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Life is(nt) a song

Photo: S. Subramanium

A different tune Monica Bedi

Anyone else would have wilted under all that scrutiny and harsh talk. Not Monica Bedi. In the dock for “mistakes” committed years before, she re-emerged, determined to take stock of her life. “I’ll be truthful; people were not exactly kind when I came out of the mess I was in. I felt hatred around me. But, I believe in miracles, and the miracle in my life was ‘Big Boss 2’,” says the actor-singer, who has come out with “Ek Onkaar”, a devotional album.

No one knew she could sing, including Monica herself. “When Universal Music approached me, I was shocked. I have never looked at anything other than acting. I am not a singer. But, they convinced me that it would be more of chanting words in sur than heavy-duty singing,” she laughs. “I believe God gave me this opportunity. I am a very religious person, and faith kept me going during my bad phase. It helped that I was Punjabi and could relate to the album.”

Once she signed on the dotted line, she sat with those who recited the Guru Granth Sahib to ensure the pronunciation was perfect. “And, the recitation was from my heart. It was a conversation with God. You see, I have lived among such people and gone through times when we all called out to God, beseeching him to hear and help us,” she says, on a serious note.

The album includes a chant of the revered ‘Mool Mantra’, one of the holiest chants of the Sikhs. This is followed by ‘Simran’ of ‘Wahe Guru’ and the five Pauris from Japji Sahib that speak about the universality of God.

How does she rate her effort? “I was impressed with myself,” she laughs. Impressed enough to pursue an alternative career? “Well, no. This is not an attempt to embark on a singing career. But, yes, I believe an actor who can sing will fare better because you can emote better. However, if this album is received well, I might take up another such assignment,” she says.

So, how has life been treating her these days? “Great, actually. After ‘Bigg Boss 2’ people’s perception of me changed. No big film could have given me that kind of acceptability. People saw the ‘real’ me and realised that I was not as bad as it was made out to be,” she states, candidly.

That stint with reality television continued with “Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa”, where she shook a leg. Now, she’s signed up for another reality show and a movie that will start rolling in September. Details of both are under wraps.

Does she ever ruminate over her past? Would she like to turn the clock back on her life? “Yes. My greatest regret is that I did not share my problems with my parents. If I had told them, I would have never had to face the problems I did. They would have taken me away long before. We all make the mistake of trusting our friends, who may be as immature as us, little realising that no one loves us more than our parents,” she says wistfully.

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