Neena Gupta Opens Up About Subhash Ghai’s ‘So Crass’ Padded Bra Request During Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai Shoot

Veteran Bollywood actor Neena Gupta, who captivated audiences with her appearance in the iconic song Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai, has revisited a deeply uncomfortable on-set experience involving director Subhash Ghai one she describes as both humiliating and, in hindsight, something she now views with greater understanding.

Speaking on a recent podcast hosted by Shubhankar Mishra, Neena recalled how Ghai asked his costume designer, in her presence, to make her appear fuller for the song’s visual requirements. Rather than addressing her directly, the director made the remark to a third person standing beside her a moment that left the actor seething.

“At that time, I felt very angry and thought, how can he say something like that? So crass,” she said.

However, Neena was candid about how her perspective has evolved over the years. “But now I feel he was just doing his job. He had a certain image in mind for the character in the song, and he expressed it plainly. He didn’t stare at me, but I was new then today I understand it differently. It did trouble me for some time, but then the song was so beautiful I forgot about it.”

Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai featured in the 1993 crime action thriller Khalnayak, which starred Sanjay Dutt in the lead role alongside Madhuri Dixit, Anupam Kher, Rakhee Gulzar, and Jackie Shroff. The film, which follows two police officers Ram and Ganga on a mission to capture the escaped criminal Ballu, was received positively by critics and went on to become the second highest-grossing film of that year. Its soundtrack was equally celebrated, with tracks including Khal Nayak Hoon Main, Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai, and Palki Pe Hoke Sawaar. The song in question was sung by Alka Yagnik and Ila Arun, with music composed by the legendary duo Laxmikant–Pyarelal.

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On the work front, Neena was most recently seen in Vadh 2, directed by Jaspal Singh Sandhu. The film, which also starred Sanjay Mishra, Kumud Mishra, Yogita Bihani, and Akshay Dogra, received a mixed critical response and underperformed at the box office.

She is next set to appear in the upcoming Netflix series Chumbak, written and directed by Aatish Kapadia. The show centers on a young author navigating life with an unconventional family support group, weaving together comedic and emotional moments. The ensemble cast includes Deven Bhojani, Amyra Dastur, Anant V Joshi, Sumeet Vyas, Manasi Parekh, Arjun Bijlani, Helly Shah, Sumeet Raghavan, and Sandeepa Dhar. The series is scheduled to release later this year.