During an interaction with a daily, Urmila Matondkar spoke at length about her love story with husband Mohsin Akhtar Mir and she also spoke about clarifying the reports of converting into Islam after marriage.
Actor-turned-politician Urmila Matondkar is also a happily married woman. She surprised everyone by tying the knot with model-turned-businessman Mohsin Akhtar Mir in the year 2016. While talking about her big screen appearance, Urmila was seen in a full-fledged role in the film titled Ajoba released in 2014. However, last year, she did a special dance number in Abhinay Deo's Blackmail starring Irrfan Khan in the lead role. In 2019, Urmila made her debut as a politician by joining the Congress Party. She even contested from Mumbai North constituency during Lok Sabha General Elections.
During a recent interaction with Bombay Times, Urmila spoke about joining politics by stating, "It’s the intention that matters. I can’t speak for others, who couldn’t sustain in politics, but I can speak for myself. I didn’t want to cash in on my celebrity image. If that was the intention, I wouldn’t have campaigned the way I did. I wouldn’t have gone out all the way to reach out to people. Whether I win or lose, I intend to do the work I have promised to do. To say that I entered politics because my film career is over is a petty way of looking at it."
She even opened up about Mohsin and their love story. Check it out below:
1. A low-key marriage
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While talking to Bombay Times, when Urmila Matondkar was asked about her marriage ceremony being a private affair she said, I don’t like to talk about my personal life. I was never on the radar. I have always been a reclusive actor, who has believed in letting my work speak for itself."
Urmila further said, "I joined Instagram pretty late, that too, on my husband’s suggestion, who felt that this would be a great way to keep in touch with my fans. I have always been a private person, so even my marriage was a low-key affair."
2. Blooming love story
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On being quizzed about falling in love with Mohsin and where did they meet first, Urmila replied, "We met at Manish Malhotra’s (fashion designer) niece’s wedding. A lot of Kashmiri work that is used by Manish comes from Mohsin’s factory. He is into handicrafts and artwork of Kashmir, so he been working with Manish for many years now. That’s how they met and that’s how we met."
Praising Mohsin, Urmila said, "He is confident, yet easy-going. Mohsin is sure of himself without being cocky about it and has those things which I feel are important in a companion. We hit it off instantly."
3. Speculations of converting into Islam
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After Urmila tied the knot with Mohsin, there were several reports making the rounds that the actor has converted into Islam. However, it turned out to be untrue. Talking about the same, the Judaai actor said, "That was in bad taste. That’s the kind of politics I don’t appreciate. First of all, how does it matter? The kind of person I am, I have always done things my way and with my head held high. I am proud of who I am, and I am not saying I am infallible, but I have never done things that I would be ashamed of. The kind of industry that I was in (films), it takes a lot to not be dragged into toxicity, backbiting, negativity, gossip and bitching. I have never done all of this, so this (religious conversion news) appalled me the most."
(All photos via Instagram)
She added, "I am a Hindu. That’s the religion I have followed, but I believe in Hinduism in a wider sense, not the kind of Hinduism that’s sold to us today. Even if I had converted to Islam, I would have said it with as much pride. However, it’s none of anyone’s business. I am not just talking about the secular fabric of the country because I am married to a Muslim. Contrary to that, because I always believed in it, I was open enough to marry a man of a different faith."
4. On clarifying things
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Urmila went on to say that it was her duty to clarify the reports as she was contesting elections. Matondkar concluded by saying, "I wouldn’t have responded to these speculations and dignified them otherwise, but because I was a candidate contesting an election, it was my duty to clarify things. I owed it to the people. People ask me about being a Maharashtrian, a Mumbaikar and seeing others coming into the city. But that’s the beauty of it. Religion and region are secondary. I think humanity and Indianness are the only way to progress. The country needs to be in harmony."
