Grand weddings might be the norm in Bollywood, but Taapsee Pannu took a different route last year. The actor married longtime partner, former badminton player Mathias Boe in a private ceremony in Udaipur last March and kept the entire affair under wraps.

Now, as the couple marked their first wedding anniversary, a sweet detail about their big day has surfaced. Instead of the usual wedding gifts, Taapsee and Mathias requested guests to contribute towards Project Nanhi Kali — an initiative the actor has been associated with closely for five years.

RJ Abhilash, a close friend of the actor, shares, “We all know the girls supported by Taapsee (in this initiative) as ‘Taapsee ke bacche’ because that’s how she introduces them. [She is] always sharing their milestones as her personal victories. Taapsee and Mathias perhaps have access to the choicest of things across the globe. So, I am glad that instead of a regular gift, we were able to make the girls at Nanhi Kali feel included in the celebrations.”

Turns out, even the quietest weddings can leave a lasting impact. Sheetal Mehta, trustee and executive director of KC Mahindra Education Trust, acknowledges the couple’s gesture, as well as Taapsee’s long-standing support.

She says, “Taapsee and Mathias’ commitment to girls’ education reflects the power of consistent, meaningful action. Since 2020, her support for 100 young girls has created ripples of change — representing not just access to quality education but the freedom to dream bigger. What makes Taapsee’s involvement special is her understanding that real change happens when we show up.”