In the 90s, Monica Bedi was slowly making a name for herself in Bollywood. She had worked with big stars like Sanjay Dutt and Suniel Shetty, and people had started noticing her beauty and screen presence. But just as her career was picking up, her personal life took a dramatic turn. Monica fell in love with underworld gangster Abu Salem—a decision that changed everything. What began as a love story soon pulled her into a world of controversy, crime, and jail time.
Who was Abu Salem ?
Abu Salem, originally from Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh, began as a driver but joined Dawood Ibrahim’s gang in 1989. Over time, he rose through the ranks to become one of Dawood’s most trusted aides, gaining both notoriety in the underworld and increasing influence in Bollywood.
Monica and Abu’s relationship
Monica, who was originally from Punjab and had studied at Oxford, entered the film industry and soon gained attention for her beauty. Just as her career was beginning to take off, her name got linked to underworld figure Abu Salem. Their pictures started appearing in the media, and news of their relationship spread quickly. Over time, this connection began to overshadow her acting career.Abu reportedly pressured filmmakers to cast Bedi in movies, which brought her more controversy than success. Though she acted in films like Main Tera Aashiq and Jodi No. 1 with Sanjay Dutt, her relationship with Salem gave her the label of a gangster’s girlfriend. This led the industry to distance itself from her. In 2005, she was arrested in Portugal for using a fake passport. While agencies claimed she knew about Salem’s crimes, the court found no solid evidence against her.
The arrest that changed her life
In an interview, the actress revealed that she and Salem’s friendship began with phone calls. After nine months of talking, both of them met for the first time in Dubai, and from there their relationship blossomed. Monica said that initially, Salem had hidden his identity, and by the time she understood the truth, it was too late. After the Mumbai blasts, Abu Salem fled to the US, and from there he called Monica to Portugal. But the fate of both of them took a turn, and they were arrested at Lisbon airport. After being brought to India, Monica had to go to jail, and her life came to a standstill for a long time.
Life after prison
Abu Salem was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2017 and remains in jail. After her release, Monica Bedi appeared on reality shows like Bigg Boss and took up a few roles in television, but her film career never revived. She now lives in Mumbai, stays active on social media, and leads a quiet life away from the limelight.
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