‘I used to clean, cook, wash for him’: When Monica Bedi talked about her tragic love story with gangster Abu Salem

"When you’re in love you don’t see beyond," Indian actress and television presenter Monica Bedi had once said in an interview while speaking about her much-talked-about relationship with 1993 Mumbai blasts convict Abu Salem. The Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat actress found herself in the middle of a storm after falling in love with the gangster. But, today, she has managed to turn her life around for the better.

The duo reportedly fell in love after meeting at an event in Dubai in 1998. Post the event, they kept in touch and their friendship grew stronger. After getting to know each other and being friends with Abu for nine months, Monica and Abu decided to meet again. The former Bigg Boss 2 contestant had alleged that Abu had said he owns a car showroom and organises shows. Like any other couple, they went out on dinner dates and watched movies together during the first few months of the relationship. But soon, Monica's life was about to change, for forever.

Monica, who was still oblivious to Abu's dark secrets, gradually realised that he is someone "powerful." But, it wasn't until her arrest in Portugal that she knew exactly what Abu had done. A report by Filmfare quotes the actress as saying, "When I read the charge sheet against him in Portugal – the penalties, the serious offences, the loss of people… it was shattering. Not that I didn’t know that he was running away from the authorities. But it was all spelt out on paper. That was an eye-opener."

While people accused Monica of being a gold digger, she was in fact going through a lot of hardships at that time. In the interview, Monica had also spoken about the struggles she faced because of her relationship with the terrorist. Saying that she was the happiest when they got arrested, Monica said, "Abu had money. So people believed that I lived like a princess. But I’ve only seen tough times and struggle with him. We kept moving from one place to another. I used to clean, cook, wash for him… In fact, I learnt cooking from him. If I witnessed a good life, it was only in my parents’ home or with my hard-earned money. People would say, ‘She is with him for money’. But where is the money? I don’t grudge the hardships; it was only his nature that had turned aggressive and irritable. I wondered why I was pulled in the mess."

Years after this, Monica decided to start a new year and a fresh career by putting her past behind. She returned to acting in 2013 Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Saraswatichandra. Currently, Monica is living a happy life and also shares glimpses of it on social media. In her Instagram profile's bio, the diva describes herself as "Forever fierce and fearless!"