Neena Gupta, the celebrated actress known for her roles in films like "Badhaai Ho" and the "Panchayat" series, has often spoken candidly about her personal life. In her autobiography, "Sach Kahun Toh," she revealed details about her first marriage to Amlan Kusum Ghose, an IIT student, and recently, she shared fond memories of that time.

Gupta met Ghose at an inter-college event, and they "hit it off immediately". Ghose was a student at IIT-Delhi while Gupta was pursuing her Master's degree in Sanskrit from Delhi University. The couple began meeting secretly on campus, near Ghose's hostel, or close to Gupta's home. As Ghose's grandfather lived in her neighborhood, he often spent festivals and holidays there, giving them opportunities to meet.

Dating was "strictly forbidden" for Gupta at the time, but she and Ghose went on dates in his car and spent time near his college. Eventually, Gupta revealed the relationship to her mother, who was initially unhappy about it and became more controlling.

A significant turning point occurred when Ghose and his friends planned a trip to Srinagar, and Gupta wanted to join them. Her mother, being strict, said that she could only go with him after marriage. Consequently, they decided to get married in an Arya Samaj ceremony. Ghose's parents were not in favor of the relationship, so they didn't inform them about the wedding. After the wedding, they went to Srinagar and returned "very, very happy". They then moved into an apartment in Rajender Nagar while Ghose looked for work.

However, the marriage was short-lived, lasting less than a year. Gupta had aspirations of becoming a theatre actor. "Amlan viewed things differently," she explained. "Given the times and our upbringing, I think he had always assumed that I would eventually settle down and focus on our family. But I had become a bit too ambitious and didn't see myself ever being a regular housewife. I wanted more from life, and the more theatre I did, the clearer my path became".

Despite the brief duration of their marriage, Gupta has no harsh feelings towards Ghose. "During the short time, Amlan and I were married, we never quarrelled much. Not about our daily lives, the way our house was run or about my studies and career. We were both very, very young when we dove into marriage, but to this day, I don't have a harsh thing to say about him," she said. They parted ways amicably and started their lives afresh.

Gupta later had a relationship with former West Indies cricketer Vivian Richards, with whom she has a daughter, Masaba Gupta. She raised Masaba as a single mother. In 2008, Gupta married Vivek Mehra, a Delhi-based chartered accountant.

Neena Gupta's journey reflects her strong will and determination to pursue her dreams, even amidst societal expectations and personal challenges.