Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; May 21, 2019)

Versatile actress, skilled dancer, style icon and one of Bollywood’s original oomph queens, Urmila Matondkar — now a politician — is also an eloquent speaker. Fiercely private about her personal life, Urmila made an exception as she opened her heart and the doors of her beautiful house, in the city for us, for an uninhibited chat on politics, marriage, films and religion. Excerpts from the conversation:

Not many actors have been successful politicians. When you announced your foray into politics, many believed you did it since your movie career, too, was long over.
Yes, politics is not everyone’s cup of tea. But there were people like Sunil Dutt as well, who did well in politics. 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. There’s nothing that politics can give me that I didn’t have before. I don’t get swept by what people think as it reflects their intellect.

In 2016, you married Kashmiri model-turned-businessman Mohsin Akhtar Mir in a private ceremony. The wedding was a low-key affair and you went completely off the radar post it.
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. 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.

How did you meet Mohsin and what drew you to him?
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. 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.

There was speculation over you converting to Islam after marriage, which didn’t turn out to be true.
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. 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.

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.

It’s only now that people have discovered that you are an eloquent speaker.
Films were the most beautiful part of my life, but they were not the be-all and end-all of my life. People are surprised to know that I read a lot. I have been an excellent student and I come from an academically-oriented family. It’s my time to help those who supported me, irrespective of who I was, where I came from, or what my surname was. There came a chance and I took it up. Whether I win or lose, those who showed confidence in me, I will always stand by them.

Will we see you in the movies sometime soon?
I don’t think that acting in films is a possibility in the near future. Politics is a new field for me, and I have never done anything in a haphazard manner. Plus, it deals with people’s lives. I don’t want to do 50 things at a time.

You were an outsider when you joined the film industry. Do you think that the dialogue and debate about nepotism, which has unfolded over the last few years, should have happened before?
Certain things won’t change. If you have to make your way, you have to make your way. I never spoke about it then and I won’t speak about it now. These things only take away your energy and bring nothing to the table. I am not one of those people who make statements to be in the news. I am extremely happy and satisfied with the way I conducted my career and what I could achieve. I constantly stuck my neck out and did films and roles that were hugely unconventional. There may have been actresses of my era who were more successful than I was, but I doubt if anyone has shown the kind of range that I have, in terms of genres or characters that I chose.

You were a style icon in the ’90s. What do you make of fashion in Bollywood today with all the stylists and the PR machinery that goes with it?
I didn’t do it to make a statement. There is no negativity or bitterness for what’s happening today. I have said no to 50 Rangeelas after Rangeela and 50 Judaais after Judaai. I never repeated my characters. People were shocked to see the horror films that I did at the time. When Kaun didn’t do well, they told me not to continue with the genre, but I insisted that we shouldn’t doubt the intellect of the audience. As far as style is concerned, I find this whole thing (stylist-PR) a bit funny. Your personality needs to stand out, of course, if you have one. I genuinely feel that maybe it’s the need of the hour, but I can’t relate to this process.

Mohua Das (THE TIMES OF INDIA; April 28, 2019)

In a nation obsessed with politics and cinema in equal measure, Urmila Matondkar has turned out to be a smart arrow in Congress’s quiver. The 45-year-old actress who went from being a child star to a sultry heroine to an unshakeable contender from Mumbai North has been electioneering fiercely against sitting MP Gopal Shetty, a BJP veteran. While rivals claim that Shetty will retain the seat without much trouble, they are evidently dazed by Matondkar’s high-pitched, media-fuelled poll campaign.

Make no mistake. In the year of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (the 1995 Shah Rukh Khan-Kajol blockbuster), Rangeela was ground-breaking. It made the uninhibited Matondkar much sought after and a clear contender for the top perch. Matondkar who was once a little girl rocking on a wooden horse to the famous Lakdi Ki Kaathi song notched up tinsel town’s pecking order in no time. Unlike many child actors who faded, Matondkar hung in there, waiting for the right adult role. It arrived in the form of a forgettable film, but an encounter with director Ram Gopal Verma changed her life.

A steady star for over a decade, delivering blockbusters like Rangeela, Bhoot and Judaai, alongside critical hits like Ek Hasina Thi and Satya, the actress retreated into a more private life around 10 years ago. She lay low for years, making sporadic appearances in films before surprising everyone with sudden news of her hushed marriage with Mohsin Akhtar Mir – businessman and model, 10 years younger than her. She continued to stay away from the spotlight until Rahul Gandhi beckoned last month.

Matondkar worked in the pre-social media era but it isn’t hard to see that people still love her. Stars aren’t new to the constituency. Actor Govinda had contested the Lok Sabha election from Mumbai North and trounced Ram Naik, a BJP veteran and former Union minister back in 2004. The Rangeela girl after shifting base from Bandra to Kandivli has now managed to straddle the suburban-urban mosaic, wooing densely populated pockets from Dahisar to Malad, not with tall promises or star power but by bonding with locals. “People may take me as a glamour doll that the party is trying to use in order to pull a crowd but my actions and time will tell,” she told TOI.

She has ditched her air-conditioned car for an autorickshaw and her feet to hop through bastis and nagars (small settlements). She has stopped by the roadside to bite into a vada pav, sung songs with slum kids and engaged in cheery conversations with morning walkers in Marathi, Hindi and English. Instead of fiery campaign-style hustle, her speeches are breezy, tugging on the secular thread and harping on her middle class Maharashtrian upbringing, her father’s commitment to Seva Dal, and her educational background to define her commitment to political action. She has also managed to extract advice and assurances from old friend Raj Thackeray who has ensured that his party workers canvas for her.

Trying to break into the Borivli-Kandivli belt, which is largely Gujarati and a BJP stronghold, Matondkar spoke her lines with flair and extoled the flavours of dhokla, thepla and gathiya. That apart, she has been channelling her inner ‘Mumbaichi Mulgi’ (daughter of Mumbai) with pride. On Gudi Padwa, she wrapped herself in a traditional nauvari sari paired with a paisley nath (nose ring) and joined women bikers to dance and play the lezim (a musical instrument with cymbals).

But what’s an electoral contest without some controversy? Within 24 hours of Matondkar joining Congress, social media posts had surfaced claiming that the actress had embraced Islam and changed her name to ‘Maryam Akhtar Mir’ after marriage. Not the kind to give into detractors, she laughed off the claims and made it a part of her poll rhetoric. “This is exactly the kind of vitiated political and social atmosphere that forced me to join politics,” she said. 

Hiren Kotwani (DNA; April 2, 2018)

She was last seen in EMI: Liya Hai Toh Chukana Padega a decade ago. While she did a few cameos in Hindi cinema and the Marathi film Ajoba in the interim, one missed seeing Urmila Matondkar on the big screen, where she truly belongs. With the song, Bewafa Beauty, in Blackmail, the actress, who has films like Drohi, Rangeela, Kaun?, Judaai, Daud, Deewangee, Bhoot and Pinjar and chartbusters like Kambakht Ishq (Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya), Chamma Chamma (Chinagate) to her credit, is once again grabbing eyeballs. We catch up with Urmila who talks about her sabbatical, marriage and more. Excerpts from the conversation...

It’s great to see you back on screen. Why did you go missing for so long?
It’s not about going missing; but there was nothing interesting or exciting enough to take up. If you notice, I had done a variety of roles in diverse genres within a short span. Unless something that was offered to me went beyond that, it didn’t make sense to do it. Also, over a period of time, there are other things that you want to do and they become your priorities. I wanted to travel. It’s different when you’re not married. That’s not the reason in my case. It’s just that unless I was doing something I hadn’t done before, I wasn’t going to take up any and every offer that came my way.

Talking about marriage, one didn’t even hear a whiff of a love story brewing till you announced that you were tying the knot with Kashmir-based model-businessman Mohsin Akhtar Mir.
I’ve always been a private person. There was nothing to talk about. People got to know about my marriage, which was the important part, when it happened.

Having been away from the screen for quite a while, what prompted you to break the hiatus with just a song for Blackmail?
When you listen to the track, you’ll understand the reason. The magical duo — composer Amit Trivedi and lyricist Amitabh Bhattacharya — has done a superb job. When director Abhinay Deo approached me, he said I don’t wish to do just another item song. And though this dance number will have thumkas, nakhras, jhatkas, it will have more to do with expressions, rather than just movements. I thought it would be amazing to do something like this. Moreover, Abhinay’s humour is also different. The way the song has been treated is important and the expressions had to be more sultry. My character is trying to convey the lyrics through her eyes and expressions. I’ve also been known for my glamorous and out-and-out dance numbers; and I’m game for something new and exciting.

Earlier, you had said that marriage would happen at the right time. In the two-odd years you’ve been married, how have you changed as a person?
Not much. If you have to change yourself or the other person too much, the purpose is lost. Marriage makes life fulfilling, you explore more things with a partner than when you are alone. When it happens at the right time, with the right person and for the right reason, only then does it have a meaning. There are not too many changes. I travel more often now. And since both of us like to travel, we take the opportunity to do that more than before.

Since your husband Mohsin is based in Kashmir, do you stay there more often now?
I do visit Kashmir a lot, but we don’t stay there for long. His work is managed by his team. If someone asks me if I’d love to go (to Kashmir), I’d say yes every time. You’ll find it strange but despite having travelled all over India for work, Kashmir is the only place I had not gone to. It’s a breathtakingly beautiful place. And the food is awesome.

Today, actresses are venturing into producing movies. Do you want to step behind the camera?
No, producing or directing is not my cup of tea. I’m happy being in front of the camera. It’s a big high and if it’s not a high, it’s no fun. So, I’m going to stick to acting for the time being.

For someone who started early — you were barely four when you debuted as a child artiste in B R Chopra’s Karm (1977) — how does the long break feel?
It doesn’t feel like a break. You’re very much part of films, being on the jury of award ceremonies or constantly mingling with the fraternity. At the same time, I also believe that there’s a beautiful world out there. It’s better to explore what the world has to offer. You realise that one lifetime is not enough to experience it. While it’s amazing to be in front of the camera, you need to do a lot of other things as well. When you’re acting, you can’t do all that and I’ve never been the kind of person to do 10 things at a time. So, it’s good to have a break and do other things. When something excites you, then you take it up.

Will it be this long before we see you on screen again?
As I said, if something exciting and interesting comes up, then I’ll take it up.

BOMBAY TIMES (March 5, 2016)

Bombay Times was the first to tell you that Bollywood actress Urmila Matondkar has tied the knot with Kashmiri businessman-model Mohsin Akhtar Mir at her Bandra home on Thursday. While it was reported that the actress had a Muslim wedding at her home, the mandap on the terrace suggested otherwise. A source, who attended the wedding, told us that the ceremony took place early morning following which the couple registered their marriage. An intimate party was hosted in the evening. The shaadi was preceded by a quiet mehendi and sangeet on Wednesday evening. The couple, who was seeing each other for a year, took an impromptu decision of taking the plunge. The two barely had time for any elaborate preparations. The day after their Hindu wedding, the newlyweds took off to Golden Temple. One hears that the formal nikaah will happen some time next week, which will be followed by a lavish reception at a suburban five-star hotel.

The Rangeeli actress tied the knot with Kashmiri businessman, Mohsin Akhtar
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 4, 2016)


Her apartment off Turner road in Bandra looks festive, lit up in blue, red and yellow lights. A large mandap has been erected on the terrace. On the first floor, a dozen women are walking around with face packs on. Two professional makeup men are generously applying the war paint on the ladies who are getting ready for the nikaah which will take place once the sun goes down. On the fifth floor of the building, bride Urmila Matondkar is readying herself to say "Qubool hai."

Only 24 hours ago, Mohsin Akhtar Mir, a former Kashmiri model-actor and now an embroidery designer based in Delhi, had driven to the actress's plush suburban residence. The two threw a private, rooftop party for a few close friends and family members, which went on all night. It was followed by a traditional Hindu wedding, complete with 'pheras' and a 'havan' on Thursday morning.

"The celebrations have been on since the last two days. Urmila madam has married Mohsin sir in her house. He moved in with his bags and will be living here. We have been told to inform anybody who asks that Urmila madam is out of Mumbai with her family and that another wedding is taking place in the building," one of the drivers spilled the beans.

The 35-year-old, Mr India 2007 runner-up met Urmila at an event through a mutual friend. He pursued her relentlessly till she finally gave in. "Mohsin sir has been coming here for the last two years. He has three sisters, all of whom are close friends of Urmila madam. His parents visited her last month to fix the wedding date. Mamta madam, her sister, organised the ceremony," revealed another driver, hoping to get some selfies with the bride's filmi friends. "But no celebrities have arrived since yesterday, only relatives and Manish Malhotra (designer)," he sighed.

There was a lot of commotion and the security doubled as more lights flickered to life on the terrace and a DJ began to play Hindi songs. Urmila finally made an appearance surrounded by guests dressed in anarkalis and pathanis. There was a lavish buffet laid out on the rooftop. "Everyone is having a great time except Urmila madam's dog, Max. No one took him out for a walk today," the driver sighed some more.

Urmila's publicist finally came down to inform that the newly weds were happily married and no photographers were being allowed as it is a "private affair". In an official statement, the actress, who according to the voter ID list is 45 years old, said, "We kept it an exclusive wedding with just family and friends at the celebration. Since our families wanted the wedding to be a low-key affair we mutually decided to keep it private. We seek your blessings on embarking on this new journey of our lives."

Urmila has acted in Hindi, Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil and Marathi films in her three-decadelong career. At nine, she made her acting debuted in Shekhar Kapur's Masoom, and graduated to lead roles wiuth N Chandra's Narsimha.

Despite a Chamatkar, no real miracle happened till her startling metamorphosis in Ram Gopal Varma's Rangeela. The two went on to collaborate on Satya, Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya, Kaun...? and Bhoot before they called it quits in 2007 after the ill-fated Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag, a contemporary remake of Sholay.

Mohsin fled from the Valley at 21. In an interview, (Times of India, July 14, 2008) while making his Bollywood debut with Saurabh Sengupta's It's A Man's World, he revealed, "My brother and I left Kashmir because mom started looking for a girl when I turned 21. I didn't want to get married then, I wanted to be a model. So we came to Delhi. Dad thought I'd come back in 15 days, but today he's proud of us. It was a struggle initially, but things changed after the crown (The Mr India runners-up title)."

It took him 14 years to design his marital dreams with Urmila. Hai Rama, yeh kya hua!
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Actress Urmila Matondkar wed a Kashmiri businessman in a secret ceremony yesterday
MID-DAY (March 4, 2016)

In what came as a pleasant surprise, Urmila Matondkar yesterday announced her secret wedding to a Kashmiri model-businessman through a media statement. The Rangeela girl, 42, tied the knot with Mohsin Akhtar Mir in an intimate ceremony last afternoon.

Says a source, “The couple kept it simple and private. Fashion designer Manish Malhotra, who is close to Urmila, was the only Bollywood personality present at the wedding.”

On February 29, actress-producer Preity Zinta, who got married to American financial analyst Gene Goodenough in Los Angeles, had also preferred to keep the nuptials a strictly private affair.

We hear Mohsin is nearly a decade younger to Urmila and has walked the ramp for Manish Malhotra, who might have played Cupid to the couple. The young man apparently ran away from his house at the age of 21 with his brother due to parental pressure to get married. He had a bit role in Farhan Akhtar’s Luck By Chance and played a male escort in an indie film titled It’s a Man’s World. Mohsin also featured as one of the lead heroes in an obscure comedy called Mumbai Mast Kalandar, say sources.

Talking about her big day, Urmila says, “We kept it an exclusive wedding with just family and friends at the celebration. Since our families wanted the wedding to be a low-key affair, we mutually decided to keep it private. We seek your blessings on embarking this new journey of our lives.”

The actress was last seen on the big screen with Himesh Reshammiya in Karzzz (2008), a remake of 1980 hit Karz. In 2012, she did voiceover for an animated Hindi film, Delhi Safari.