Sanjay Mishra Opens Up About Emotional Grief Ritual and Arranged Marriage
Bollywood actor Sanjay Mishra has shared deeply personal stories about his family life, including an emotional grief ritual following his father's death that left his in-laws shocked. In a recent interview, the veteran actor discussed his arranged marriage with wife Kiran Mishra and how he coped with profound loss.
The Shocking Pyre Ash Incident
Sanjay Mishra recalled a particularly emotional moment when he was grieving his father's death. The actor revealed that during a period of intense mourning, he visited a ghat where funeral pyres were burning. In an act of deep emotional connection to his deceased father, Mishra rubbed ash from a burning pyre all over his body.
"I went to the Ghat and there was a pyre burning of someone else," Mishra explained. "I rubbed the ash from that pyre all over my body and started calling out to my father."
What made the situation even more surreal was that people continued to ask for selfies despite his ash-covered appearance and emotional state. "But people kept asking for selfies, even when I had smeared ash all over me," he recalled.
Father-in-Law's Shocked Reaction
The incident became even more dramatic when Mishra returned home covered in ash to find his father-in-law visiting. The actor described his father-in-law's shocked expression upon seeing him in that state.
"When I came home, my father-in-law saw me with ash all over me... and he saw the future of his daughter," Mishra shared. His driver quickly helped him wash off the ash, but the emotional impact of the moment remained profound.
Mishra added that he had been drinking alcohol with his driver before going to the ghat, which contributed to his emotional state. "I was very emotional. I cried a lot for my father at the ghat," he confessed.
Arranged Marriage with Kiran Mishra
Beyond the grief story, Sanjay Mishra also opened up about his arranged marriage to wife Kiran Mishra, describing her as a simple small-town girl from the mountains of Uttarakhand. The actor credited his wife with efficiently managing their household and taking care of their two daughters.
"She takes care of the whole family and the house and kids," Mishra said appreciatively. He revealed that their marriage required adjustment in the initial days, particularly as Kiran came from the small town of Didihat in Uttarakhand to Mumbai's bustling film industry.
"So a girl from a small town suddenly landed in Mumbai among all the actors," Mishra noted about his wife's transition to city life. The actor humorously mentioned that fellow actor Saurabh Shukla advised him to "live in your house like a tenant," advice he claims to follow and enjoy.
Childhood Struggles and Father's Concerns
Mishra also reflected on his childhood academic struggles, revealing that he was not good at studies and would often run away from home. His father was particularly concerned about his future and made a practical suggestion.
"My father used to be very tensed about my future," Mishra recalled. "He had requested me that 'Sanjay, please clear 10th Standard. I can employ you as a watchman in my office.'"
The actor admitted he didn't care about studies, believing they weren't meant for him. "Study was not the goal of my life," he said, adding that if he had been given a musical instrument like a sitar during childhood, he might have become a singer or sitarist instead.
In a touching tribute to his father's wishes, Mishra revealed he recently bought a typewriter and is learning typewriting many years after his father's death. "My father wanted me to learn type writing so that I can earn Rs 700 a month from being a typewriter," he explained. "So, now many years after his death, I am learning typewriting."
The interview provides rare insight into the personal life of the beloved Bollywood character actor, revealing both his emotional depth and the practical wisdom passed down from his father.
