The last letter to Abu Salem along the lines of ‘Leave the whole world’, where is Monica Bedi now, who paid the price of love behind bars?

It was the era of 90’s in Bollywood and a twenty year old newcomer was getting ready to step into the film world. The film was ‘Suraksha’ which was made under the direction of Raju Marwani in which there were many stars. Like Sunil Shetty, Saif Ali Khan, Divya Dutta, Aditya Pancholi and Kader Khan. The lead actress of this film was Monica Bedi. Yes, Monica who came to Mumbai from Norway to become an actress on her own. There is no doubt that he got his film based on his talent. In 1995, when Monica came to visit India with her parents, she realized that her destination was Mumbai. During the holidays, she insisted on her father and joined the dance class. Monica herself said that she loved dancing. He started learning Kathak from well-known Indian dancer and actor Gopi Krishna in Mumbai.

During this time Monica met late star Manoj Kumar. In those days, he wanted to launch Monica with his son Kunal Kumar. He offered the film to Monica but she could not take this decision alone. Monica called her father and asked for permission to do the film. Since her parents already understood that Monica had chosen her career, they allowed her to do the film. But the destination was not as close as Monica thought. Even though the film was offered, it took a year to start, or rather, the film could not be made. All that remained in Monica’s eyes was waiting. But during this wait she could not even go back to Norway to her parents. At last the actress’s father called Manoj Kumar and said in clear words, ‘If you don’t want to make a film then it’s okay but please free my daughter from this trouble.

‘Jodi number one’ gave recognition

However, between going back and giving up, Monica thought it better to work in whatever films she got. Of which ‘Suraksha’ is one, he worked in Telugu’s ‘Taj Mahal’ before the Hindi film. But the recognition of stardom was still far away. In the year 2001, he released two multi-starrer films, ‘Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat’ and the other ‘Jodi Number One’. Monica got a new identity by working with Sanjay Dutt. Her song ‘Teri Bindiya Uda Ke Le Gayi Meri Nindiya’ from ‘Jodi Number One’ was a huge hit. Monica’s career was just getting back on track when she met a person who uprooted her life and career. That man was none other than Abu Salem who worked for Dawood Ibrahim.

first meeting in dubai

Monica and Abu Salem met in 1998 during a show in Dubai. Where the actress was called to Dubai for the show, Abu Salem also reached there. According to Filmfare, their meeting was normal and Abu introduced himself as a businessman. During this short meeting, Monica had no idea what she was going to do with her life. The reason was that he remained unaware of the reality of Abu Salem. When she returned from the Dubai show, Abu Salem contacted Monica on phone. The friendship between the two grew and gradually turned into love. Abu-Monica remained in touch on the phone for 9 months. According to the interview published in Filmfare, Abu used to call Monica every half hour. Love was increasing from both sides.

Who was that?

After 9 months Monica came to meet Abu in Dubai. Both of them used to hang out, have dinner and spend a lot of time like a normal couple. Monica had told that in those one year she was never able to know who Abu, who calls himself a businessman, really is. Once Monica was in the car, Abu stopped the car and pointed towards a showroom and told that it was his. Gradually Monica started finding some things strange like the presence of many guards with Abu. Abu told Monica little about his personal life except that he was married and their divorce was going on.

Intention to settle in America

Monica kept coming to India from time to time and there was a stir in the industry as to who she secretly meets in Dubai. Then a time came when Abu asked Monica to come to America and live with him. Monica herself believed that she and Abu truly loved each other, so she left everything and went to America. Abu who was the main accused in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts and was absconding. In such a situation, he decided to stay in America. But there is a saying that no one has ever escaped the long arm of the law and his crimes.

Live-in relationship with Abu

Monica went to America in love and lived in a live-in relationship with Abu. When she came to know that Abu was absconding, she knew that now she would not be able to return to India. Monica’s money, passport and other important documents were in Abu’s possession. Monica tried to escape several times but she could not succeed in doing so because Abu was such a vicious criminal that he would find Monica from anywhere. Abu knew that if Monica went to India, the police would easily find a way to reach her.

we were both in love

Monica had told that ‘I can never deny this, he loved me very much’ but he was becoming irritable day by day. It had become difficult for us to live together. Whenever I left him, he would cry on the phone and call me back. He promised me that he wanted to leave all this and live a normal life. He didn’t kidnap me but I was also in love and used to go back to him. Not only this, Monica told that people saw her as a greedy woman and that she was with Abu for money. But it was not so, ‘I kept wandering from door to door with him. The happiness I found with my parents and on my own earnings was not found with Abu.

I regained my senses as soon as I was arrested

The year came in 2002 when Monica came into limelight when she was arrested along with Abu Salem while entering Portugal with a fake passport. Monica says that she was very happy with that arrest because she had hopes of getting out of this swamp and going to India. But it was not so easy. After being arrested, Monica was read Abu’s charge sheet. In which many murders, bomb blasts, ransom and other allegations were involved. Monica was heartbroken after reading that charge sheet. She had decided that she would never have any relationship with Abu. But he also had it in his heart that Abu would also come to accept him. He was sentenced to 3 years in Portugal. When her parents from Norway came to visit her in prison in Portugal, she broke down. He realized what he had done.

Those words in the letter lines

First Monica spent 3 years in jail in Portugal and then she was brought to India by a chartered plane in 2005. He served punishment for a crime he never committed. Before leaving the prison in Portugal, the time had come to end the relationship with Abu. He wrote a letter to Abu from jail in which there were no words to write with a broken heart, only a few lines from the song of the film ‘Saraswatichandra’ – ‘Leave the whole world, it is not suitable for anyone, there are many tasks more important than love for a man, love is not everything for life.’

Last goodbye to Abu Salem

Monica’s last mention was about Abu that when both of them got down from the chartered plane, both of them looked at each other. Abu waved ‘Hi’ to her from a distance. Monica stood quietly and without any reply, she turned her face away from Abu. This was a very sad moment for me, I had in my mind that Abu can no longer move ahead with you, hence goodbye. While Monica was in Hyderabad jail, Abu kept sending letters and flowers for her. But Monica did not give him any reply. Abu had also accepted with time that Monica was no longer a part of his life.

fire of humiliation

In 2007, Monica got bail on the condition that she would have to live in Punjab but this was not possible. She did not want to live like other prisoners and asked the court for permission to live and work in Mumbai. She got permission but the industry had closed the doors for Monica. It was difficult for them to find work, let alone a roof. In Mumbai, where he earned his name by working, he had to wander from house to house in the same city. They were made to vacate the house overnight. It was one of the most humiliating days in Monica’s life.

‘Bigg Boss’ 2 changed life

In the year 2008, Monica was offered ‘Bigg Boss’ 2. For which he got a good amount. She did not become the winner of ‘Bigg Boss’ but remained a part of the show till the finale. His closeness increased with Rahul Mahajan. But Monica expressed her pain to everyone in that show and told the whole truth for which she had to pay the price of love. Monica burst into tears. Monica admitted that she could have repented more than regret and she did. After coming out of the show, he bought his own flat in Mumbai. Life and the industry could not remain disappointed with him for long and Sanjay Leela Bhansali offered him his first TV show ‘Saraswatichandra’. In which Monica appeared in a negative role and received the maximum awards for the same. Monica lives in Mumbai, runs her own salon and goes to many events as a guest. Reportedly, after being married to Abu Salem, the actress did not marry again. Monica is alone at the age of 50 but happy.