There are scores of people in the country who married a person out of their religion. While they continue to live in peace with their partner and family, those in the public eye sometimes have to face the brunt of unhappy fans and followers for choosing to live their life with the person they love.
Bollywood actor Manoj Bajpayee is also among the many people who had an inter-religion marriage.
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The ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ actor was first married to a girl from Delhi during his struggling days but that sadly ended. He then crossed paths with actress Shabana Raza AKA Neha Bajpayee right after her debut film ‘Kareeb’.
It was love at first sight for Manoj as he fell for her simplicity and courage after she came to Indian filmmaker Hansal Mehta’s party wearing no make-up and oiled hair in 1998.
“Maine socha ki yaar Bollywood ki kisi heroine mein to itna saahas nahi ki baalo mein tel lagakar party mein aa jaaye, to bas is saadgi pe dil aa gaya (I thought no heroine in Bollywood would have the courage to come to a party with oil in her hair, this simplicity caught my heart),” his biography ‘Manoj Bajpayee- Kuch Paane Ki Zid’, written by Piyush Pandey read.
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The couple then got married in 2006 and now have a daughter named Ava Nayla. Recently, the actor was in conversation with journalist Barkha Dutt.
When Dutt asked him if there were any religious scrutiny when he married Shabana, he revealed, “Had there been any, it was not conveyed to me, it was not made obvious to me.”
“I come from a Brahmin family, she comes from a reputed family. But, surprisingly, none of my family members objected to it. Never. (have there been comments on caste or religion). Till now, never.”
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Talking about them being spiritual and proud of their religions, he added, “She’s a proud Muslim, like I’m a proud Hindu, but it doesn’t clash with each other. Because more than religious we are far more spiritual.”
When asked if their families ever objected to their inter-faith marriage, the Indian actor said:
“Even if they would’ve talked about the religion of my wife, they could not have the strength or the courage to speak to me, on my face. Because they know that I don’t mince my words. I’m very hard when it comes to anyone talking like that. I come very, very hard. I’m a tough guy then. I don’t take it nicely.”
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Like any other sensible person, Manoj becomes defensive whenever anyone tries to talk about his wife’s religion or points fingers at their marriage, and rightly so.