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.”

Piracy has morphed into something far more dangerous than bootleg DVDs. In his latest series First Copy that is set in the 1990s, director Farhan Zamma dives into this shadowy world as he tells the story of Arif, an unemployed youngster who is lured by the quick money of film piracy.

“Growing up in the 1990s, I saw how DVD piracy became an affordable, accessible form of entertainment that families consumed together. What struck me later was that while the industry has explored major scams of Harshad Mehta, Nirav Modi, and [Abdul Karim] Telgi, we’ve never told the story of piracy. It impacted the growth of Indian cinema, yet it was never addressed on screen,” says the director.

Zamma has told stories across formats, from web series Taj: Divided By Blood and Happily Ever After (2020) to documentaries, including Heritage Trails One District One Product (2021). Those past experiences helped him shape the Amazon MX Player series. The director shares that while his love for research-driven storytelling fuelled First Copy’s script, the protagonist came to life only when he saw Munawar Faruqui.

“The story lacked a central character. That changed when I watched Munawar’s Dongri Ka Rider. The moment I saw it, I knew we had found our Arif. There were questions about whether he could act, but we were confident in our choice.”

His research of 13 months took him through the wildest true stories. “The stories revealed the scale of the issue. This wasn’t just petty theft; it was an organized system,” asserts the director.

Piracy continues to plague Indian cinema even today. Last month, news emerged that as per an audit commissioned by Sikandar’s makers, the Salman Khan-starrer had suffered losses of about R91 crore due to piracy. Mention this to Zamma, and he says, “We are making a show about piracy in an age where content is pirated before the credits roll. First Copy doesn’t glorify piracy. We’re holding up the mirror to a system that remains broken; the tools may have changed, but the problem hasn’t.”

As part of his research on film piracy, Farhan Zamma learnt about real-life experiences of many filmmakers. He recounts, “Sanjay Gupta recalled being forced by the underworld to sell his film’s international rights at double the usual price so that those prints could be pirated abroad and smuggled back into India just before the release. Madhur Bhandarkar shared how some producers, overwhelmed by mounting losses, ended up selling their own reels to pirates simply to recover [a part of] the cost.”

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.

A cloud of fear is hanging over the shoot of some projects in Mumbai. A day after mid-day reported the safety protocols implemented on the sets of Salman Khan’s three projects (Producers go all out to secure Bhai, October 24), we have learnt that security measures have been heightened on the set of Munawar Faruqui’s upcoming show, Playground, as well. This development comes amid the looming threats from Lawrence Bishnoi’s gang, after Baba Siddique’s murder.

While the comedian has reportedly been provided police security in the wake of the Nationalist Congress Party leader’s assassination on October 12, we’ve heard that Amazon mini TV—which is backing the gaming reality show—also gave Faruqui a 40-member security detail. In addition, the Madh Island set, where the team has been shooting since early October, has been closed to outsiders. 

“Outsiders have been barred from entering the set. No one is allowed to meet Munawar without first furnishing their ID to the security team, as only cast and crew members are allowed to visit him. Most members are also living on the premises, thus minimizing the chances of new hands on deck. A security team of 10 has been deployed that mans the set on rotation, thus ensuring the safety of the entire unit,” says a source.

A fan meet-up with Faruqui was slated for the coming days. The source adds, “Keeping the current scenario in mind, it was cancelled.”

Several celebrities, including comedian Munawar Faruqui have expressed their outrage following the horrific rape and murder of a medical trainee in Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital that has shaken the nation.

Speaking to us, Faruqui says, “A hospital is a place where lives are saved. We consider it the safest place, but if a doctor can go through something like that [in a hospital], it sets an example ki aurat kahin bhi safe nahi hai.”

He continues, “Being a man, I feel very ashamed. We’ve been hearing how such incidents have been happening with baby girls and mujhe bolne mein bhi sharam aa rahi hai ki kayi log toh animals ko bhi nahi chhod rahe hain.”

The 32-year-old, who penned a poem titled Mubarak Ho Beti Hui Hai on his Instagram, shares, “The poem was not just about the Kolkata case, but what women go through all their life. The line, ‘Bachti aayi hai gande mehmaanon ki nazron se bhi’ is about how some children are molested even at home. Women are subjected to so much, be it at home or in public.”

Amid the uproar, some debates on social media have turned the incident into a man vs woman issue. Faruqui goes on to request men to not lose sight of what really matters: “Main bas ek hi baat bolna chahunga sab mardon ko, ki kuch mat bolo. Auratein jo bhi bol rahi hain, usko nazar jhuka kar sunn lo. Iss samay agar woh gusse aur frustration mein yeh bhi keh rahi hain ki sabhi mard aise hain, toh chup chap sunn lo, because right now, they are going through a lot.”

Asserting that stricter safety measures need to be implemented, he adds, “There is a lot [to be done] in terms of women’s safety. Police presence has become a necessity in a lot of places, such as late night public transportation. So, patrolling should increase and there should be working CCTV cameras everywhere.”

The father of two also says he wants to teach his kids to respect others, irrespective of gender. “It pains me to even think about what a father or brother goes through when their daughters or sisters go through something like this. Since I have a son and a daughter, I want them to understand how to respect the other gender,” he ends.

The Pydhonie police have booked seven people who allegedly threw eggs at a sweet shop when Bigg Boss winner Munawar Faruqui visited Mohammed Ali Road on the occasion of Iftari (fast-breaking evening meal of Muslims in Ramadan) on April 9.

A huge crowd had gathered to enjoy the food and see Faruqui, who was allegedly pushed by the crowd as the people requested selfies with him. “There was a chaotic situation as people dragged Faruqui as everyone wanted a picture with him. Different shopkeepers were requesting him to visit their shops, make Instagram reels, and post photos to gain publicity,” said a police officer.

However, the situation worsened when Faruqui reached a sweet shop near Minara Masjid.  He had entered the shop and the owner of neighbouring shop allegedly threw eggs in a fit of rage as Faruqui couldn’t visit his shop.

“In such a chaotic situation he visited one sweet shop and then the rival sweet shop’s owner and his co-workers threw eggs on the shop he was visiting,” said an officer.

According to the police, the rival shop owner allegedly had a verbal altercation and used abusive words as he wanted Faruqui to visit his shop.

“We have adequate security on Mohammed Ali Road, however, a minor incident had occurred. We have booked seven people in this matter and a notice was served to them,” said Zone 2 DCP Mohit Kumar Garg.

The seven people were booked under Sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (punishment for rioting), 355 (assault or criminal force with intent to dishonour a person), 504 (intentional insult), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.

Two years ago, Ankita Lokhande and her husband, Vicky Jain, won the reality show Smart Jodi. Everyone felt that they shared the perfect partnership. Cut to Bigg Boss 17 recently, their constant fights, heated arguments and even talk of a possible separation became one of the highlights of the show. Whether it was for real or something planned just for the cameras is what left the viewers curious.

In an exclusive chat with BT, Ankita revealed that the fights were real, but now that’s all behind them.

She said, “We are the same people on and off the camera. There was no hidden agenda. Whatever you saw was real…we fought a lot inside the house, but deep down, we both knew that we loved each other, so if there was a mention of separation, it is untrue. We will never separate, and BB issues are behind us now.”

She added, “Vicky may have emerged as the dominant one in our relationship, but we both believe in putting forth our point of view. However, I am the first to say sorry and finish an argument and maybe unki taraf se thodi der ho gayi arguments ko khatam karne mein, therefore, people felt that our fights were not ending. We may have had clashes, and there may have been strong statements from my mother-in-law because she was getting emotional seeing her son inside the house, but all is well now. My family and relationships are more important than what happened inside the house!”

During her stint in Bigg Boss, Ankita shared some stories about her ex-boyfriend, actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who passed away in June 2020. The actress was trolled for it on social media, and many questioned whether it was her strategy for BB.

Ask her about it, and she says, “People forget that I was in the BB house for almost three months. It was like home for me. I spoke about Sushant with Abhishek (Kumar) and Munawar (Faruqui). They look up to Sushant and so I was talking to them about the kind of person he was and the work he did. I may have stopped talking about Sushant publicly, but at home or with family members, I still have heartfelt discussions about him. Just like my fights with Vicky were real, my discussions on Sushant, too, were real and not a planned strategy. As his ex-girlfriend, I feel proud to talk about him because I lived with him, and I will always have many things to share about him.”

The year has started on a great note for comedian-reality show star Munawar Faruqui. On his birthday, he emerged as the winner of Bigg Boss season 17 and walked away with a Rs. 50 lakh cheque. While it’s a big win for him, Faruqui says that even if he had to walk away without the trophy, he wouldn’t regret it.

“From day one until the end, I never gave up hope in life. Not for a minute did I feel that I had no chance to win. Somewhere, I was also [mentally] prepared to leave this stage empty-handed, knowing that I would depart as a better person.”

It is evident that the reality series takes a toll on contestants’ mental health. The comedian also went through several ups and downs on it and was seen emotionally breaking down when his past relationships were exposed on national television. He still calls it “an experience of a lifetime.”

“One thing the show made me realize is that when you assume you are perfect [in reality], you don’t understand where you actually lack. In the house, all the difficult situations I faced—situations that I would have avoided or let time heal on its own if I were outside, especially in terms of relationships—gave me strength to confront them. I will now keep trying to face things head on and be prepared to handle them in real time.”

After winning Bigg Boss, the star explains that he is clearer on how his journey panned out and the friends he has made for life. He considers Abhishek Kumar, who was the first runner-up, a close friend. 

“In the last few weeks, Abhishek and I had an argument and I went overboard. I was a little too hard on him, which is something I regret. Having said that, [for the people I had a disagreement with], I am not someone who holds grudges. I believe in letting go, which has been my mantra for life. Bigg Boss has made me the happiest person in the house. I believe whatever happened in the house was just a situation, and I believe in letting it all go,” says the comedian, who is all set to return to his comedy career.

Asked about his future plans, Faruqui says that he has no plans to limit himself to one genre or field. “I regard work with a lot of importance. I want to do whatever comes my way; I don’t wish to restrict myself by doing only one thing. Writing has been my passion. Whenever I find a free moment, I write poems in my head; that is my art, which has kept me going. It was a special moment for me when Bigg Boss recited my shayari on the show,” beams the comedian-writer as he heads for several parties hosted to celebrate his win.

For Munawar Faruqui, what makes any festival complete is the love and blessings of family “along with great food”. Sharing his Eid-ul-Adha plans, the comedian-rapper, who has taken three days off from work, says, “Eid is extremely special for me. Like every year, it’s going to be a low-key Eid-ul-Adha. I will celebrate the day with my friends and family. Of course, gorging on the delicious food is another big highlight of the festival for me.”

For the 31-year-old, Eid is never complete without biryani and sheer khurma. “I look forward to enjoying these two dishes every year. I remember when I was a kid, there used to be limited sheer khurma made at home, so I would keep my share in the refrigerator to relish it the next day, too. Meanwhile, on the day of Eid-ul-Adha, I’d have sheer khurma at my relatives’ and friends’ homes,” he recalls.

Looking back at how he celebrated the festival in his younger days compared to today, he admits that things have changed.

“We had limited resources back then, so we celebrated the festival accordingly. At that time, getting Rs. 50 as Eidi felt like a huge sum. We would go to a mela and spend all the money. Since I understand the value of that gift, I ensure that kids in my family get a lot of Eidi and are able to enjoy everything to the fullest,” Faruqui ends.

Munawar Faruqui earned his fanbase and became a name to reckon with in the comedy circuit. However, the artiste, who lately has been focusing a lot of music, aspires to broaden his horizons and shed the labels attached to him.

But, he’s quick to clarify, “It doesn’t mean I’ve shifted my focus [to music]. I’m simultaneously doing comedy also. I released a song from my upcoming album Madaari and then I put out a video named Kela, which did really well. Toh main gaano ke beech mein standup videos bhi daal deta hoon.”

While some believe Faruqui is venturing out into a newer space because of the controversies he landed in when his jokes didn’t go well with a section of people, the comedian-rapper insists that’s not the case.

“Main music iss liye kar raha hoon kyunki mujhe maza aa raha hai. It has nothing to do with jokes not landing,” he says, adding, “As a writer, I filter my jokes thoroughly so that I feel satisfied before presenting them to an audience. People may later say, ‘Oh, isne usse mota kaise bola, ya kaala kaise bola’, but if they first laugh at my jokes, I consider my job done. That means my joke was funny.”

Asked if he wishes to pursue music as a full-time career option, he says that was never his focus. “Career mera bann chuka hai already! I just want to entertain more and more people. Stadium bharna hai; how to do that is what I have to figure out,” he quips, and explains, “For an artiste, it’s very difficult to make a transition from one art form to another. Aap comedian ho toh logon ko lagta hai ki music shaunk se kar raha hoga. Even after my album gets released, I know 50% of the people will not even realize that I’ve actually sung the songs.”

The resumption of theatrical releases in the aftermath of the lockdown was expected to have spelt the death knell of streaming platforms, which saw unprecedented success during the pandemic. Exposing the fallacy of such notions, OTT releases — with their superlative content — continued to find favour among the masses in 2022, with fans now finding themselves drawn to their favourite web show characters.

Projects like Mukhbir - The Story of a Spy, CAT, and Monica O My Darling reaffirmed the place of thrillers in the digital space, while with shows like Rocket Boys, fans found reasons to celebrate the works of Indian scientists. If Abhishek Tripathi’s mundane life as the panchayat secretary of a small village was still interesting enough for fans of Panchayat 2 to consume, Shefali Shah’s act as the tough cop in Delhi Crime 2 had families come together for some late-night binge-watching.

Evidently then, when the Mid-day and Radio City Hitlist OTT Awards returned with its fourth edition this year, web-watchers shared their love for their favourite films, stars and shows by voting in abundance. The late Rishi Kapoor and Juhi Chawla’s drama, Sharmaji Namkeen emerged to be the Best Direct-to-Web Film, while Lock Upp winner Munawar Faruqui won the Best Internet Sensation title. Chawla defeated the young guns to win the Best Supporting Actor (Film) title, and Shah took home two titles for Best Actor Series (Delhi Crime S02) and Best Actor Film (Jalsa).

“My character in Delhi Crime 2 is one of the most challenging ones, and yet the most rewarding too. Vartika became unprecedented after season one, so, though I was familiar with her, I was terrified to play her again, since there were big shoes to fill. The expectations were higher. I wanted to ensure that regardless of the case, she comes across as equally dedicated, driven, focused and unmovable when it comes to her duty. Yet the aspects that make her human should not be hidden.”

Talking about the film, Jalsa, Shah says, “Ruksana is fiercely protective of her kids, which I identify with, and hence, I could justify the things she does. There is an unpredictability to the character, but, she thinks from her heart, like a mother would.”

Rajkummar Rao, who took home the title of Best Actor for Monica O My Darling, was celebrated for the portrayal of Jayant Arkhedkar, who suffers the consequences of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Rao says of his win, “To be honest in the situation without intentionally trying to create [humour] was a big challenge, because, as an actor, you become greedy. You begin to think that there is this playground and [there is room to] make things funnier. But, I had to find that right balance in my performance to serve the genre. It needed to be a controlled performance and I had a great time following Vasan’s [Bala] vision. He is an exceptional filmmaker. It’s a layered script, but the way Vasan made the film made me so proud of him. I can’t wait to associate with him again.”

TVF’s Arunabh Kumar, whose offering Panchayat 2 won in the Best Creator/Showrunner category and also in the Best New Season segment, said, “I have been following the Radio City and mid-day Hitlist OTT Awards from the first season and would wonder when we would win. With your faith and trust, we will keep telling better stories.”

Taking home the title for Best Actor (Series), Rocket Boys actor Ishwak Singh reflects on his portrayal of Dr Vikram Sarabhai, and says, “I learnt so much as an actor and about filmmaking.”

Best New Series: Mukhbir - The Story Of A Spy (ZEE5)

Best New Season: Panchayat S02 (Amazon Prime Video)

Best Adaptation (Book/Series): Mukhbir - The Story Of A Spy (ZEE5)

Best Direct-to-Web Film: Sharmaji Namkeen (Amazon Prime Video)

Best Actor (Male) Series: Ishwak Singh (Rocket Boys, Sony LIV)

Best Actor (Female) Series: Shefali Shah (Delhi Crime S02, Netflix)

Best Supporting Actor (Male) Series: Suvinder Vicky (CAT, Netflix)

Best Supporting Actor (Female) Series: Tillotama Shome (Delhi Crime S02, Netflix)

Best Actor (Male) Film: Rajkummar Rao (Monica O My Darling, Netflix)

Best Actor (Female) Film: Shefali Shah (Jalsa, Amazon Prime Video)

Best Supporting Actor (Male) Film: Gajraj Rao (Maja Ma, Amazon Prime Video)

Best Supporting Actor (Female) Film: Juhi Chawla (Sharmaji Namkeen, Amazon Prime Video)

Best Ensemble Cast (Series): Shantanu Shrikant Bhake (Pitchers S02, ZEE5)

Best Non-Fiction: Indian Predator: Murder In A Courtroom (Netflix)

Best Creator/Showrunner: TVF (Panchayat S02, Amazon Prime Video)

Top Internet Sensation: Munawar Faruqui (Lock Upp winner)