Actor Nayanthara and husband, filmmaker Vignesh Shivan have reportedly revealed that they got their marriage registered six years ago, in an affidavit produced amid controversy surrounding the birth of their twins via surrogacy.

The couple, who had an intimate wedding ceremony in June this year, announced the birth of their sons on October 9. According to the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act of 2021, however, a couple should be married for five years to be eligible for surrogacy, and the surrogate should be a married relative with a child of her own.

Now, according to a report in onmanorama.com, the couple has submitted an affidavit and a marriage certificate to the Tamil Nadu health department, claiming they got their marriage registered six years ago. They have also claimed that the surrogate is Nayanthara’s relative from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Nayanthara and Shivan held a wedding ceremony in Mahabalipuram in June. On October 9, Shivan announced the arrival of their twins on social media, with the caption, “Nayan & Me have become Amma & Appa. We are blessed with Twin Baby Boys. All Our prayers, our ancestors’ blessings combined with all the good manifestations made, have come together in the form of 2 blessed babies for us. Need all your blessings for our Uyir & Ulagam. Life looks brighter & more beautiful. God is double great. (sic)”