Suhas Yellapantula (BOMBAY TIMES; May 13, 2020)

In an interview with us last week, Rana Daggubati said that he’s using the ongoing lockdown period to introspect and self-reflect. It looks like all the introspection has made the actor-producer realise that he’s ready to settle down. Rana popped the question to his lady love, Hyderabadi interior designer Miheeka Bajaj and the duo are set to get hitched later this year. The Baahubali star took to his social media pages to make the announcement on Tuesday. “And she said Yes :) ? #MiheekaBajaj (sic),” Rana posted.

According to sources close to the couple, Rana and Miheeka have known each other for a long time now and over the past few years, they had gotten closer and were spending a lot of time with each other. However, Rana’s announcement has taken even the couple’s closest friends by surprise.

Speaking to us, Rana’s father and Tollywood producer, Suresh Babu says, “During these grim times, we finally have a reason to celebrate. The entire family is happy. The kids have known each other for a long time now and we’re all very happy for them. It’s too soon to talk about other details about the wedding. We will reveal everything at the appropriate time.”

Although friends of the couple said that the wedding is likely to take place this December, Suresh Babu says it could even happen sooner. “The wedding will happen this year. We were thinking of having it around December, but it could happen even sooner than that too. We will reveal the details once things are finalised. One thing’s for sure, the kids have given us a nice way to enhance our lockdown productivity. We’ll now be busy planning a wedding,” he adds with a smile.
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Bahubali’s Bhallaladeva finds his match in Miheeka Bajaj, an event manager and interior designer
Ankita Chaurasia (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 13, 2020)

Speaking to Mirror recently (April 27), Rana Daggubati had expressed mixed feelings about the Coronavirus lockdown. While his jungle adventure Haathi Mere Saathi, which was to release on April 2, was postponed indefinitely, he was happy to find a positive co-relation between what was happening around the world and his film, which is about nature fighting back. But now the actor has more reason than a delayed film to remember the year by. Rana, on Tuesday, announced his engagement to girlfriend Miheeka Bajaj by posting a picture of the them together, and gushing, “And she said yes”.

With social distancing still in place, popping the question couldn’t have been easy. A source close to the actor reveals that Rana turned to technology for help. “He has proposed virtually in the time of lockdown. He and Miheeka, who is an interior designer and event manager, have been in a serious relationship for a while now. No official engagement has taken place yet due to the current situation, but it’s official,” the source confirms.

Since they are both based in Hyderabad and belong to the same circles, the couple has known each other for a long time. “Their family and friends have been aware of their relationship and knew they were going to get married. Obviously, with the lockdown in place, wedding planning will take place only once things return to normalcy,” adds the source. While those close to the duo knew about them, the film fraternity had no idea. The source further reveals, “She never visited him on the sets and the paparazzi didn’t have any idea that they were dating. It was all strictly under wraps.”

Rana’s fiancee, who owns a design studio, is also a poet and blogs her thoughts on life, love and heartbreak. She was present at Sonam Kapoor’s wedding ceremonies and is a regular at their parties and designer-cousin Kunal Rawal’s fashion shows. As soon as Rana made the announcement, his Bollywood and Tollywood friends started congratulating him. Calling him his “Hyderabad son”, Anil Kapoor wrote, “I am so happy. The best thing to happen to both of you.”