Debina Bonnerjee and Gurmeet Choudhary are one of the most sought after couples of television. The two worked together in a mythological TV show, Ramayana, and fell in love with each other during the course of the show. They got hitched in 2011 and are leading a happy married life. Last year in October 2020, both had tested positive for the deadly virus. And, post their recovery, but came forward with their Covid-19 relief endeavours. Recently, in a candid chat with the Cinema Journal, Debina walked down the memory lane and spoke about how she met her soulmate, Gurmeet, and what unfolded after that. Excerpts:
When and how did you first meet Gurmeet?
I met Gurmeet in 2005 when I had come to Mumbai for a talent hunt competition in which 30 contestants were participating. Gurmeet was one of them. He was just one of the other contestants for me, nothing more and nothing less. And, that how we got to know each other.
What happened after that?
When I went back to Kolkata. I toyed with the idea of coming to Mumbai because I liked the vibe of the city. Gurmeet was one of the friends I called to share my decision, because I found him to be a very approachable person. On landing in Mumbai, Gurmeet wasn’t there at the airport. But my friend, Divyanee, came to receive me and took me to her place. Since all the 30 participants had become friends with each other, we would hang out a lot. After some time I shifted, and moved in to another place as a paying guest with a friend. Her boyfriend, it turned out, was Gurmeet’s friend. So, the two guys would chill at our place. Since the lovebirds were busy with each other, Gurmeet and I kept each other company for a couple of months. That's how we got to know each other a bit more. And then my friend’s boyfriend stopped coming over and consequently Gurmeet stopped coming over too. It dawned on me gradually that I was missing him and he was missing me too.
How many times in a day would you speak with him?
The cell phone would become hot — we talked to each other that long!
Who said I love you first?
He was beating around the bush so I told him, ‘I think you want to say I love you’.
What was the first gift you got from him?
The first thing he gifted me was a rose, which smelled a little different. When I pointed that out, he sheepishly said, 'I sprayed rose water on the rose'.
Who took the first initiative to fix a date?
I took the initiative for the first date; it was Valentine’s Day. We went to a pub, Quila in Andheri, a very happening place at that time. We didn’t go Dutch, I think I picked up the tab, but it really didn’t matter who paid.
Would you guys fight during courtship? Did you both ever break up and make up?
We used to have inconsequential fights. He likes to give me surprises and I hate them. I don’t believe in break ups and making up. A break up is a break up.
Who apologises first?
I do. I can’t fight for long. I believe in letting sleeping dogs lie and move on to talking about something else.
Who proposed marriage?
Nobody. I was working in a South film and in the break we were talking, sharing how we were missing each other. And we mutually decided, ‘Let’s get married.' And we did!
Did you face any parental opposition?
No, we did not face any opposition because our parents’ kind of knew each other.
What is Gurmeet's most attractive quality?
His innocence and the fact that he is hardworking. He always wanted to earn money for his upkeep. He was independent when I first met him.
