Actor and comedian Munawar Faruqui recently shared the heartbreaking story of his mother’s death during his teenage years, revealing a childhood filled with hardship and emotional turmoil. In a candid interview with Prakhar Gupta, Faruqui detailed the events surrounding his mother’s passing and his initial anger toward his family, particularly his father, for their perceived cruelty.
Faruqui recalled that his mother, who was 22 years into her marriage, never received the appreciation she deserved and endured immense suffering. He was just 13 years old when she took her own life. When he arrived at the hospital, he discovered his family had concealed the cause, a secret he believes was a denial of her pain. A family friend who worked as a nurse helped get his mother moved to the emergency room, but it was too late. He also spoke of witnessing his mother suffer abuse at his father’s hands, a memory that left him feeling powerless.
Following her death, Faruqui was not allowed to grieve. He was immediately burdened with household responsibilities and told to be strong and not to cry. This forced him to suppress his emotions, pretending everything was normal even during the funeral rites. While he was filled with resentment towards everyone who had mistreated his mother, he eventually found it in himself to forgive them.
His hatred for his father, whom he saw as a “villain,” also eventually faded. Two years after his mother’s death, his father suffered a paralysing attack that left 80% of his body incapacitated for 11 years. Watching his father suffer made Faruqui realise that he had already paid a price for his actions. This experience taught him to be forgiving, and he eventually let go of all the anger he held onto.