Smita Gupta’s Life Journey – From Stitching Toys for Money to Designing Film Sets 

From a childhood defined by way too early family responsibility to a career spent shaping the visual language of Indian cinema, Smita’s life has been a testament to ambition. This article explores her evolution from a young girl stitching toys to a pioneering art director and best-selling author.

A Childhood Interrupted

Smita was born into a middle-class family in Bengal. The household was small and close-knit, comprising her parents, her elder brother, and Smita herself. Her father worked in a bank, while her mother managed the home. Life felt stable and secure, and Smita enjoyed what appeared to be an ideal childhood.

Then life took an unexpected turn.

Her father met with a terrible accident that left him bedridden. The status quo of the family changed suddenly, as her father was the family's sole breadwinner. The financial burden fell upon everyone, including 12-year-old Smita. While children her age played and studied without worry, Smita began stitching toys and selling them to support her household. Despite all the difficulties that befell her, she continued her studies alongside. 

The Birth of a Dream

At 16, when her father passed away, Smita began working full-time. She pursued her education through evening and correspondence classes, eventually earning five diplomas in fields like fashion and interior design. Thus, as she juggled between work and education, a short vacation trip to Mumbai sparked a dream in her that would change her life forever.

In 1996, Smita travelled to Mumbai for a brief holiday. During her visit, she explored the sets of the television series Swabhiman at Film City. The scale and creativity of the set left a profound impression on her, sparking a bold dream. She decided to become an art director in the Indian film industry. It was a very ambitious dream, as ‘art direction’ was a profession that was virtually closed to women at that time. But these obstacles never weakened Smita’s dream.

Entering a Closed World

Determined to pursue her dream, Smita moved to Mumbai. To sustain herself, she took up work as a designer merchandiser in the garment industry. Outside working hours, she spent her time on film sets, introducing herself to directors, producers, and art directors. The response was discouragingly consistent. She was told, repeatedly, that this line of work was not meant for women. Persistence, however, has a way of being noticed. One established art director, Samir Chanda, listened to her story and offered practical advice. He suggested that she begin with television.

Taking his advice, Smita began her career in Indian cinema as an assistant on Asha Parekh’s productions. She worked in TV series such as Kora Kagaz and Dal Mein Kala, followed by popular thrillers like CID and Aahat in 1997. She soon transitioned to films and began assisting the biggies like Subhash Ghai, M.F. Hussain and Prakash Jha.

The Breakthrough

They say a truly gifted person needs only a small window of opportunity to excel. For Smita that window opened when a crisis hit one of Balaji Telefilms’s projects. They needed someone to complete an entire set overnight. Smita dared to take on what seemed impossible and finished it successfully. This feat so impressed Shobha Kapoor that she told Smita the doors of Balaji would always be open to her. Soon after, Balaji Films invited Smita to design the sets for the original Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi; there she made her permanent mark on Indian television by introducing the culture of permanent sets. Over 27 years, her portfolio grew to include more than 20 feature films, 30 TV shows, 50 ad films and numerous film and television studio infrastructure designs.

Writing a New Chapter

In 2019, Smita saw a viral video of PM Modi asking film industry people to create work inspired by Gandhian values. The conversation awakened a new creative impulse in her. Drawing from her personal reflections, she sat down and wrote her first book, 3: When Ego, Intellect, and Soul Align. The book went on to receive wide recognition and is listed on Mahatma Gandhi’s official website. Ever since then, she has released three more books on finance, interior designing and Golden Years. 

Choosing a New Rhythm

After staying in Mumbai for decades, Smita began to sense a change. Budgets were shrinking, creative depth felt compromised, and the industry no longer offered the same satisfaction. Recognising the need for a new phase, she moved to Bengaluru. Today, she works with a hospitality start-up as Production Designer, where, in less than a year, she has designed and executed more than 20 AirBNB Villas, a feat no less. Even though the long schedules of her film years are behind, she is still busy as a bee. Further, as a member of the Marzi community, she also shares her wisdom and experience with others.