Pooja Bedi: Engagement to Maneck Contractor was magical; will get married by the end of the year – CB exclusive

Pooja Bedi’s undying faith in love and the institute of marriage are an inspiration to single people, who’ve loved and lost. Pooja has found love again, and she recently got engaged to the dishy Maneck Contractor. Gushing and bubbling with joy, in an exclusive interview with CineBlitz, the ecstatic Pooja shares all the deets.

CineBlitz: How was it like getting engaged? Tell us how it happened.

Pooja Bedi: It was utterly magical because there I was, hundreds and hundreds of feet high up in the air, in a hot air balloon. As it is, my heart was thumping, looking around, looking down. And there came this ring, and he said the most beautiful words as he put it on my finger. I had tears in my eyes. It was an utterly magical moment. I certainly didn’t know that the ring was being designed by Farah Khan, who is an incredible jewelry designer and also my childhood friend. I knew that something beautiful and special was coming up. But whether it was going to be last year or early this year or later this year, I had no clue when! So the moment completely caught me off-guard.

CB: How did you and Maneck meet?

Pooja Bedi: I’ve technically know him since I was 12-years-old. The Lawrence School, Sanawar, from which Maneck and me both come, has a very strong alumni. And I started a Whatsapp group for which I’m admin, for the Bombay, Pune and Goa chapters. He happened to post about this new venture he was involved with in Goa. And I told him that the next time I was in Goa, I would review it and post it on the group. I have a home there and I visit Goa very regularly. So we reconnected, and we spent many happy evenings chatting and catching up on old times and indelible memories.

It was just such a happy time together. For me, the turning point in our relationship was when he took me to Badem Hill (Goa) to watch a meteor shower. We were just lying there on the desolate hilltop for hours together, watching meteor showers. It was just so magical, so romantic, so wonderful and so adventurous. And he has all the qualities that I really love and respect. So we just took the relationship forward and it’s been more than a year now. It’s grown from strength to strength.

CB: How did you get the conviction that he is the right one?

Pooja Bedi: Having been in multiple relationships, the one thing you learn most is what you don’t want in a relationship. The good part, when it comes to Maneck (Contractor), is that he is the most evolved, interesting, fun, adventurous, human being. He’s a decent man, a gentleman in every sense of the word. For me, the qualities I would negate in a person, don’t exist in him. So I think in every aspect, it was a wonderful union of two very like-minded individuals.

His family are such wonderful people. His father, mother, his brother, even his extended family. They are Parsi, and they are all very warm, happy and cheerful. There is such a great synergy between the vibe of his family and my family. So it is not just about the two of us! It is the fact that our families seem to merge so beautifully together. My kids are also so happy. They are smiling and beaming now. My kids absolutely adore Maneck. They think he’s absolutely wonderful. Both, my children are so happy about our engagement, so happy about the two of us.

CB: What do you add to each other’s lives?

Pooja Bedi: Well, the most beautiful part about our relationship is that we let each other be who we are. There is no sense of jealously, control or insecurities or any of that. We bring stability, equanimity and grace into the relationship.

CB: One good quality about Maneck Contractor?

Pooja Bedi: A really wonderful quality about Maneck is that he is not adversely affected by my popularity, or my success or my earning power. He doesn’t have a problem that I am great friends with men and women, or the fact that I get along with my exes too. None of that fazes him at all. There’s so much trust and respect between the two of us. That translates beautifully into an empowered relationship between us.

CB: Any more details on the marriage?

Pooja Bedi: Well as of right now, the proposal has been made, and I have accepted. As for when the D-day, it will arrive soon. I have to consider lots of things, including the fact that my son is studying at University in Los Angeles. We probably have to time it with his holidays, when he comes home. So I presume, probably towards the end of this year.

CB: What do you have to say about your past relationships?

Pooja Bedi: Every relationship I have been in, in the past, has been absolutely wonderful. They were important for the time they were in my life. I can’t thank them enough for all the loving, caring, sharing gestures. They are my really close friends till today. Maneck has met them and likes them, and they all like Maneck. It is just a happy zone for everybody because there’s no drama, no nonsense.

It’s passed in the past. There’s a great level of respect from the past. They’ve all been calling and congratulating me. My ex-husband sent me a wonderful message filled with good wishes and happiness. On every level, it’s all positive. I think it’s the way you view life and relationships. The fact that you thank and bless it and let it go. I’ve chosen to hold on to the friendships. I’ve let go of the relationships, but hold on to the friendships because the people matter.

Well, we wish Pooja Bedi and Maneck Contractor congratulations on their engagement. We even send in our best wishes for the new phase in their lives. With the wedding set to take place by the end of the year, stay tuned to CineBlitz as we get you more news, updates and gossip.