Lyricist and writer Manoj Muntashir opened up about one of the most painful chapters of his life during an upcoming episode of ‘Tum Ho Naa Ghar Ki Superstar’. He revealed that his first marriage was called off just days before the wedding after he shared his dream of moving to Mumbai to become a Bollywood lyricist.

Manoj recalled that he was 21 when his family arranged his marriage. The wedding date had been fixed, invitation cards were printed, and all preparations were complete. He even shared that his father had booked the wedding car from Neelam’s father, Chauhan ji.

According to a SET press release, during the engagement period, Manoj and his fiancée grew close through long phone conversations. Since phone call rates were cheaper after 9 pm , they would speak for around half an hour every night. He said he had fallen deeply in love with her during those three months.

However, everything changed when the bride’s family asked about his future plans. Manoj told them that he wanted to move to Mumbai and write songs for films. The girl’s brother laughed at his dream, and just two days later, the family called off the wedding despite all the arrangements being completed.

Recalling the incident, Manoj said the bride’s father told his family that they believed he would build a stable career after completing his studies, but they did not want their daughter to marry someone who wanted to enter the film industry. Manoj also remembered how heartbroken his father was after hearing the decision, although the family accepted it with dignity.

He further shared that during this difficult phase, Neelam, who was his cousin sister’s close friend and frequently visited their home, became his biggest support. Their friendship slowly turned into love, and Manoj realised she was the person he wanted to spend his life with.

Neelam also spoke about their journey, saying it took her 17 years to convince her parents to accept their relationship. She added that such challenges are common in small towns but said she was fortunate to have a loving mother in-law who always supported her.

Manoj revealed that in 1999, before leaving for Mumbai, he asked Neelam to decide within an hour whether they would get married or end their relationship forever. Neelam chose love, and the couple eventually began their life together.