Exclusive! Munawar Faruqui on celebrating Eid with wife and family: It feels special now; says he and wife met "at the right time"
Munawar Faruqui; PC: Tejas Kudtarkar
In Junagadh, a young Munawar Faruqui would eagerly await
Eid
—not just for the celebrations, but for the joy of receiving Eidi from his elders and donning new clothes. Years later, now settled in a posh Mumbai apartment, Munawar's excitement for Eid remains just as vibrant, though the roles have beautifully reversed—he's now the one giving Eidi.
As the nation comes alive with festivities, the former
Bigg Boss
winner sits down with Bombay Times to share his heartfelt reflections on Eid, family, and the traditions that continue to shape his life.
'Eid is the number one festival for me'
Eid, for Munawar, is much more than a festival—it's the pinnacle of celebration, a time to bond with family and spread happiness. 'Eid is the most celebrated festival and the number one festival for me. Eid for me is always with the family and distributing food,' Munawar tells us.
As a child, Eidi was a treasured part of Eid, a moment to feel valued and excited about new beginnings. 'We would look forward to Eidi which will range from one rupee to ten. And the uncle who would give us ten rupees would be revered the most (laughs).
We would aim to collect at least Rs 100-120. All the boys would wear new clothes, and then go to a mela near our village. The next day we would collect more money and go to a waterpark.
So, it used to be a two-day festivity. And those were some of the most beautiful days, where we would just be happy,' Munawar recalls.
Now, Munawar experiences the joy from the other side of tradition—giving Eidi and spreading happiness himself.
'The tables have turned,' he says, adding, 'And it is beautiful. I feel very blessed that I am able to help or give people Eidi. Eidi is not a few bucks, but it is happiness. Whenever I give Eidi to the younger ones, I see myself in them. It would take me back to my young days.'
The festival is also a reminder to be grateful. Munawar, who started his career as a standup comedian, admits he has a lot to be grateful about. 'When I used to go school, I would hop on a friend's cycle.
Once his mother taunted me, and since then I started walking to the school. I used to pray to God that I just need a cycle. I would pray that I just need a cycle and I don't want anything else. And when my cycle got repaired, I used to feel I have everything.
I was happy with just a cycle, so now everything is a bonus. I am the happiest. I often I sit in my apartment, and it clicks me where I am; I admire everything about life,' the
Malaal
singer shares.
'Eid ki biryani ka swaad hi alag hai'
Munawar Faruqui; PC: Tejas Kudtarkar
While Munawar claims he can make anything, and loves cooking, he avoids making anything on Eid. 'I don't experiment on Eid,' he quips. He adds, 'I love eating biryani any day, anywhere. But the biryani that is made on Eid is different. Eid ki biryani ka swaad alag hai, when you eat with your family and it is made in such large portions. I love Sheer khurma, but I prefer it when it is a day old as the mile gets thicker. So, my wife makes fresh Sheer khurma just the way I like it.
She keeps the consistency exactly the way I prefer.'
'It was important for both of us to meet at the right time'
This is Munawar's second Eid with his wife – makeup artist Mehzabeen Coatwala. Munawar praises his wife's role in organizing Eid, especially taking care of the shopping. 'My wife has taken care of that department really very well of shopping. She is very organized. She takes care of herself and the kids,' he mentions. As the family of four – the two have two children – celebrates Eid this year, Munawar states, 'We were together last year together.
And it feels special now. Last two years, I would go to my sister's place for Eid. But this time everyone is going to come to my place for Eid. Now my family is here. So, forty people will be here and we will throw a dawaat.'
Talking about finding his true companion, Munawar states it is all about the timing. 'There comes a time, when you get better with relationships, and understanding people. You aren't immature anymore; you don't look for relationships that you aren't sure where they will take you.
So, with time, age, and experience, you understand what a life partner is and how important they are. It was important for both of us to meet at the right time.
Also, to find your destination, you need to go through the journey. Sometimes the journey can be beautiful, and sometimes it can be bad. However, even the bad ones turn out to be beautiful. Some people find their destination sooner and some later. Hume thoda waqt laga but it is a good ending.
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