Vandana Gupte recalls Bal Thackeray offering her a gun licence; husband quipped 'first blood will be mine'

Actress Vandana Gupte recently narrated an amusing anecdote involving Bal Thackeray in an interview, which is now widely discussed. She gave the interview to Mugdha Godbole-Ranade.

Gupte said that in those days, plays were staged in the evenings and the shows would end at 12 or 1 am. At times, she reached home only by 1.30 or 2 am. Even so, she never felt afraid. Travelling alone at night was not a worry for her, and she moved about without a care. Thinking about it today, she feels it was the people of that era who were carefree.

The Gupte family shared a very close relationship with Thackeray. He fondly called Vandana Gupte "Bhoot" (ghost). He often asked Shirish Gupte, "Well, where is Bhoot? Has she come home?"

Once, Vandana was returning home late at night and word of it reached Thackeray. He was concerned that a woman was out so late and might face some trouble. For this reason, he told Shirish Gupte, "Shirish, Vandana comes and goes so late. Shall I get a gun licence made for her? It would be good for her safety."

Shirish Gupte did not stay silent on hearing this. He promptly replied in a jocular tone, "No, no, sir, not at all. Otherwise the first blood will be mine!"

Vandana Gupte could not stop laughing on hearing this either. She laughed heartily while narrating the anecdote in the interview. The banter between husband and wife was evident in her words.

Vandana Gupte has been entertaining Marathi audiences for many years. In films, she did remarkable work in Baipan Bhari Deva. Her characters in Double Seat, Timepass and Bucket List are remembered by audiences. On television, her role in Sukhachya Sarini He Mann Baware was widely liked and is still remembered.

Theatre is her lifeblood. She made many plays memorable, including Charchaughi, Char Divas Premache, Sundar Mi Honar and Shhh... Kuthe Bolayche Nahi. Audiences laughed, cried and applauded as soon as she appeared on stage.

Vandana Gupte is the daughter of noted singer Manik Verma, so art came to her at home. She married advocate Shirish Gupte in 1973. Since then, the couple have remained very close. The anecdote about Thackeray is now being retold everywhere and people like it because it holds affection, concern and humour.