The Girl With The Golden Statuette
By
Jaskiran Kapoor
Guneet Monga Kapoor
Guneet Monga Kapoor
‘Sunny was based in Delhi and I was in Mumbai. He ran a bridal couture store and I didn’t know how it would work,’ says Guneet, laughing how she had penned a ‘pretty badtameez (cheeky) profile’ on the marriage site, citing “I am world famous nothing…I am at the very edge of a rock”. Clearly, I was disinterested. There was a doc from LA, a US-based businessman, an architect … random suitors online. I was also talking exclusively with someone from San Francisco. He never showed up and it broke my heart. I went to Kerala for a detox and started chatting with Sunny. He was a shoulder to cry on, and I said I would talk only if he wanted to marry. He said let’s figure it out. I was not confident but we struck a great connection as friends. My life of meeting suitors as possible grooms was over. You see, kabhi kabhi galat train sahi station par pahunch jaati hai…(sometimes things work out in the oddest of ways) Sunny woh wrong train tha! I always wanted to get married, but I never thought of myself as someone pretty with pretty hair…but Sunny finds me beautiful, and his match. He manifested “world famous Monga” and I am that today,’ she blushes.
With Sunny came a family Guneet had been missing. ‘You know, whenever I would call my father and ask kahan ho, papa, (where are you?) and no matter where or how far, he would always say, tere peeche peeche (just behind you). I manifested that and my father-in-law always says, tere peeche peeche. When we won the Oscar, he put these massive hoardings across Chandni Chowk (in Old Delhi) with such pride. For my wedding, I had one mamaji (uncle), and one hundred people chosen family playing the host. I had this nagging fear of not being able to find a family or a partner. It was eating me, and I have both now, a family and partner who love and celebrate me,’ Guneet smiles, at peace with her past, in love with her present.
This unshakeable faith over fear came when she met her guru, Nirmal Singhji Maharaj, and when she tunes into gurbani (compositions by Sikh gurus), like her mother did. ‘I generally believe mila hua milwa sakta hai.
‘I have firm belief in my guruji, and it has allowed me to open pathways. It allowed the energy of my parents to flow in me. He opened the spiritual path in me and I found my center, discipline, strength, and faith. I feel what happens, happens, for the best. Avenues opened up just by being present, listening to satsang, gurbani. This route to roots gave me power to surrender, a thehraav. Before that I was edgy, insecure, kya hoga mera? Who will look out for me, who will have my back, who will be my safety net? But faith, Sunny, just the sheer surrender transformed the fear to faith, it was beautiful, surreal, overwhelming.’
The faith over fear made her reconnect with Delhi. Her home that she had lost. Her home that she had left. Her home that she never grieved. Her home that she has now embraced. ‘Now I enjoy Delhi, the trauma is over, the truth prevails.’
