In February, Parineeti Chopra teased her followers on Instagram by sharing a picture with actor Deven Bhojani. Naturally, it aroused curiosity around the project. Now, months later, we have the answer, and from the horse’s mouth. Talking to mid-day, Bhojani reveals that the two have teamed up for an OTT film, which sees him as the lead opposite Chopra.

Tell him that’s an on-screen couple we didn’t see coming, and the actor elaborates, “We share a different equation in the film. It’s not a hero-heroine equation. But we are playing the two lead characters.”

Recent reports suggested that Chopra was headlining an OTT film helmed by debutant director Dhruv Tripathi. Bhojani is tight-lipped about the director and further details regarding the yet-untitled movie. All he is willing to share is that the film is not a comedy, a genre he has favoured over his 38-year career. That, and about his co-star.

The actor admits that before the film went on floors, he was skeptical about how Chopra would be as a co-actor. “Before the shoot, I wasn’t sure [how things would pan out] because she is a big Bollywood star, and here we were playing the leads in the film. So, I judged her a little before meeting her,” he smiles.

All his doubts, however, went out the window the moment they met. “We gelled from day one. I thought to myself, ‘Yeh toh ekdum cool bandi hai’. She is down-to-earth. We would gossip, laugh out loud, and we helped each other give our best.” 

The OTT film comes as the latest addition in Bhojani’s pursuit of web offerings. He has enjoyed a golden run on television not only as an actor, but also as a director — having helmed the much loved shows, Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, and Sumit Sambhal Lega — but he is now single-mindedly focusing on digital entertainment.

The actor reveals that he has another web project in the pipeline. “I am leading a middle-aged love story.  OTT creators know my talent and versatility. I am loving dabbling in different genres,” he says.

More than a year after their wedding in Udaipur (Rajasthan), actor Parineeti Chopra and politician Raghav Chadha have finally addressed the speculations surrounding the grand ceremony. Chopra and Chadha tied the knot in September 2023 and soon after, the internet was abuzz with rumours about the extravagant costs of their nuptials, particularly hotel rooms that cost a staggering Rs. 10 lakh.

In a recent interview with Rajat Sharma, Editor-in-Chief of India TV, the couple dismissed the rumours. Chadha clarified, “It was a five-star hotel, not a seven-star hotel, where 40 to 50 rooms were booked for the guests. None of the rooms cost Rs. 10 lakh as is being alleged.”

The two also shared insights into their love story. They revealed that their relationship began in London, followed by secretive meetings in Punjab, before they eventually decided to take the plunge. The Aam Aadmi Party MP shared, “We met a lot and gradually, the silsila continued.”

Chopra shared a lighthearted anecdote about their early days together. She admitted that after their first meeting, she couldn’t resist digging for more information about Chadha online: “I Googled questions like, ‘Is he married?’ What is his age?’”

The couple also gave a lighthearted response when asked about the secret to their happy marriage. Chadha remarked, “Mujhe aisa lagta hai ki humari shaadi achchi isiliye chal rahi hai kyon ki mujhe Bollywood ka B bhi nahi aata aur isse politics ka P bhi nahi aata. Isiliye humari gaadi badi achchi chal rahi hain.”

Parineeti Chopra is the latest celeb voice to speak up on the revision film costs are under going currently. With many big films starring big names not performing well commercially, there is a rising demand to cut budgets and actors’ fees.

Despite some films doing well this year, Chopra still believes audiences aren’t venturing out in full force to catch films in theatres. “There is a limited audience going to cinema. Like any other business, there is an annual review of performance in the entertainment industry, too. The ABCD of business is that you keep your costs lower to increase profits. That applies to films, too. Everybody is uniting on that front, and working on it. I’m sure this is going to help us,” the actor says.

Meanwhile, the 35-year-old’s recent film Amar Singh Chamkila has done well, and become one of the most well-received OTT projects this year. Considering her career has been built on theatrical releases, will she be more confident with prioritizing good web projects?

“I don’t think my mind went there when I was approached for my first OTT project. For Chamkila, I got to learn music from A R Rahman (composer) for six months in his studio. As an artiste, I have blinders on. When I am in a project or film, I truly enjoy it,” says Chopra, adding, “Anyway, where it releases is not in my control. I don’t think of OTT versus cinema. Even today, if you offer a film to me, my question would never be, ‘Where is it releasing?’ It would be what am I doing and who the director is,” she ends.

Actor Parineeti Chopra says her politician husband Raghav Chadha is largely “disconnected from the world of films”, but after getting married to her last year, things have changed slightly.

“Raghav doesn’t know much about films; he is musically inclined. Of course, since we’re together, he takes a little more interest in what’s going on. He watched Amar Singh Chamkila — he knows the whole history of [the slain Punjabi singer] — and thought it was a wonderful film,” says Chopra, who played Chamkila’s wife and collaborator, Amarjot Kaur, in the film.

The positive response to the Imtiaz Ali directorial, which the actor feels is a first in her 13-year career, has left her beaming. “Any film of mine that has done well has a certain aspect [that viewers have loved], it has never been a 100% reception. Hasee Toh Phasee (2014) and Ishaqzaade (2012) continue to get love, Golmaal Again (2017) had the box-office numbers, Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar (2021) had critical acclaim. Every film had a strength, but Chamkila has been my most successful film,” she says.

In the absence of box-office numbers, the all-round appreciation is satisfying, Chopra feels. “In the case of this film, the appreciation feels true and real, and not because of some PR machinery. I’ve met people outside the Hindi or Punjabi speaking belts. Some fans from Nigeria said they watched it! The response didn’t require any sort of polishing,” she wraps up.

A loose outfit is all it took social media to speculate whether actor Parineeti Chopra was expecting. Laughing off the speculation mill, as she did in an Insta Story earlier this year, she says, “In the last one year, I had put on 16 kg for a film, and that has not been shed yet. The obvious deduction when people see me, is, ‘She got married, she must be pregnant’. I don’t bother about it. If I wasn’t married they wouldn’t say all this. It’s so clichéd and predictable, thinking this about a female actor.”

"The last 10 years have reinstated my love for the ocean,” says Parineeti Chopra, who’s been training for scuba diving for a decade and is now a Master Scuba Diver. Before this, just like everyone else, Parineeti looked at the sea “as a visual, but didn’t understand how important the oceans are for human survival.” On the occasion of World Oceans Day today, the actress talks about her love for the underwater world, how she’s a part of clean-up drives and the beautiful coastline of India which needs to be protected.

Talking about how she was mesmerized by the oceans and took to scuba diving, Parineeti shares, “I was on the sets of Kill Dil in 2014, where I was shooting an underwater sequence with Ranveer (Singh). They were shooting from the bottom of the pool. That’s when I was mesmerized and enrolled for a scuba diving class in Mumbai. Over the years, I became an advanced diver, then a rescue diver. Now, I am a Master Scuba Diver. People get into diving as a vacation activity, for me it’s a discipline.”

Parineeti says that she shares a deep connect with the oceans. “I prefer doing liveaboard diving instead of land-based diving. For 10 days, you are stationed far into the ocean. This type of diving allows you to go to locations that are untouched. My connect with the ocean then becomes very spiritual. It feels like a spiritual vacation as you are cut off from the rest of the world. I love experiencing nature on a meditative level and scuba diving allows me to go into that next level of meditative trance. It is an experience that gives me happiness on a deep level,” she explains.

The actress, who’s gone diving in oceans across the world, says the underwater scenery is changing rapidly and that’s alarming. “Extensive measures need to be taken to save the oceans. Industrialization and climate change is causing this. I have sometimes gone back to the same dive spot and seen the change. There is coral bleaching everywhere, marine life is getting impacted and the Great Barrier Reef is changing with time,” she says.

Wanting to do her bit to save the oceans, the Hasee Toh Phasee actress says, “There is a small group of people that is trying to make changes and I consider myself a part of that group. One of the greatest threats to our oceans is plastic pollution. Unfortunately, the oceans are considered a garbage dump in many parts of the world and not only physical tangible garbage, but also liquid garbage goes into it, and industrial waste ends up in water. There have been times where I dived to see beautiful marine life and was shocked to see cola cans and chip wrappers at the bottom of the ocean. I am also associated with an international diving body with a purpose. We take up ocean clean-ups and bring back with us garbage from underneath the ocean.”

Unlike Parineeti, her husband, politician Raghav Chadha isn’t into diving. She says, “Not all battles can be won. This battle is ongoing (laughs). It’s definitely on my priority list. I would love for him to go scuba diving with me and yes, koshish jaari hai.”

The actress shares, “Palau in Micronesia has a lot of shipwrecks underwater from World War II. Sipadan in Malaysia is also very beautiful. Australia is stunning. Closer to home, I love Lakshadweep.”

A mother and daughter bond like no other. In the run-up to Mother’s Day on May 12, our exclusive series delves into the cherished bond between a unique mom and daughter duo. Today, we shine a spotlight on the enchanting relationship between actor Parineeti Chopra and her artist mother, Reena Chopra, as the latter reveals some delightful anecdotes.

“My journey as a professional artist has been relatively short but incredibly fulfilling. I owe much of this satisfaction to Parineeti, as she was the one who encouraged me to pursue art seriously. I haven’t received any formal training in art; I’m self-taught. However, it was Parineeti and my sons (Sahaj and Shivang) who gifted me my first artist kit and urged me to dedicate time to my own passions rather than solely focusing on family obligations,” Reena begins, her voice filled with warmth and admiration.

“My genres are mostly inspired by my travels and by the differences in culture that I experienced in the first few years of my life when I moved from Kenya to India. And all that is translated into some kind of visual journey, which I’m very proud of today. Because it was my personal journey, a lot of it actually struck a chord with people who saw my art and ultimately reached out to me wanting to own some of it. So that’s when the realization took place that maybe honesty in your art is something that really reaches out to people, and that’s what I’ve been trying to do so far,” Reena shares while talking about her art.

“Even though I am her mother and always will be, now at times, I feel that the roles are reversed. She’s literally my 4 am friend in the real sense of the word,” she goes on, “Today, I feel she’s my mentor, my guide. She’s the best person to give me all kinds of advice that I need, whether it’s personal or professional.”

Raising Pari in Ambala, which is a very small town, was challenging in many ways, but very good for her. We had a large, loving family; she grew up with grandparents. And then her nana-nani (Reena’s parents) lived in Kenya, so Pari actually got the best of both worlds. It was in Kenya that Pari developed a deep love for water. Now, she is a certified scuba diver. She’s even taught me to scuba dive!

If there is one thing I have learnt from my mum, it would be to keep smiling no matter what your struggles are. She is so strong and always keeps smiling. She’s our family’s little atom bomb, our little packet of talent, kindness, dignity and grace. I inherited her sarcastic sense of humour, her keeda for travel and her obsession with grammar!”

Politician Raghav Chadha, who underwent an eye surgery in London, is on the road to recovery. He is with his wife, actor Parineet Chopra. Still on rest, Chadha is expected to return to India with Chopra, once doctors give a go-ahead.

On Tuesday, Delhi health minister Saurabh Bhardwaj addressed the reason behind the Aam Aadmi Party leader and Rajya Sabha member’s absence during the crucial election period. Bhardwaj shared that it was due to a critical eye complication.

Talking to HT City, a source close to the family says, “So many people have been misinterpreting and misreporting the statement given by the health minister that Raghav could have lost his eyesight. Yes, he had a condition due to which he was advised to undergo a surgery to avoid any complication, one of which could have been losing his eyesight. So, to prevent this risk, he got the surgery, and it was done successfully. He is back home (from the hospital) and is recovering now, and shall be back to work in a couple of weeks. There is nothing to worry or exaggerate things.”

Chadha has been stationed in the UK capital since March 8. “At the time of his surgery, Parineeti was with him, and has been visiting him on a regular basis. In fact, she promoted Chamkila shuttling between London and Mumbai,” says the source.

Imtiaz Ali’s Amar Singh Chamkila has won unanimous praise. The director’s masterful storytelling and Diljit Dosanjh’s honest performance has endeared the slain Punjabi singer to the audiences. The musician’s songs though—which, in his lifetime, were wildly popular, but abhorred by a section of the society, who felt they objectified women—are a different story. But Ali believes that Chamkila wasn’t a sexist man.

“In Punjab and everywhere else, I’ve seen that the sangeet songs in shaadis are always vulgar. There’s a reason for it—women are naughtier than men. Their naughtiness comes out through music,” reasons the director. He points out another aspect in the late Chamkila’s creations.

“In his music, the women are smarter and equally participative. They are teasing the men. The first song that Chamkila sang on stage is about an old man who is trying to say that he is young and virile, and the woman is making fun of him. It’s not that the woman is being objectified all the time. It’s an equal relationship.”

Through the musical, Ali neither glorifies nor decries Chamkila’s songs. He doesn’t glorify the protagonist either. The director was certain he didn’t want to make a hagiography.

“When you tell the story of someone’s life, you should represent all aspects of it. I don’t like biopics that endlessly glorify the [protagonist]; that becomes boring. I had to present the human side of Chamkila. He wasn’t a [flawless] person. But I was sure of his intrinsic good qualities—he didn’t come across as a star, he was always a servant of the masses. He came from the most disadvantaged background; he was humble.” 

Though the Netflix film delves into his partnership with his singer-wife Amarjot Kaur, played by Parineeti Chopra, it largely shows her as muted. “I relied on my research. This is how Amarjot always comes across, in the narration of people or in her videos. Plus, the film had to wrap up in a certain duration. Maybe, someone can make a film on Amarjot now,” he smiles.

On Sunday, actor Parineeti Chopra and politician Raghav Chadha will celebrate their six-month wedding anniversary. They exchanged wedding vows on September 24 last year, and Chopra says their married life so far “has been amazing and wonderful”. She attributes a large part of that to maintaining a low-key profile on social media.

“In my case, only 1% of my life is on social media. I might have been sitting yesterday and doing jigsaw puzzles, but you, as a viewer, will never know. I wish people didn’t give so much importance to social media. I am glad there has been nothing but positivity for me and Raghav on the platforms,” says the 35-year-old.

Chopra says since she and Chadha come from such different work backgrounds, it has played a role in why “we get so much love”: “Maybe people love us as they feel we are a real couple. Everywhere we go, people say that.”

Sharing how they draw a line between their work and personal life, Chopra says, “He might be from a different industry, but he understands my world. I am from a different industry and I know nothing about politics, but I understand public life now.”

It took a lot for Parineeti Chopra to finally realise her dream of singing live at a concert. The actress, who has sung songs like Maana Ke Hum Yaar Nahi (Meri Pyaari Bindu) and Teri Mitti (Kesari), finally made her live performance debut in Mumbai recently. In an interview with us, she says, “It was the culmination of 25 years of thoughts, dreams and planning that led to this moment.”

The actor-singer’s upcoming film Chamkila with Diljit Dosanjh, which will be released on an OTT platform later this year, has multiple songs sung by her.

She says, “One of the main reasons I did this film was because I was getting to sing some 15 songs for it. It was during this film that my co-star Diljit heard me sing and told me to pursue live performances. Everyone around me used to constantly put this thought in my head that I could be on stage.”

Not just the industry folks, but closer to home, even her husband Raghav Chadha encouraged her to sing live. “Raghav has known me for only some time, yet he suggested that I should do live shows. He told me that I should have done this five years ago. Before I went on stage for my first performance, I was jittery. But, when you sing that first word, you forget where you are, and you get in your element,” she says.

Ask her about handling two careers, acting and singing, when she has started a new chapter of her personal life, and she says, “This pattern should break. This is not how life is. Now that I am married, it doesn’t mean that I have to slow down. I wish people would not put everyone in that slot. Different people have different marriages, relationships and life. Some people work even on the day they are getting married. In our case, I am an actor, while he is a politician. We both live in different cities. So, it’s a different kind of marriage. Our marriage doesn’t affect work and work doesn’t affect our marriage. Everything has to go hand-in-hand. It is one life which has all these departments in it and all of them are simultaneously running.”

Talking about focusing on two different aspects of her career, she says, “I want to pursue two careers at the same time. It is an exciting challenge to take. I will work hard. I am getting into the skin of a musician and learning more about the world of concerts. I don’t want to ruin it by overthinking. I am just going to juggle it. Personally, I have a different mindset from other actors. All these things are just a part of my life and not my entire life. My family, friends, holidays, scuba diving, music, husband, career and health are all important and equal in my life.”

Parineeti Chopra, who is known for her acting skills, dabbled in playback singing with tracks such as Maana Ke Hum Yaar Nahi (Meri Pyaari Bindu, 2017), Teri Mitti (Kesari, 2019) and Matlabi Yariyan (The Girl On The Train, 2021). Now, the actor is on a quest to establish a second career as a live singer. In line with this, the Uunchai (2022) actor recently made her stage debut at a Mumbai music festival.

“I had been dreaming of this day for many lifetimes. I can’t believe I have finally started a second career. So now, I get to do acting and music, something no Bollywood actress has done before,” she tells us.

The 35-year-old, who used to participate in music competitions as a child, felt this was the perfect phase in her life to make a change. “I changed agencies last year, and the new management was excited to get me on the stage I dreamt of,” shares Chopra, while acknowledging the support from her husband, politician Raghav Chadha: “He’s my backbone and literally made me take that step. He saw that I’m passionate about music and said I should finally do it.”

While she has chalked out plans for cutting an album and more live shows in the coming months, the actor talks about her debut performance set. “In my head, I was telling myself the first one is a learning experience — to see how the light works, the technical and energy required,” she shares, adding, “For this show, I wanted to perform songs that mean something to me, like Pareshaan from Ishaqzaade (2012), Maana Ke Hum Yaar Nahi, the first track I recorded in a studio, and Ve Maahi (Kesari), my biggest hit ever. I also sang my nana’s favourite, Aaj Jane Ki Zidd Na Karo.”

Safed Actor Meera Chopra has claimed that her cousins, actors Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Parineeti Chopra, have “never helped her” and that the feeling of “sisterhood” between her and the two is somehow missing.

“From the beginning, there wasn’t enough closeness between us for us to look like friends here. That would be fake,” Meera told host Siddharth Kannan in an interview, adding, “But I can say that when three or four girls join the industry, they help each other. That did not happen to me. I am not one to ask for help and even they never offered any.”

Meera, who made her acting debut with the Tamil film Anbe Aaruyire (2005) a couple of years after Priyanka had made hers in The Hero: Love Story Of A Spy (2003), shared that they were all once part of a “joint family” before adding, “Jab koi bahut bada ho jata hai toh baaki log chhote lagte hain.”

Meera went on to share that she has a good rapport with Priyanka but with Parineeti, the bond is missing somehow. “When families don’t talk, I don’t want to cross [a boundary] that will hurt my family. I am still very close to Priyanka’s family. They all wish very well for me. Priyanka has always been very generous, but the sisterhood is missing, but not from my side.”

Parineeti Chopra, who was in Vadodara recently for an event hosted by Parul University, was in a jovial and candid mood. In one of her first interviews after her marriage, talking about if she was willing to join politics in the future, the actress, who got married to politician Raghav Chadha in September, quipped, “Let me tell you the secret to our successful marriage. He knows nothing about Bollywood, and I don’t know anything about politics! So, I don’t think you will see me joining politics.”

On a more serious note, she added, “Although both of us are in public life, we had no idea that we would get so much love from all over the country. I feel that if you are with the right person, married life is the best.”

Parineeti, who made her Bollywood debut with Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl (2011), says that it has been an eventful journey. She shares, “I have always trusted my gut feeling while choosing a film and I feel that I have broken stereotypes as an actress. I played an unconventional role in my debut project and I have found success while playing non-glamorous roles. It was my dream to work with Imtiaz Ali and I am thrilled that after waiting for more than a decade, that wish has come true. The role that I play in my upcoming film directed by him changed my life.”

She adds, “While we are making films primarily for entertainment, we also need to be responsible because in India, people tend to emulate actors. So, we need to strike this balance where there is the urge to entertain, but also a sense of responsibility towards the audience.” Asked about OTT projects, she says, “I am a very greedy actor and for me, the medium or language don’t matter. If I am offered something really interesting, I would love to do OTT shows too. But I won’t do it just for the sake of it.”

Parineeti says that she has “always balanced my personal and professional life well.” Elaborating on the need to do this, she adds, “It’s very important to strike the right work-life balance. In India, we often see people proudly talking about how they did not eat or sleep on time because they were busy with work. They wear it like a badge of honour but personally, I don’t think it is the right way to live life. I believe in working really hard, but I also love to meet my friends and go on holidays. When I am 85 or 90 years old, I should look back and feel that I lived my life the way it should be done.”

Citing an example, she says, “There have been times when I have told my co-actors that I am going scuba diving for 10 days and they would immediately ask, ‘Kaun se picture ke liye?’ It shows that there are people who don’t do anything outside their work. It’s their choice and I respect it. But I feel one should not just work or just have a gala time; one should do both.”

I have a sister (her cousin Priyanka) who is working in Hollywood and she has always shocked and surprised the world with the kind of amazing work that she does. We should pave our own path and I am really inspired by her.

After a grand wedding in Udaipur, newlyweds Parineeti Chopra and Raghav Chadha returned to Delhi on Monday. The couple was welcomed at the latter’s home with dhol and special décor. Now, we have learnt that Chopra is likely to shift base to the Capital.

An insider tells us, “Pari will travel for work, shuttling between Mumbai and Delhi to maintain [work-life] balance.”

We’ve also learnt that the actor and the politician will resume work soon and skip going on their honeymoon. “At the moment, Parineeti is spending quality time with her in-laws. She will soon head to Mumbai for work, including promotions for her upcoming film with (actor) Akshay Kumar,” a source says, adding, “Raghav, too, has a lot lined up, with the Winter Session of the Parliament coming up.”

The receptions that were to be held in Delhi, Chandigarh and Mumbai are also on hold, we have learnt. “They’ve pushed everything due to shradh (a period when rituals are done for forefathers; starts tomorrow),” adds the source.

A sea of people dressed in hues of white, boats sailing across Lake Pichola, and at the centre of it all, the groom going across the lake to wed his ladylove. This is what fairytale weddings are made of. And it came true for actor Parineeti Chopra and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) member Raghav Chadha, who tied the knot at the Leela Palace in Udaipur yesterday.

The guest list was diverse, representing the two different worlds that the couple hail from—while the ladkiwale included tennis star-friend Sania Mirza and couturier Manish Malhotra, the politician-groom’s baaraat comprised Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Yuva Sena’s Aaditya Thackeray.

On D-day, the festivities began at 1 pm with Chadha’s sehra bandi at the Taj Lake Palace Hotel, where the groom’s side was put up. Around 2.30 pm, the baaraat along with local musicians made their way across the lake in boats, decorated with white flowers, to the Leela Palace for the nuptials.

A source reveals, “The baaraat milni, where the bride’s family welcomes the groom and wedding procession, took place at 3.30 pm, followed by the varmala ceremony and saat pheras. Keen to keep it subtle, the couple had chosen a pearl-white theme for the occasion. Parineeti wore a Manish Malhotra lehenga, drape and veil, all embellished with crystals. Raghav complemented her perfectly in an ivory-coloured sherwani, designed by uncle Pawan Sachdeva. His uncle, in fact, designed his outfits for the entire round of festivities.”

The nuptials that wrapped up by 6.30 pm were followed by a reception at 9 pm.

On Saturday, the couple hosted a sangeet ceremony. Chopra, an ardent fan of Punjabi music, roped in singer-actor Navraj Hans to perform at the ceremony.

When mid-day reached out to Hans, he said, “I sang Mundeya, Dumadum mast kalandar, Bolo tara rara, and ’90s songs, including Mere khwabon mein jo aaye. I sang Parineeti’s song Zehnaseeb too. She wanted me to end the show with Rabba, which is her favourite. She said, ‘You cannot leave without singing it.’ Both of them danced to all the numbers, including Gud naal ishq mitha.”

The newly-weds are expected to host a reception later this month in Delhi-NCR, and another in Mumbai.

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Actor Parineeti Chopra and politician Raghav Chadha’s wedding celebrations were a stylish affair in Udaipur (Rajasthan).

The couple had a blast at their cocktail-sangeet party that had a ‘Let’s Party Like It’s The ‘90s’ theme. Singer Navraj Hans serenaded the couple with Gur Nalo Ishq Mitha, Dil Chori Sada Ho Gaya and their favourite ’90s hits. The couple danced for around three hours. The menu included stalls of chaats, popcorn, candy floss and Maggi.

Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, designer Manish Malhotra, tennis player Sania Mirza, and cricketer Harbhajan Singh, among others attended the wedding.

Chadha’s outfits were designed by his maternal uncle, designer Pawan Sachdeva: “Raghav doesn’t wear anything that is heavy on embellishment. We replaced embroidery with texture on the fabric so that it looks rich and heavy. I made two or three looks for each function and he picked from them.”

In some photos circulating online, Chopra can be seen donning a silver three-piece ensemble and her husband-to-be sporting a navy blue jacket suit. The couple had a pearl-and-white theme for the entire wedding. Chopra also opted for minimal mehndi.

The couple had a joint haldi ceremony on September 23. A source tells us, “It was high on Punjabi vibes and songs. There was traditional giddha, too, which added a special touch and got the whole family together to shake a leg.”

Parineeti Chopra and Raghav Chadha’s wedding festivities began with a chooda ceremony in Udaipur yesterday. Parineeti’s maternal uncle gifted her a set of red chooda. The wedding venue, situated beside Lake Pichola, was adorned with floral decorations. Following the chooda ceremony, mehendi and haldi rituals unfolded with close family and friends in attendance.

The welcome lunch, named ‘Blooms and Bites’, offered a taste of Rajasthani culture through its cuisine and decor. In the evening, guests enjoyed a sangeet night with a ’90s Bollywood theme, titled ‘Let’s Party Like the ’90s’.

Guests seen at the airport included Bhagyashree and Himalaya Dasani, Aamna Sharif and actor-poet Shailesh Lodha. The shaadi is set to be a starstudded affair, with politicians and Bollywood celebrities expected to attend.

As per reports, along with Rajasthan police officials, a team of 100 private security personnel has been deployed at the wedding venue. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel and Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot are expected to attend the reception.

Raghav’s outfits for the wedding have been designed by his uncle, fashion designer Pawan Sachdeva. The designer says, “Raghav likes it subtle and classy, as it goes with his style, persona and profession. He hates embroidery or anything flashy. So, I created textures on fabrics without any embroidery, so it looks like a wedding attire. For the wedding, he will be wearing a sherwani. For the haldi and mehendi ceremonies, he wore different styles of kurtas.”

The Delhi-based designer also revealed that the groom’s trousseau comprises “Indo-western outfits, tuxedos (that he will wear for the wedding reception tonight), asymmetrical cuts and bandi set.” Sachdeva adds, “All of them are a mix of sharp cuts with minimalistic designs.”

Parineeti’s cousin Priyanka Chopra won’t be coming down from the US to attend the wedding. Yesterday, Priyanka took to social media to wish her sister for her big day. She shared a picture that has Parineeti smiling and wrote, “I hope you are as happy and content as this on your big day little one.. always wishing you so much love #newbeginnings @ parineetichopra @ raghavchadha88 (sic).”

Celebrations are in full swing as Parineeti Chopra and Raghav Chadha are set to tie the knot soon. The couple and their families are currently in Delhi for the pre-wedding functions, which include an ardaas and kirtan. That apart, we hear that to add a fun twist to the celebrations, their families will indulge in a cricket match.

Informs a source, “There are a lot of fun activities planned for the guests, and one of them is a cricket match. So, it will be really exciting as it will be a Chopras versus Chadhas cricket match. Their friends are also going to join in the fun activity.”

For those unaware, Parineeti and Raghav are big fans of the sport. The duo was spotted at a Mohali stadium watching an IPL match in May. Later in June, they also attended the India versus Australia World Test Championship final in London.

After the cricket match in Delhi, the families will head to Udaipur, where other ceremonies will unfold on September 23, followed by the wedding on September 24.

Prep for actor Parineeti Chopra and politician Raghav Chadha’s wedding later this month is in full swing. We have exclusively learnt that it will be a week-long affair in Udaipur (Rajasthan). “Though Parineeti is busy with work currently, she’s been planning the wedding day in, day out.”

The wedding festivities are expected to commence on September 17. The wedding and other functions will be held at The Leela Palace Udaipur. “Only close family members and friends will be staying there. For the other guests, all luxury properties in and around the wedding venue have been booked. It’s going to be a grand Punjabi wedding. The celebration will end on September 24,” says the source, adding that special plans are in place for “guests to indulge in all things all things touristy”.

Talking about the security arrangements, the source adds “As a lot of politicians will be attending the wedding, the hotels have been told to beef up security arrangements. A recce is underway by the police to ascertain a security plan.”

The relationship between Parineeti Chopra and her brothers, Sahaj and Shivang, is setting major goals on social media. Getting candid about the siblings’ ever-evolving bond, Parineeti (34), in her first interview after her engagement, says, “By virtue of our careers, we live in three separate cities of the world. Sahaj (30) lives in Delhi, I live in Mumbai, and Shivang (29) lives in London (UK). For years, we weren’t together on Raksha Bandhan, but we have never missed a celebration.”

Parineeti: I start planning their rakhis and gifts in advance. I must mention that they have never given me a rakhi gift till now. I am still waiting. When they were growing up, they were obsessed with cars, so I bought them rakhis with car toys, which they kept for the longest time.

Sahaj: Shivang’s was a red car and mine was blue. I took care of it and still have the car with me.

Parineeti: Yes. If they don’t call me by 10 am or 11 am, I will call them to make sure they’ve tied the rakhi I sent them.

Shivang: Didi has been sending us rakhis all these years, and we wear them for as long as we can.

Sahaj: For me, today is even more special because we are hardly together. When we get a rakhi from her, we wait for the day we can tie it.

Sahaj: I have always been very protective of Parineeti. Our bond has grown over the years and, today, we can speak about everything. We truly are each other’s closest friends.

Shivang: We don’t keep any secrets. We bully and protect each other.

Parineeti: How we talk to each other is a measure of how much we like the other [at that moment]. If we are roasting and making fun of each other, that means everything is fine. When we start talking formally, that means something’s wrong, which is rare. We probably fight once in two years.

Parineeti: The age gap has disappeared. We seem to be the same age. I was five years old when they were born, so I felt like a second mother to them. They have trained me for motherhood. We have our own individual bonds [with each other]. Shivang is the guy I travel with and Sahaj is the one I talk to when I need advice.

Parineeti: Any new chapter in my life is never for the public first and then my family. It’s always the opposite. So, if I’m thinking of getting engaged, there’s no way I won’t involve my family. Marriage is a big decision. And it is not only about my family, both the families [were involved]. They had to meet and talk.