Before you binge-watch the second season of Masaba Masaba, you should get a better understanding of her story.
Masaba Gupta’s been busy. Her Instagram bio lists “Founder of The House of Masaba,” “Entrepreneur,” and “Chameleon” among her accomplishments. In point of fact, these are only a few of the many monikers that she wears (and sells, if you allow us just one bad fashion pun).
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Her identity has been expanding, and the most recent addition is “actress.” When it first aired in 2020, the first season of Masaba Masaba, an eponymous reality fiction series in which she stars alongside her mother, the veteran performer Neena Gupta, generated quite a bit of buzz. It’s possible that this is due, at least in part, to the fact that it manages to make a famous fashion designer and icon like Masaba seem remarkably approachable… a little disorganised and disoriented, but certain that perseverance would ultimately pay off in the end.
This philosophy can be found in both the real and fictional versions of Masaba. Even while the show is maybe 70 percent fiction and 30 percent fact — in her words, not ours — even the fiction piece can be deemed to be a rough interpretation of situations she’s actually had or things she’s truly heard about. The “Hot Mess” collection by Masaba, which was supposedly inspired by the “hot mess” that is the designer’s life, sends out a very unabashed message: it’s okay if you don’t quite have it figured out yet.
On the other hand, Season 2, which will be available on Netflix on July 29th, appears to push things several notches higher.
According to the main character, who also serves as the show’s star, “Season 1 was about being a hot mess.” The second season is all about taking control of the globe! It’s time to rule the world!”
And based on the many tasks she’s already completed, it’s clear that she has her sights set on the top spot. The fashion icon is not only effective in operating a label that is prospering with eight locations around the country, but she is also successful in operating a lucrative jewellery line and has commercial collaborations under her credit with companies such as Nykaa, Samsung, and Game of Thrones. She also has a collaboration with Aditya Birla Fashion Retail Limited (ABFRL) that is worth Rs 90 crore, and ever since she began focusing on e-commerce, the value of her brand has been increased by almost 60 percent thanks to the growth of her online sales.
Like we mentioned, she’s been busy. What exactly is it that motivates her? She claims that she got this trait from both of her parents, which brings us to our first point: she is fiercely independent. For those who are unaware, Masaba’s parents are the actor Neena Gupta (who also plays her on-screen mother in Masaba Masaba) and the cricket legend Viv Richards. Richards played for the West Indies cricket team between 1974 and 1991 and is widely considered to be one of the best batsmen in the history of cricket.
The ability to subvert expectations is another strength of Masaba’s. Let’s take a deep dive into her affluent lifestyle and the journey she has taken while wearing several hats before we get ready to watch the second half of the (sort of) fictional recounting of her life story that will be portrayed on screen.
The opulent lifestyle of Masaba Gupta, who has a successful label, a programme on Netflix, and a great determination to maintain her independence in order to do it all
When you think of the House of Masaba label, you probably picture whimsical digital designs in a kaleidoscope of different colours. On the other hand, Masaba’s house in Juhu, which looks out over the water, is decorated in a spare and understated manner. Consider, for example, her living room, which features an all-white outfit with ivory couches that are jazzed up by printed pillows and an attractive white coffee table. Together, these elements make quite the impression.
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The look is finished off with a cream side table that is decorated with colourful blooms, huge windows that bring in an abundance of natural light, and walls that are decorated with artistic wooden frames. The dining area, which is where she typically takes pictures of her “outfit of the day,” is decorated in a neutral hue and features a round dining table with a marble top and potted plants holding sway.
A image of the designer’s bedroom that is warm and inviting is painted by the combination of factors including high ceilings with wooden beams, full-length windows, and sheer drapes. However, it appears that her favourite area is a sunny spot adjacent to a balcony that looks out into the streets of the city. It is there that she spends many hours sketching away and conceiving of new design ideas.
When it comes to patterns, Masaba’s signature prints have been highly sought after ever since she launched her company when she was 19 years old. The label has experienced significant expansion over the course of time, despite the fact that it has not spent significant funds on marketing over the course of the past decade. Back in 2019, the House of Masaba received some significant support from industry heavyweights such as Flipkart co-founder Binny Bansal, Apoorva Patni of the Patni Group, Apurva Salarpuria, and Abhishek Agarwal of the Purple Style Lab.
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Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd (ABFRL) had earlier this year announced a strategic partnership with the designer in which it would buy 51% of House of Masaba Lifestyle in an effort to “build a gen-next focused fashion and lifestyle business under the Masaba brand.” This partnership would see ABFRL buy the majority stake in House of Masaba Lifestyle. According to CBINSIGHTS, the worth of the business would come to a total of $12.14 million with this majority proposal.
In addition, the partnership has established a revenue goal for the following five years of around 500 crores of rupees each year. This occurs as a result of the fact that it was claimed that the record label’s yearly revenue in FY21 was Rs 14 crore, according to the information supplied in ABFRL’s filing. It is estimated that it will bring in Rs 30 crore during the current fiscal year.
Regarding the prints, it seemed as though Masaba’s own life served as a source of inspiration for her. For instance, she got the concept for her famous palm-print saree because she saw her mother making impressions of her feet and palms when she was a child and framing them on the wall. This served as the inspiration for the saree. Her candy collection originated from her recollections of being given presents in the form of candy when she was a child.
An inherited independent streak
The childhood of Masaba was not an easy one. Gupta was the one who gave birth to her outside of wedlock, despite the fact that she was the product of an affair with Richards. This was one of the numerous reasons she was bullied at school (she went to Jamnabai Narsee School), the other reasons being that she sported an afro and had a “strange body type.” The unending stigmas that exist in society were one of the other causes. She was the victim of bullying and body shaming, and she spent a lot of her time being furious as a result. However, she explained to Hindustan Times that she eventually found a way to channel her wrath.
When I was little, I had a steel water bottle made by Milton that I would swing about like a hammer almost. The only way I could deal with the bullies at school was to get a bottle and hit them. After that, I became quite involved in athletics as a means of channelling some of my restless energy,” she explained.
This seems to be a huge component in her being shamelessly, and delightfully, herself, since these events taught her to fight back and fight big, which is something that seems to be a major factor in her being unashamedly herself. She also attributes this to the fact that her mother has been forthright and candid about their circumstance right from the beginning.
“I had a really straightforward upbringing…
I didn’t notice mistreatment. I wasn’t able to witness my parents arguing. My family was not one of those troubled households. I observed mutual respect, despite the obvious physical gap between them. It was a miserable circumstance to be in. People are so fixated on the notion that I have a strained connection with my father that I frequently get a pang of guilt whenever I have to dispel this misconception and assure them that this is not the case. Even though he does not share our home, he is still very much my father despite the fact that he does not reside with us. “There is not even the slightest bit of discomfort or friction,” she continues.
According to The Daily Hunt, Masaba’s net worth is estimated to be a gross $9 million, which is approximately equivalent to Rs 65 crores. This seems to be the case due to the popularity of the House of Masaba, her many collaborations, and her new entry into the world of acting. And from the looks of things, she’s not really getting started yet.