Cricketer Virat Kohli and actor Anushka Sharma have acquired a large land parcel in beach town Alibaug, with the two adjoining plots together measuring over 5.19 acres. The couple has acquired the plots in Zirad village in Raigad district, for a total consideration of Rs 37.86 crore.

This is the second land parcel acquired by them in the coastal town. In 2022, Kohli and Sharma had acquired an around 8-acre land parcel here to build their farmhouse.

The latest transaction was registered on Tuesday, and involved stamp duty payments of about Rs 2.27 crore, showed documents accessed through CRE Matrix, a realty data analytics platform.

One of the plots acquired by the couple measures around 3.6 acres, while the second spans 1.55 acres. The purchase adds to the growing list of large-ticket residential land transactions in Alibag, underscoring the town’s evolution into a premium residential market on the outskirts of Mumbai.

ET’s calls and text message to Kohli’s manager remained unanswered.

Located across the Mumbai harbour, Alibaug has seen rising residential land activity in recent years, supported by improving connectivity and growing interest in low-density developments.

Infrastructure projects such as the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, along with ferry and speedboat services, have significantly reduced travel time between south Mumbai and Alibaug, making the region more accessible for frequent travel.

Actor Varun Dhawan slips into full festive mode on Christmas today, turning Santa for a special shoot with HT City — complete with a sleigh and plenty of cheer. “Christmas time means togetherness, celebrating friends and family,” he shares.

Looking back at the year gone by, Varun admits it hasn’t been smooth sailing: “2025 has been a very testing time for me on many counts, but I’m grateful God gave me the strength to go through it and made me stronger.”

When the conversation turns festive fun, the actor reveals his cinematic Christmas wish. If given a chance to star in a remake, he’d happily step into “Arnold Schwarzenegger’s shoes in Jingle All The Way (1996)”.

As for holiday duties at home, he is candid about where his strengths lie. While gift-wrapping, cooking and cleaning may not be his forte, he makes up for it enthusiastically at the dining table. “I definitely put on a few pounds during the holiday season,” he laughs. His festive favourites include “hot chocolate with marshmallows and cheesecake” — though he admits “kalakand, may not be Christmassy”, but is still a seasonal indulgence he can’t resist.

A land transaction in Alibaug involving Suhana Khan, daughter of Shah Rukh Khan, came under scrutiny in the Maharashtra Legislative Council after Shiv Sena (UBT) legislator Anil Parab raised a detailed question about its legality on Thursday.

In his written reply, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule confirmed that while a registered agreement exists between the sellers and Suhana, the final sale has not been completed due to pending government permissions.

Parab sought clarification on whether a plot in Thal village, Alibaug — originally allotted to Narayan Vishwanath Khote for agricultural use — was sold to Suhana without mandatory approval from the district collector. The land, allotted in the late 1960s, carries a clear condition that it cannot be transferred, mortgaged or sold without prior permission.

Bawankule stated that an agreement for sale was executed in June 2023 between the Khote heirs and Suhana. However, this was not a registered sale deed, as the Khote family had applied for transfer permission in 2022 and the approval is still pending. Since the collector has not granted permission, only an agreement for sale was executed — which does not amount to a transfer of ownership.

The minister added that government records explicitly mention restrictions on transfer, and in the absence of permission, no final conveyance can be carried out. As the sale has not legally taken place, he said questions regarding investigation, action against the parties, or repossession do not arise at this stage.

Suhana’s land purchase drew attention last year after reports that she acquired agricultural land and paid substantial stamp duty. The property, with existing structures, was registered through an agreement with the Khote sisters, who inherited the land. Reports also noted that Suhana was identified as an “agriculturist” in the registration papers — a requirement for buying agricultural land in Maharashtra.

Officials said the matter now depends on the collector’s pending decision, which will ultimately determine the status of the transaction.

Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan has acquired three adjacent land parcels in Alibaug near the country's financial capital Mumbai to build a luxury villa in the beach town known for sea view properties of prominent personalities.

The land parcels measure a quarter of an acre for which the actor has paid nearly Rs 10 crore and the transaction was registered Tuesday.

The veteran actor has acquired the plots from HOABL Landbuild and paid stamp duty worth nearly Rs 40 lakhs in total for three separate deals, showed the documents accessed through realty data analytics firm CRE Matrix.

Prior to this, the Bachchan family had acquired another quarter of an acre plot in Ayodhya for Rs. 12.42 crore and had also acquired 1.25 acres of land for the Harivansh Rai Bachchan Memorial Trust in the temple town.

Real estate continues to stand out as a top choice for investments among high net-worth individuals. Bollywood figures are actively acquiring properties, not just for personal use but also as investment ventures.

Recently, Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan also made his first land investment by purchasing a 2,000 sq ft plot in the same coastal development project in Alibaug. Prior to that, actor Kriti Sanon had also bought a similar size of land parcel here.

ET’s email queries to Amitabh Bachchan’s team and HoABL remained unanswered.

The Bachchan family has been steadily expanding its property portfolio with high-value acquisitions across residential and commercial segment in prime locations. Their recent deals reflect a mix of investments and legacy-driven initiatives, including land for the Harivansh Rai Bachchan Memorial Trust.

The family owns several properties including bungalows Jalsa, Prateeksha, and Janak in Mumbai’s plush Juhu locality. Of these, Bachchan and his wife gifted their lavish bungalow, Prateeksha, to their daughter Shweta Nanda recently.

Alibaug’s scenic charm and proximity to South Mumbai have made it a sought-after destination for property investment. Ongoing government efforts to boost connectivity through projects like the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), improved roads, transport upgrades and the Navi Mumbai international airport are driving real estate growth.

Better accessibility has spurred demand for luxury second homes, attracting developers and buyers alike. With rising property values and expanding infrastructure, Alibaug is rapidly evolving into a prime residential hub.

Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan has made his first land investment by purchasing a 2,000 sq. ft. plot in a coastal development project in Alibaug near Mumbai from The House of Abhinandan Lodha (HoABL).

The project, launched in April 2023, has drawn investments from corporate leaders, business owners, and film personalities. Aaryan joins a list of high-profile buyers in HoABL projects across Ayodhya, Vrindavan, and Goa, the company said in a release.

“Alibaug has become one of the most exciting places to invest in today, close to Mumbai and I plan to build my own home there. This is the first time I have invested in land,” said Kartik Aaryan.

The deal was registered this noon by his mother, Mala Tiwari, who executed the formalities as Power of Attorney, along with his father, Manish Tiwari.

Alibaug has seen increased real estate and tourism activity in recent years, supported by infrastructure upgrades such as the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), the Navi Mumbai International Airport, and improved road and jetty connectivity.

These infrastructure related developments have driven demand for premium plotted projects and second homes, positioning Alibaug as a preferred residential location near Mumbai.

"Our project was the first branded land development in Alibaug. Kartik's investment reflects the rapidly growing resonance of Alibaug as a preferred location for Mumbaikars to build spacious and luxurious homes, as also seen previously with investments from Amitabh Bachchan, Kriti Sanon and many business owners and corporate CXOs," said Abhinandan Lodha, Chairman, HoABL.

According to Samujjwal Ghosh, CEO of HoABL, demand for second homes in Alibaug is being driven by long-term growth potential and lifestyle needs.

Real estate purchases by film and sports personalities in recent years have added to the visibility of emerging residential markets around Mumbai.

These transactions highlight how lifestyle preferences and improved connectivity are influencing location choices. The entry of high-profile buyers has coincided with a steady rise in demand from professionals and entrepreneurs.

Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan has acquired a land parcel in Alibaug near the country's financial capital Mumbai to build a luxury villa in the beach town known for sea view properties of rich and famous personalities, said persons with direct knowledge of the development.

“The actor has bought the land parcel spread over a quarter of an acre from The House of Abhinandan Lodha (HoABL) for over Rs 10 crore and the transaction was registered late last week,” said one of the persons mentioned above.

In January, the veteran actor purchased another land parcel in a 7-star mixed-use development of the developer to construct a house near the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya that was inaugurated recently.

The Bachchan family owns several properties including bungalows Jalsa, Prateeksha and Janak in Mumbai’s plush Juhu locality. Of these, Bachchan and his wife gifted their lavish bungalow, Prateeksha, to their daughter Shweta Nanda recently.

In December, ET had reported the actor leased out four office properties spanning an entire floor in a commercial tower in Oshiwara locality of Mumbai’s Andheri suburb to music entertainment company Warner Music India through a long-term agreement for a tenure of five years.

ET’s separate email queries to Bachchan’s team and HoABL remained unanswered.

Real estate continues to stand out as a top choice for investments among high net-worth individuals. Bollywood figures are actively acquiring properties, not just for personal use but also as lucrative investment ventures.

Several industrialists, corporate honchos, Bollywood and sports personalities have acquired properties in the picturesque coastal town of Alibaug resulting in an uptrend in prices.

Actress Suhana Khan, daughter of Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, recently acquired a property in this sought-after beachfront locale among Mumbai's wealthy and elite. This was the second such deal concluded by her in the last eight months. Last year too, Khan had purchased another land parcel spanning 1.5 acres in Alibaug.

Given its proximity to the country’s commercial capital, Alibaug has emerged as the new hotspot for celebrities and high-profile personalities.

Bollywood actors Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone also recently joined the ranks of investors in this region, alongside other prominent figures such as Sachin Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma. In 2022, cricketer Virat Kohli and his actress wife Anushka Sharma together acquired an 8-acre plot here.

The government’s initiatives aimed at improving connectivity between Mumbai and Alibaug are catalyzing real estate development in the area, elevating its appeal among developers, homebuyers and investors.

Previously, limited connectivity hindered the growth of real estate in Alibaug. However, with various infrastructure projects underway, travel time is expected to decrease significantly, from over three hours to just over an hour.

Key infrastructure projects such as the Virar-Alibaug corridor, roll-on-roll-off (RORO) service from Mumbai, Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link (MTHL), widening of Mumbai-Goa Road and Vadkhal Alibaug Road, and Virar-Alibaug Multimodal Corridor are expected to stimulate development and investment in the region.

India's luxury real estate segment has emerged as a driving force for the sector post-pandemic and continues to gather momentum. With the increasing number of high net worth individuals in the country and growing interest among non-resident Indians (NRIs) to invest in properties back home, the demand for high-end properties is on the rise.

Last year, Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli acquired an eight-acre property in Zirad village in Alibaug. On Sunday, the cricketer made a visit to the coastal town as construction of the luxurious farmhouse kicked off. 

A source reveals, “All the necessary clearances have been received from the local bodies to begin construction. The land, acquired through real-estate company Samira Habitats, will house a spacious bungalow designed by Udayan Mazumdar and Blanca Bravo Reyes. Both Virat and Anushka are nature lovers. They want the house to be well-lit, minimalistic and surrounded by greenery. The property is being designed keeping their aesthetic in mind.”

In an unsurprising move, the premises will also boast of a cricket pitch. “Virat expressed his desire to have a cricket pitch. That way, he can practice the sport when the family is at the farmhouse, or even engage in a quick game when their friends drop in. The couple is overseeing the property’s design down to the last detail, personalizing it in every way possible so that it becomes a home away from home.”

The land was reportedly acquired at over Rs 19 crores.

Mumbai: Suhana Khan, the daughter of actor Shah Rukh Khan who is about to make her debut in a film playing a popular comic character, has purchased a 1.5-acre property with three houses in Alibaug for Rs 12.91 crores. The property, in Thal village, belonged to another old-time film family — descendants of veteran actor Durga Khote.

Shah Rukh Khan already owns a property adjacent to it. According to IndexTap.com, the property was registered on June 1 and a stamp duty of Rs 77.46 lakhs was paid.

The coastal stretch of Alibaug has been pitched for its winning combination of rural idyll, increased connectivity to the city, and an option away from the concrete claustrophobia of Mumbai.

While the cottages bought by the Khans are old-fashioned and in keeping with the natural habitat, the rest of Alibaug is seeing ad hoc structures pop up, with no connection to the surrounding context. The swaying palms and open beaches belie a growing reality of haphazard construction emerging like a slow rash across the countryside with no infrastructure to back it.

Already, several villages have been confronted with water shortage with ground water tables declining across the terrain.

“We have started running out of water and have had to buy water from tankers, which has never happened in all the years that I have been there,” says Rahul Goregaonkar, who has ancestral property in Dhokavade village where a 13-storey building has come up next to a lake.

“My neighbours have been buying tanker water since April this year,” he adds. “All this is very alarming.”

In place of sporadic bungalows in the villages, there are now a number of low-rises and high-rises that have come up after the latest development plan guidelines. Many more are awaiting approvals and are on the verge of starting.

“I wish that the development would happen along with proper planning for water, garbage collection, drainage—amenities which go hand in hand to make a place sustainable in the long run,” says Alibaug home-owner Naheed Carrimjee, who initiated a recycling drive a few years ago, which collects about 500kg of garbage every month, but can scarcely stop the piles of plastic that fringe the roads and beaches.

Suhana Khan is one of many Mumbai-based actors who have bought homes and vast tracts of land in Alibaug. Others include Juhi Chawla, who has converted her property into an organic farm, Deepika Padukone and Ranvir Singh, and Anushka Sharma. Incidentally, Thal, where the Khans have property, is the village where writer Anita Desai’s famous novel ‘Village by the Sea’ was located.

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Mumbai : Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan’s daughter Suhana Khan has acquired a property in Alibaug, a beachfront destination for Mumbai’s rich and famous, for an estimated Rs. 13 crores. The 1.5-acre property includes three built-up structures on the land parcel.

The deal was concluded and registered on June 1. She has paid a stamp duty of Rs. 77.46 lakhs for registering the property, show documents accessed through Indextap.com.

Given its proximity to the country’s commercial capital, Alibaug has emerged as the new weekend hotspot for celebrities and high net worth individuals that include industrialists, CXOs, Bollywood actors, startup founders, and cricketers.

While Bollywood actor couple Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone recently made investments in this area, various other big names including former and current cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma have also bought property in Alibaug.

Last year, cricket star Virat Kohli and his actress wife Anushka Sharma jointly bought an 8-acre land parcel in the beach town near Mumbai through two separate transactions for nearly Rs. 19.24 crores.

ET’s mailed query to Shah Rukh Khan’s office remained unanswered until the publication of this report.

A raft of government efforts aimed at enhancing connectivity between Mumbai and Alibaug are driving real estate development in the erstwhile fishing village, making it an increasingly desirable destination for developers, homebuyers, and investors.

Limited connectivity had so far impeded the real estate growth potential here. However, infrastructure projects built over the Navi Mumbai region should cut down the travel time to just over an hour from almost three hours needed now.

The Virar-Alibaug multimodal corridor, Roll-on-Roll-off (RORO) service from Mumbai, Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link (MTHL), widening of the Mumbai-Goa NH 66 Highway and Vadkhal Alibaug Road should boost developments and investments in Alibaug.

Mumbai: Kapil Pandit, one of the arrested accused in singer Sidhu Moose Wala’s murder case, told Mumbai crime branch that in February 2019, they had conducted a recee of actor Salman Khan’s farmhouse in Panvel and had planned to kill him at a public function in Alibaug. Khan, however, cancelled the programme. Pandit is an alleged henchman of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.

A senior officer of Mumbai Police said they have enhanced the actor’s security.

Last week, a team from the Mumbai Police’s crime branch questioned Pandit, who is believed to have said that they had planned to waylay Salman’s car in Panvel. Pandit also said that they had procured three weapons to kill the actor. Later, they tried to befriend a security guard at the farmhouse posing as fans and tried to extract information about the actor.

Pandit has given the names of four men, including himself and Santosh Jadhav, who rented a house in Karjat and Palghar. They stayed in Palghar for two months and one month in Karjat to record the frequency of Salman’s visits and other details.

Pandit is in the custody of Punjab police. Mumbai Police will seek his custody in this case, an officer said.

Police said that they will add the Indian Penal Code sections of attempt to murder and conspiracy and are also likely to invoke the stringent act of Maharashtra Control of Organsied Crime (MCOCA) Act as it falls under the definition of organized crime.

Mumbai crime branch is probing the case involving a threat letter received by Salman’s father Salim Khan during his morning walk at Bandra Bandstand in June. The letter stated: “Salim Khan, Salman Khan bahot jald aapka Moosel Wala hoga . . . (Salim Khan, Salman Khan, very soon you will meet Moosewala’ s fate. )”

A six-man squad had gunned down Moose Wala in Punjab on May 29. Pandit and Rajinder Joker allegedly provided logistical support and weapons to the shooter s. Bishnoi’s gang was looking to target Salman before Moose Wala over his involvement in the blackbuck poaching case, said officials.

Rajasthan’s Bishnoi community is extremely protective of the species. In 2018, Bishnoi had sent his aide Sampat Nehra to attack Salman at his Bandra residence. Nehra was later arrested in Bengaluru.

VJ-actor Cyrus Sahukar tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend Vaishali Malahara on April 15 in Alibaug. The actor has been in a relationship with Vaishali, a model, actress and director, for around eight years. The couple had to postpone their wedding once due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The marriage took place in the presence of some of Cyrus’ best friends, including Maria Goretti, Mini Mathur, Samir Kochhar and Gaurav Kapur, among others.

Cyrus says, “I consider marriage to be a blessing and I am glad I finally tied the knot with Vaishali. We had planned to get married in February, but we postponed the wedding due to the pandemic. Finally, we decided to tie the knot on April 15 and got married at Alibaug among close friends and family members. My Punjabi friends made the entire event extremely memorable for me. I can say that my guests were the hosts. Everyone was dancing and enjoyed the festivities.”

The couple had first met at a party many years ago. Cyrus shares, “I had gone to a party at one of the rooftop eateries in Bandra where I saw her.”

Cyrus adds, “Vaishali was extremely pretty and I ensured that my friends introduced us. Later, we connected as friends and then gradually started dating. It has been eight years of knowing her and being in a relationship. In my head, I was already married to her. I am glad that I have entered this new chapter of life with Vaishali, who is very bright, beautiful and independent.”

Cyrus, a former VJ, who has also been part of films like Khoobsurat, Aisha, Delhi-6, Rang De Basanti and is currently doing OTT shows, says, “I don’t feel any different now that I am married. I feel happy that I have a companion to share my life with. I was never someone who would announce my wedding date on social media. It is a private thing. Weddings are now far smaller and more intimate and I like that. Also, the couple decides when they want to get married and how they want to do it.”

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Will they get married next week? Will they not? While Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt’s fans were busy playing the guessing game, it was all work on Bhatt’s mind yesterday. The actor finished a song sequence for Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani, thus marking the end of the schedule for her. Now, with Bhatt having kept her date diary free for the next fortnight, the stage is set for the lovebirds — who have been together since late 2017 — to walk down the aisle next week.

A source from the set of Johar’s film reveals that Bhatt was juggling the shoot with wedding preparations. “On Tuesday and Wednesday, Alia had taken a few hours off for her trousseau trials. Karan planned the dates such that she could finish her portions yesterday, while co-star Ranveer Singh will be filming till late next week.”

The couple zeroed in on the dates for the five-day wedding ceremony, keeping their work commitments in mind. Sources say the two will take the pheras in the wee hours of April 16 in an intimate ceremony to be held at the Kapoor bungalow in Chembur. “For their big day, the bridal couple have turned to Bollywood’s go-to couturier Sabyasachi. True to his introverted nature, Ranbir wants an intimate wedding. 

The wedding planners have hired a robust security team that will man the Chembur bungalow, ensuring that photographs from their D-day aren’t leaked. From the caterers to the security department, every team has been requested to sign NDAs. A lavish reception is lined up on April 19 at Grand Hyatt in Santacruz for their industry friends. Alia has chosen a Manish Malhotra ensemble for the evening,” says a source.

The wedding of the year will not be followed by a honeymoon at this point, as Kapoor is expected to head to Himachal Pradesh by the month-end to kick off work on Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal.

The source adds, “Ranbir and Alia are looking at a packed few months. For the pre-wedding bachelor party, Aditya Roy Kapur and Arjun Kapoor will whisk Ranbir off to Alibaug over the weekend. Meanwhile, the bride’s sister Shaheen Bhatt and bestie Akansha Ranjan Kapoor are putting together the bachelorette party.”

It’s back — the uncertainty, coupled with financial losses amid what is being touted as the third wave of Coronavirus. Celebs such as John Abraham, Ekta Kapoor, Delnaaz Irani, Drashti Dhami, Sumona Chakravarti and Prem Chopra have tested positive and film releases have been pushed, including that of RRR and Jersey.

As expected, people from the film industry are worried about the movies that are currently in various stages of production. According to reports, a few crew members tested positive on the set of actor Deepika Padukone’s Gehraiyaan, and as per rule, the shoot had to be stalled.

Trade expert Atul Mohan says everyone will be on the back foot now. “This will instil fear in actors to not go out and shoot for at least 10-15 days. There has been a sudden rise in cases and the economic repercussions will be there. Jersey got affected, and now, the entire year’s calendar will get disturbed. More states are going to shut down theatres,” he reasons.

We have learnt that the trailer launch of Gehraiyaan, which was supposed to take place in Alibaug, Maharashtra, has been cancelled, too. Also, a concert that was planned in Mumbai for Prabhas’ Radhe Shyam has been called off.

Producer Anand Pandit, who has a film, Thank God, coming up, says looking at the soaring number of cases in Bollywood, things seen to have gone out of control: “Fortunately, my production is complete. The film’s last day of shoot was two days ago and the rest of the work starts in March, so we will wait and watch. But, production is going to be severely impacted for everyone else.”

The atmosphere on the sets has also become fearful. Ravi Sarin, line producer for several films and web projects in Delhi, says the crew members have been sent home and all work has stopped. “We can’t shoot anything with just 20 people on set, so everything has been cancelled,” he says.

Trade analyst Joginder Tuteja says that things will need to be watched for at least a couple of months. “It’s not just the film industry; even the common man is prepared for such ups and downs now. There’s no uncertainty like the first wave. [I am sure] this wave will subside soon and we will be able to bounce back,” he ends.

It’s pretty much impossible for actors to keep their relationships out of the spotlight these days, with paparazzi following them and fans sharing videos of their off-duty time. However, Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif, not only managed to keep their ongoing wedding celebrations in Rajasthan under wraps, but they also managed to keep their romance away from the media glare. The two were barely spotted together during the dating phase. Since they had never acted in a film together, many wondered how this romance blossomed. During her appearance on Karan Johar’s chat show Koffee With Karan in 2018, the actress said that she would like to work with Vicky Kaushal as she feels they may look good together. A few episodes later, when Vicky was on the show, Karan told him about Katrina’s statement, the actor, who was thrilled, pretended to faint with joy. Here’s how their love story unfolded after this.

Apparently, Vicky and Katrina’s first meeting was in 2019 when they shot for a chat show where they discussed their work and experiences in the industry. Later that year, they shared the stage at an awards function when Vicky jokingly proposed to her. He said, “Aap kisi acche se Vicky Kaushal ko dhoondh ke shaadi kyun nahi kar leti?”

Sometime later, they were spotted on a dinner date, pictures from which went viral. After this, there was constant speculation regarding them dating. However, they were never clicked together. Still, their appearance at a friend’s Diwali bash in 2019 added fuel to the rumours.

In March 2020, they were spotted having a great time at Isha Ambani’s Holi party, which also had other celebrities, including Priyanka Chopra Jonas and her husband Nick Jonas, in attendance. This year in August, they turned up for a special screening of Sidharth Malhotra’s film Shershaah, but they made sure that they were not photographed together. Katrina also attended the screening of Vicky Kaushal’s recent release Sardar Udham, but here too, the couple made separate entries and exits.

While the industry knew about their romance, there was no confirmation, as the couple hadn’t spoken about it. However, in an interview with Zoom this June, Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor – when asked about a rumoured relationship in Bollywood that is real – said, “Vicky and Katrina are together, that’s true. Am I going to get in trouble for saying this? I don’t know. I think they’re quite open about it.”

During the pandemic, Vicky was clicked a couple of times when he visited Katrina at her home. It was rumoured that the couple even brought in the New Year together in Alibaug. Online sleuths were convinced that Vicky’s reflection was visible in an image shared by Katrina online, which was later deleted.

Talk about them taking their relationship to the next level began this Diwali when there were reports of a roka ceremony at filmmaker Kabir Khan’s house. These love birds, who are tying the knot today have indeed managed to keep their relationship as private as possible.

While Alibaug has always been favoured by Mumbaikars for short holidays, in the last two years, due to the pandemic, it became one of the preferred destinations for a quick getaway from the city to soak in the sun and sand. Recently, actor-couple Ram Kapoor and his wife Gautami bought a sprawling holiday home in Alibaug. Ram says that the pandemic was not the reason to invest in a property at the lovely locale.

He shares, “I have holiday homes in Goa and Khandala, so there was no reason to find one more. But, since 2017, I was looking for a property, which would be an extension of my home in South Mumbai, and now, given the quick access to Alibaug, I thought it would be a good idea to buy this home. The plan was to find a place that wouldn’t be too far where I could relax on weekends with my family. Goa and Khandala are great, but they are not close to home. It was a dream to buy a home where I can see my grandchildren enjoy their time.”

He further added, “Alibaug has developed a lot in the past two years. Today, you find the best eateries, good services and facilities there, so I found it a convenient option. Finally, my dream to own a second home near Mumbai has come true.”

Ask Ram if he plans to ring in the New Year at his new home and he says, “No, I had booked a holiday to the Maldives before I bought this property, so I am spending my New Year there. But, my wife and kids are looking forward to spending their weekends in Alibaug now. I plan to go there every Thursday evening and come back on Sunday.”

Rupali Ganguly had planned to spend quality time with her husband and son on her birthday today. However, the Anupamaa actress has to be away from them as she has tested positive for Coronavirus. She is presently self-quarantining away from her family. We spoke to her about her health, the impact on her TV show now and her son Rudransh, who she misses the most. Excerpts from a chat:

Rupali had asked for leave in advance so that she could celebrate her birthday with her family. She says, “I wanted to spend some quality time with my family, especially with my son and my husband. I had planned so much for my birthday. But I think when I was busy making plans; God must have been laughing at me, knowing what was in store for me.” The actress now plans to celebrate a quiet birthday in the company of her dogs.

Rupali, who has quarantined herself in another house after testing positive, says, “I have a household help with me who had tested positive sometime back. She is in a PPE kit throughout the day, though. I also have many books with me to read.”

Rupali wishes to see her son on her birthday. “On my birthday today, I wish to see my son, mom and husband from a distance. I miss them a lot,” says an emotional Rupali. Eagerly waiting to test negative, she adds, “The first thing that I want to do once I test negative is hug and kiss my son. I was petrified for my family’s safety. Thankfully, their reports have come negative.”

Ask her how she is spending time, and pat comes her reply, “Not by watching web series for sure! People have suggested so many movies and web series, but I haven’t switched on the TV yet, not even to watch Anupamaa. Also, health-wise the symptoms are showing slowly, like now I am losing my sense of smell and taste.”

Rupali says she wants to make the most of this phase by spending time with herself. “I want to start an inward journey. This phase is teaching me that I need to love myself and that I am important for myself, too.”

Like many shows, makers of Anupamaa, too, are likely to explore an alternate track in Rupali’s absence. The actress shares, “On the day I went for my COVID test, they had started working on an alternative track. I feel bad that I have tested positive. I know other actors have tested positive too, but the show is called Anupamaa, and it won’t be easy to manage things, but our scriptwriters are fantastic. A lot has happened on our show in the past few weeks, but we have managed to retain the top position because of the writers. They are adept at making the transition in tracks smoothly.”

Actor Rupali Ganguly recently tested positive for Coronavirus. But she hasn’t lost her chirpiness one bit. “That I will never let go of, even Covid-19 can’t get that out. I am feeling the effects now. Taste ka gadbad ho raha hai, zabaan thodi bhaari (heavy) lag rahi hai,” she says.

The actor was slated to ring in her birthday today at Alibag and even scheduled her holiday for three days, but the universe had other plans. “It’s going to be heart-breaking. I am a very family oriented person. I don’t have friends, I have my family who are like my friends. Last birthday I was on a video call with my family, saying ‘next year we’ll celebrate’. This year, we had a nice bungalow booked in Alibag. Ab toh pati aur bachcha bhi nahin honge paas. Aisa birthday, yeh yaadgar rahega. I have to throw a party for my unit (soon),” the 43-year-old quips.

With a host of TV actors getting Covid-19, there must be fear. Ganguly says, “We can only think ‘we got it from there’. It’s definitely not from my sets, because my set is a fortress.”

While her staff, hubby, son and mother-in-law have tested negative, Ganguly is paranoid about the show’s track, but is keeping her fingers crossed. “The fear is always there. Complacency ke liye there’s no space. Hum log entertainers hai aur humara kaam hain entertain karte rehna. Main toh yahi kehti hoon Rajan (producer) ko ki hamare show ko kisi ki badi buri nazar lag gayi hai,” says the Sarabhai vs Sarabhai actor, adding, “Corona is a thing; it’s not about if you’ll get it. It’s about when you get it. Yeh hona toh hum sabko hain,” she adds.

Ganguly admits that she was more worried for her family. “All that was in my head. Plus sets mein nahin jaana hoga itne din tak. I was feeling guilty. I know how I have been lapsed and been so careless about this,” she adds.

After a two-decade courtship, when it was time to say ‘I do’, the couple faced an unusual obstacle. No disapproving parents, or a sneering villain in this Hindi film-esque romance, but a larger force of nature: the pandemic.

Then again, our hero, having headlined a string of Hindi movies in the past eight years, knows only too well that the story doesn’t reach its resolution until the couple battle all odds and reach the happily-ever-after.

So, a COVID-19 shaadi it was for Varun Dhawan and Natasha Dalal, who tied the knot in an intimate ceremony at Alibaug's Mansion House Resort last evening. Romance and rationality sat side-by-side at this celebration — where family friends and the couple’s childhood friends were in attendance, the hosts also adhered to safety precautions and restricted the guest list to 50. 

The groom’s mentor Karan Johar arrived early afternoon, ahead of the wedding, while director Shashank Khaitan and couturier Manish Malhotra had headed to Alibaug on Saturday for the pre-wedding celebrations. The nuptials started at 5.45 pm, lasting for an hour. A source reveals, “Every guest and staff member at the venue was tested for COVID-19 on Saturday before the festivities began."

"The two families were clear that guests be kept minimal, keeping the current situation in mind. A no-phone policy was adopted at the venue so that minute-by-minute details of the wedding were not leaked."

"The couple are planning to honeymoon in Turkey in April after Varun completes the shoot of Bhediya that rolls by the month-end." After the nuptials, the hosts distributed sweets among the paparazzi waiting outside. It is heard that the Dhawans will host a reception in Mumbai in February for their industry friends.

Varun Dhawan and his family were seen heading to his wedding venue in Alibaug yesterday morning. The actor decided to drive to the resort, while the rest of the family, including bride-to-be Natasha Dalal, took the jetty to reach Alibaug. Before the family took off from Mumbai, while the staff members were loading their wedding ensembles in the vehicles, they were clicked by the paps.

Varun and Natasha’s wedding celebrations begin tonight with a sangeet ceremony, and the wedding will take place tomorrow evening. We had told you earlier that Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Jacqueline Fernandez along with Karan Johar and Manish Malhotra are likely to attend the wedding. Now, we hear Varun’s childhood friends Shraddha Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor, too, are likely to be present for their friend’s big day.

Apparently, the limited guest list also includes filmmaker Sajid Nadiadwala and Shah Rukh Khan. Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor may join in if the former wraps up her shoot as per schedule.

The family picked the exclusive venue in Alibaug to ensure that they get the privacy they desire. A source told us, “Varun has always been warm and friendly with his fans and members of the press. However, papa David Dhawan has asked for their family’s privacy, so their own staff and the people working at the venue have been asked to avoid using cell phones. Given the pandemic, the guest list is restricted.” The Dhawans and Dalals also plan to host a reception in Mumbai for those who couldn’t be a part of the celebrations in Alibaug.

After many years of courtship, actor Varun Dhawan will tie the knot with girlfriend Natasha Dalal on January 24 at an exclusive property in Alibaug. The couple was apparently planning to get married in 2020 on foreign shores, but due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the wedding was postponed.

Our sources reveal, the couple will apparently tie the knot at the lavish Mansion House, which is a luxurious 25-room resort that is a 10-minute drive from the Alibaug Jetty. The actor and his family will be travelling by road to the venue on January 22 for the celebrations. The festivities will begin with a sangeet ceremony on January 23, while the wedding will be held on the evening of January 24.

Our sources further reveal that Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma’s wedding planners are in-charge of this big Bollywood wedding, too. Also, from the Bollywood fraternity, Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Jacqueline Fernandez, Karan Johar and Manish Malhotra are likely to attend the wedding. Varun’s first co-star and close friend Alia Bhatt is planning to be there for his big day along with boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor. However, Alia is currently shooting a song sequence for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Gangubai Kathiawadi and she will travel to Alibaug if she manages to complete the shoot within the scheduled time.

Post the wedding, Varun and Natasha plan to host a party in Mumbai for their friends and relatives, who couldn’t be a part of the celebrations in Alibaug.