As the biryani plates are laid out at Bayroute, BKC and relatives begin to visit his home, Munawar Faruqui gets ready to celebrate. But this Eid feels different. The comedian and actor is celebrating the festival with a new addition to the family – his daughter, Barirah.

“This Eid feels wholesome. It’s family time. A lot is happening, but in the middle of all that, I just feel thankful. That’s the most important feeling,” says Munawar. The celebrations are special this year for another reason, too. A day before Eid, he marked his anniversary with his wife Mehzabeen, while his son Mikhail’s birthday is tomorrow. Munawar calls it a “triple celebration”.

Munawar goes on to share how being a father to a girl has brought a new kind of joy into his life. "I thank the Almighty every day. Especially this year, it feels different. In Islam, there’s a saying that if God is happy with you, He gives you a son, and if He is very happy with you, He gives you a daughter. So, I feel this year has brought a different kind of happiness into my life. Work-wise also things are good, but this Eid is special because we have a new member in the family," he shares.

For Munawar, Eid has always been about togetherness. “Now, apart from fatherhood, I have other responsibilities as well, so Eid days are absolutely packed. Relatives visit us in the first half of the day and then we go to their homes later. There’s always a daawat and celebration. Eid is about family. Without family, there is no Eid.”

At the same time, the festival also brings memories of loved ones he has lost over the years. “Since childhood, Eid has always been with my mother and father. At times, I get emotional because the people I used to celebrate it with are not around anymore. It’s not a good feeling, but at the same time, there’s still so much to look forward to,” he says, adding how gratitude has always been central to his celebrations.

“Even if we had very little, we celebrated. Even if we had a lot, we celebrated the same way. We learnt how to enjoy Eid in kam se kam and in zyada se zyada too. That feeling has stayed with me till today.”

This Eid, Munawar also wants to embrace the spirit of sacrifice in a more personal way. “Sacrifice means letting go of something you love. There are so many things we don’t even use anymore, but we hold onto them emotionally,” he says with a laugh.

“I think I should finally go easy on my collection, especially of caps and shoes. I genuinely want to do some charity this year.”

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, 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.

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.”

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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People love to see me. I fly in a first class. I can never complain about anything. So much keeps happening with regards to my work, so much noise. But I never focus on that. I am only grateful. Main kabhi nahi shikhayat karta ki mere saath aisa kyun ho raha hai.