People
Abu Salem’s first wife speaks out in Star News exclusive
INTERVIEW WITH SAMIRA JUMANI
The first wife of Abu Salem
– Salem is a cowardly person
– He almost killed me
– Salem beat up Monica as well
– Dawood apologized for Anis’ bad behavior
STAR NEWS EXCLUSIVE
In an exclusive interview Samira Jumani, the wife of underworld don Abu Salem spoke freely to Star News’ Sheela Raval. This is the first and only ever media interview given by Samira Jumani. It provides a chilling insight into the mind of Abu Salem, his thinking and psyche.
There is an Interpol Red Corner Notice out against Jumani who has been living in the United States for the past several years. Sheela tracked her down and spoke with her for over 6 hours, during which emerged an incredibly descriptive account of life for family members of mobsters.
Jumani married Salem in 1991. She told Sheela Raval that while Salem was in prison she took an ex-parte divorce from him. During the interview Jumani spoke about her ‘forced’ marriage to Salem, her current relations with Salem, Monica Bedi’s role in their married life and the looming shadow of Dawood Ibrahim.
Sometimes philosophical, sometimes distraught Jumani sought to distance herself from her husband’s activities. She said that she never had a normal marriage. She said that she had never had dinner on the same table with Salem. She spoke of being routinely beaten up by Salem, who was a violent “psychotic man” according to her.
Jumani recounted an incident where Salem struck her at the back of her head violently, nearly fatally wounding her. Salem used to beat up Monica as well. “What Monica experienced in two years, I experienced for fifteen” she recounted.
Samira also spoke under the politics of mafia wives. She said that the hierarchy between don’s wives was also very pronounced. She spoke about how rivalries between gang members extended to their wives, about how Anis Ibrahim and Chotta Shakeel’s wives never got along.
Samira spoke of how she feared for her life, about how she would have left Salem if she wasn’t afraid for the safety of her family members.
Samira also talked about the time when Salem split up from Dawood. Anis Ibrahim came to her house and menacingly asked her about the whereabouts of her husband. When she spoke with Shakeel’s wife about this, Dawood called her up, apologized for his brothers’ behavior and assured her that this wouldn’t happen again.
Salem, according Samira was a terrible father and had no love for his child. He wasn’t there when his child was born. He didn’t attend his sons’ first birthday. She couldn’t remember an instance when he had hugged their eight year old son.
Samira said that Salem was a cowardly person, and was deeply fearful of Dawood Ibrahim. When asked “what Salem wanted in life” – Samira answered ” Fame, fame, fame”.
STAR News first aired its exclusive analysis of the interview in “Mera Pati Abu Salem” from 8pm to 10pm and the complete interview in “Salem ki Biwi No. 1” at 10pm.
The complete interview will repeat at 9am on the 19th of November, 2005
The complete transcript of the interview it attached.
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People
Devika Prabhu joins Sony Pictures Networks India as business head – Hindi movies
Former Disney Star executive returns to SPNI to steer the network’s Hindi movie business
MUMBAI: Devika Prabhu is heading back to familiar turf. The veteran media executive has joined Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) as business head – Hindi movies, marking a return to the broadcaster where she began her early leadership journey.
Prabhu announced the move on LinkedIn, calling it both a new beginning and a homecoming. Earlier in her career, she spent several years at SPNI—then Multi Screen Media—working on strategic planning for Sony Entertainment Television.
The appointment brings to SPNI a media strategist with more than 25 years of experience across content, programming, brand strategy and platform growth. Most recently, Prabhu served at Disney Star as vice-president and business head – kids, youth and infotainment TV, where she led the Disney Kids and National Geographic portfolios following the Disney–Fox merger.
During her tenure, she oversaw a Rs 400-crore P&L while pushing digital expansion, partnerships and operational efficiencies. Earlier roles at Disney Star included leadership across programming, acquisitions, marketing and product strategy for multiple networks, including the UTV movie channels and youth brands.
Prabhu’s career has also spanned building cross-platform intellectual property, developing kids and family content ecosystems, and forging international format partnerships. She was closely involved in bringing global formats and franchises to Indian audiences and is widely credited with helping shape India’s anime fandom into a mainstream youth phenomenon.
At SPNI, she will now lead the Hindi movies business at a time when film channels are rethinking their role in a fragmented viewing landscape. With audiences discovering cinema across television, streaming and digital platforms, the challenge is not just programming films but reimagining how they reach viewers.
Prabhu believes movies still hold a unique cultural power, sparking conversations and creating shared moments long after the credits roll.
Now back where part of her journey began, she is set to write the next act, this time from the business seat of Hindi movie television. Lights, camera, strategy.
