When Vijay Mallya performed the 'Kanyadaan' of a famous Bollywood actress during her marriage
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Sameera Reddy once revealed in an old interview that Vijay Mallya, her relative from her mother's side, gave her away at her wedding to Akshai Varde in 2014.
A Wedding No One Saw Coming
A Bond Forged Through Bikes
RCB Glory Revives Mallya's Forgotten Connection
Sameera's Quiet Comeback
Business tycoon Vijay Mallya has once again made headlines—this time for reasons that go beyond cricket or courtroom battles. Following Royal Challengers Bengaluru 's long-awaited IPL win, Mallya, the franchise's original owner, took to social media from the UK to celebrate the team's victory. But as fans revisit his legacy in sports and business, a lesser-known personal anecdote has caught public attention—his unexpected role at actress Sameera Reddy 's wedding.In a 2014 interview with DNA, Sameera Reddy revealed that Mallya, who is related to her from her mother's side, performed the kanyadaan ritual at her traditional Maharashtrian wedding to entrepreneur Akshai Varde . 'Only Vijay Mallya, who is related from my mother's side, gave me away to the groom. That apart there were only friends and family,' she said at the time, describing the ceremony as intimate and devoid of any Bollywood razzle-dazzle.Sameera and Akshai's wedding on January 21, 2014, was so private that even her closest friends were unaware. 'Isn't this the best way to do it?' she said, explaining their decision to pre-pone the wedding originally planned for April. 'Months of painful planning causes so much stress… Akshai said, why not. I said, why knot? Ha ha. And we said, 'I do.' And I'm glad we did.'The ceremony was organised in just 10 days by her sister Sushama. Sameera opted for a minimal look, requesting designer Neeta Lulla to dress her in a simple South Indian sari without jewellery. 'I had spent 11 years of my life decking up on screen. For my wedding, I wanted a minimalist look. We finally opted for a simple South Indian sari. I guess that was the 'Reddy' side asserting itself,' she added.The couple's love story is equally unconventional. Sameera and Akshai bonded over their mutual love for motorcycles. 'Akshai saw me whizzing past on this really mean macho machine. I think he was impressed,' she laughed in the DNA interview. Their relationship, she said, blossomed away from the spotlight. 'I wanted to marry outside the film industry.'Akshai Varde, who owns a custom bike company, had worked on several celebrity motorcycles—including actor Balakrishna's superbike in the film Legend. Their honeymoon, she revealed, was delayed due to his commitment to an auto expo, but a biking trip was always in the cards.As Royal Challengers Bengaluru lifted their maiden IPL trophy after 18 seasons, Mallya expressed joy from afar. Though he lost control of the franchise in 2016 following loan default charges worth over ₹9,000 crore, his early decisions—including drafting a young Virat Kohli in 2008—shaped the team's identity.More than a decade since her wedding, Sameera Reddy has stepped away from films but stayed active on social media, where she shares family updates and body positivity messages. In February 2025, she celebrated 11 years of marriage with Akshai by posting affectionate photos online. She is also set to return to the big screen in Anees Bazmee's Naam – The Dyslexia Aadmi starring Ajay Devgn.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
3 hours ago
- Economic Times
When Vijay Mallya performed the 'Kanyadaan' of a famous Bollywood actress during her marriage
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Sameera Reddy once revealed in an old interview that Vijay Mallya, her relative from her mother's side, gave her away at her wedding to Akshai Varde in 2014. A Wedding No One Saw Coming A Bond Forged Through Bikes RCB Glory Revives Mallya's Forgotten Connection Sameera's Quiet Comeback Business tycoon Vijay Mallya has once again made headlines—this time for reasons that go beyond cricket or courtroom battles. Following Royal Challengers Bengaluru 's long-awaited IPL win, Mallya, the franchise's original owner, took to social media from the UK to celebrate the team's victory. But as fans revisit his legacy in sports and business, a lesser-known personal anecdote has caught public attention—his unexpected role at actress Sameera Reddy 's a 2014 interview with DNA, Sameera Reddy revealed that Mallya, who is related to her from her mother's side, performed the kanyadaan ritual at her traditional Maharashtrian wedding to entrepreneur Akshai Varde . 'Only Vijay Mallya, who is related from my mother's side, gave me away to the groom. That apart there were only friends and family,' she said at the time, describing the ceremony as intimate and devoid of any Bollywood and Akshai's wedding on January 21, 2014, was so private that even her closest friends were unaware. 'Isn't this the best way to do it?' she said, explaining their decision to pre-pone the wedding originally planned for April. 'Months of painful planning causes so much stress… Akshai said, why not. I said, why knot? Ha ha. And we said, 'I do.' And I'm glad we did.'The ceremony was organised in just 10 days by her sister Sushama. Sameera opted for a minimal look, requesting designer Neeta Lulla to dress her in a simple South Indian sari without jewellery. 'I had spent 11 years of my life decking up on screen. For my wedding, I wanted a minimalist look. We finally opted for a simple South Indian sari. I guess that was the 'Reddy' side asserting itself,' she couple's love story is equally unconventional. Sameera and Akshai bonded over their mutual love for motorcycles. 'Akshai saw me whizzing past on this really mean macho machine. I think he was impressed,' she laughed in the DNA interview. Their relationship, she said, blossomed away from the spotlight. 'I wanted to marry outside the film industry.'Akshai Varde, who owns a custom bike company, had worked on several celebrity motorcycles—including actor Balakrishna's superbike in the film Legend. Their honeymoon, she revealed, was delayed due to his commitment to an auto expo, but a biking trip was always in the Royal Challengers Bengaluru lifted their maiden IPL trophy after 18 seasons, Mallya expressed joy from afar. Though he lost control of the franchise in 2016 following loan default charges worth over ₹9,000 crore, his early decisions—including drafting a young Virat Kohli in 2008—shaped the team's than a decade since her wedding, Sameera Reddy has stepped away from films but stayed active on social media, where she shares family updates and body positivity messages. In February 2025, she celebrated 11 years of marriage with Akshai by posting affectionate photos online. She is also set to return to the big screen in Anees Bazmee's Naam – The Dyslexia Aadmi starring Ajay Devgn.
News18
5 hours ago
- News18
Housefull 5 Producer Sajid Nadiadwala Poses With Fans, Signs Autographs Inside Theatre
Last Updated: Housefull 5, backed by Sajid Nadiadwala, opened to Rs 24 crore at the box office. Nadiadwala celebrated by watching the film with the audience. Sajid Nadiadwala-backed Housefull 5 opened to Rs 24 crore at the box office, a decent number compared to the first-day collections of recent Bollywood releases. To celebrate the occasion, Nadiadwala watched the film inside a theatre with the audience. Upon realising who he was, fans flocked around him for photos. He was also seen signing autographs on T-shirts. His video comes after Akshay Kumar went incognito to take the audience's feedback outside a theatre earlier today and almost got caught. Sajid Nadiadwala has been making headlines for his jaw-dropping transformation. In a video going viral, the film producer, who is estimated to have a net worth of Rs 1500 crore, sat silently among the audience to gauge their reaction. He soon revealed himself and celebrated the film's good opening numbers with the audience. Take a look: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani) Sajid Nadiadwala experimented with two different endings for Housefull 5, which varied across theatres. Speaking about it, the film producer shared, 'With Housefull 5, we wanted to take a bold creative swing that hasn't been done before internationally for any thriller film. The idea of having multiple endings, multiple experiences has been with me for 30 years. Since, i wanted to make Housefull 5 a thriller comedy, there couldn't have been a better way to execute my idea of having multiple endings than this." He added, 'It felt right to do something radical as we celebrate 75 years of Nadiadwala Grandson in the industry. Housefull is India's biggest comedy franchise and for the fifth instalment, we had to push the boundaries of what comedy can be. The idea of different endings came from a simple question: why should the audience always have just one version of the truth in a thriller? With Housefull 5, we've built a film that plays with form while staying completely rooted in entertainment. It's a killer comedy, literally, with twists that change depending on where you're watching it. and I'm proud we're doing it under the banner of Nadiadwala Grandson as we mark 75 years in the business. Our legacy has always been about embracing scale, stars, and giving audiences newer experiences and Housefull 5 takes all it to another level." He further mentioned, 'It's a natural extension of the theatrical experience: creating intrigue, rewatch value, and a sense of discovery. In a world of spoilers and algorithms, we're bringing back that element of surprise. And that's where the fun begins." Housefull 5 boasts an ensemble of 19 stars, comprising Akshay Kumar, joined by returning favourites and some new faces including Riteish Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan, Jacqueline Fernandez, Sonam Bajwa, Nargis Fakhri, Sanjay Dutt, Jackie Shroff, Nana Patekar, Chitrangada Singh, Fardeen Khan, Chunky Pandey, Johnny Lever, Shreyas Talpade, Dino Morea, Ranjeet, Soundarya Sharma, Nikitin Dheer, and Akashdeep Sabir. The film, directed by Tarun Mansukhani, released on June 6, 2025. First Published:
Pink Villa
5 hours ago
- Pink Villa
INSIDE PICS: Yash, Mahesh Babu, Ram Charan, Suriya —biggies of the South film industry at Akhil Akkineni-Zainab Ravdjee's reception
Nagarjuna's son Akhil Akkineni tied the knot with Zainab Ravdjee, daughter of industrialist Zulfi Ravdjee, on June 6, 2025, followed by a star-studded reception today. The ceremony witnessed who's who of the South Indian film industry. Held amidst a dreamy backdrop of white florals and elegant decor, the event was nothing short of a royal affair. KGF star Yash, Mahesh Babu, Ram Charan, Suriya, Nani, and many others attended Akhil's wedding reception. New groom Akhil looked dapper in a white tuxedo with a black bowtie as he stood hand-in-hand with his bride Zainab. She looked stunning in a pastel pink embellished lehenga paired with extravagant diamond jewelry. Mahesh Babu with wife Namrata Shirodkar and daughter Sitara, was among the first to reach to give blessings and warm wishes to Akhil and Zainab. Adding charm to the list of top Tollywood actors was Ram Charan, who arrived with his wife Upasana Konidela. KGF star Yash turned heads in an olive green sherwani and turban as he posed cheerfully with the bride and groom. Suriya and Nani were among others who were clicked at the wedding reception, held in Hyderabad. Well, this only reflects the camaraderie of the South Indian film fraternity. The celebration was not only a union of two hearts but also a powerful moment of togetherness in the film industry, and these photos are proof. Naga Chaitanya, Sobhita Dhulipala, Sushanth, Nagarjuna, and other Akkineni family members posed for a family portrait at Akhil Akkineni-Zainab's wedding reception. Who is Zainab Ravdjee? For the unversed, Zainab Ravdjee is a Hyderabad‑born artist, perfumer, and former actress. She married Akhil Akkineni, son of Nagarjuna and Amala Akkineni, on June 6, 2025, in an intimate early‑morning ceremony at 3:35 AM, held at their family residence in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad. Zainab's father Zulfi Ravdjee, is a businessman and former special representative to the Andhra Pradesh government. Her brother, Zain Ravdjee, heads the renewable-energy firm ZR Renewable Energy Pvt Ltd.
