a single parent. Revisiting a particularly painful incident, she said, her birth certificate when she was born was stolen from the hospital and leaked to the press and was on the front page of a paper because someone wanted to prove that she was an illegitimate child. She understood it when she .was maybe 9 or 10, Barkha. She thinks she fully understood it but saw versions of it and never understand why it was done – cruel, strange and very bad for her mom.
With unfiltered insights into resilience, vulnerability, and personal battles, Sidharth and Masaba’s conversations brought depth to the festival’s celebration of women’s stories and the journeys behind them.
News Edit KV Raman
