Acclaimed Indian actress and director Neena Gupta has reignited discussions on women’s sexual rights with her candid remarks during an appearance on YouTuber and television host Lilly Singh’s podcast. Gupta revealed that she no longer whispers the word “sex” as she once did, saying, “I feel sex is very overrated.”

Speaking openly, Gupta said, “I feel very sad for women and sex. Ninety-five to ninety-nine per cent of Indian women don’t realise that sex is meant for pleasure. For them, it’s just to satisfy men or have children.” She emphasised the need to challenge long-standing taboos surrounding female sexuality in Indian society.

Psychologist Muskan Marwah of Mpower, part of the Aditya Birla Education Trust, echoed Gupta’s concerns. She noted that deeply ingrained cultural taboos have fostered a culture of silence and shame around sexuality, which has had serious consequences for women’s mental health, emotional well-being, and relationships.

“From a young age, girls are taught to suppress their desires and view their bodies as shameful,” Marwah explained. “This mindset often persists into adulthood, leading to confusion, anxiety, low self-worth, and dissatisfaction in relationships.”

Marwah also highlighted the lack of comprehensive sex education in India. She stressed that education should go beyond reproductive health to include consent, emotional intimacy, and sexual rights—empowering women to better understand and express their own sexuality.

In the widely shared podcast clip posted by Lilly Singh on 3 April 2025, Singh remarked that Gupta was the first woman she had interviewed who did not whisper the word “sex.” Gupta replied that, with experience and age, she no longer cares about being judged and believes open dialogue is essential to breaking societal taboos.

Gupta agreed with Singh’s suggestion that increased conversation around sex could help reduce the objectification of women. “Yes,” she said. “If we talked about sex more, people wouldn’t ogle so much.”

During the conversation, Gupta also reflected on ageism in the entertainment industry. She revealed that she avoids disclosing her age in professional settings, fearing it might limit the roles she is offered. Despite this, she shared that she recently worked on a Malayalam series and was cast in a very compelling role, which she described as one of the most interesting in her career.

Her statements have received widespread support on social media, with users praising her honesty and advocating for greater openness around women’s sexuality and rights.