Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; April 16, 2018)

Surveen Chawla surprised everyone when she revealed her marital status in January this year — that she tied the knot with longtime boyfriend Akshay Thakker in Italy in 2015. Most actresses are known to settle down in marriage after making it big in showbiz, but Surveen chose to follow her heart and take the plunge early on in her career.

Talking about her marriage for the first time since it was announced, the actress says that nothing has changed in life since. “In fact, it has gotten only better,” says Surveen, asking, “Why does it shock people that I got married? Those days are gone when an actress would achieve her professional goals first and then get married. Many actresses achieve great professional heights even after marriage now. Just because I was perceived as a go-getter and an ambitious person, it did not mean that I had no intention of getting married if I found the right guy. Marriage and career are not interrelated and people should understand that. Just like any professional woman who continues to work after her marriage, an actress should not wait when she finds the right guy.” Surveen, however, stresses on the importance of understanding and compatibility with the partner before taking the plunge.

Known for her bold and confident outlook, Surveen confesses that she was reluctant to get married at first. “I had gone through many ups and downs in my relationships, so I was quite reluctant to get married until I was doubly sure of the person. Besides, it is also a question of hormones, so it is only right that you get married at the right age.” She adds that she is in a happy space with her husband. “I could kiss my co-actor or even go nude on screen, I can do whatever the script demands in a film and my husband will not say anything about it. That’s the kind of understanding I have with him. When I have this kind of comfort level with him, why would I wait to get married? My husband is supportive of my work and I got a companion for life, what more can a woman ask for?”

She continues, “Marriage is a natural progression for any man or woman and if you find a partner who only enhances your life, I don’t think actresses should wait. When I get a good film project, it is Akshay who says, ‘Go for it’. That’s what partnership is all about. Today, many actresses get married, have babies and make a comeback. The perception with married actresses is changing and it will change further in the future.”

Surveen who was last seen on the show 24 on TV, will be part of the soon-to-be-aired Copy, one of Sujoy Ghosh’s three short features, Teen Paheliyan. She, however, has no intention of returning to daily soaps. “Kabhi bhi nahi. When it comes to TV, I worry about the content as it tends to get regressive. If it is a film project like the one I have done, then it would be interesting. More than the platform, I think the content plays an important role in accepting a project,” she elaborates.

The actress also adds that bagging films projects is not easy at all. She says, “It is a game of patience. I was bombarded with erotic films after Hate Story, but then you have to be choosy about your work. And for God’s sake, a kiss on screen does not mean that you are only doing erotic films.”

The actress, who has never minced words, feels every individual must strive for better things. She says, “I wanted to do bigger and better things. In fact, I am on the way to achieving my goals slowly and marriage has only made my life more beautiful.”

The actress talks about her hush-hush wedding in Italy, which took place in 2015
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; December 28, 2017)

After our exclusive story of Surveen Chawla being secretly married for two years, the actress has shared the details of her wedding and why it was a fiercely-guarded secret. She tied the knot with businessman Akshay Thakker in a low-key ceremony on July 28, 2015, in Italy.

We hear that Surveen was planning to make her marriage public in January, 2018. The actress reveals, “Yes, I am married. I have known Akshay for long. It was a personal choice to not talk about the marriage. We wanted to break the news just before our Indian wedding, which was scheduled to take place this month. However, we had to postpone it to 2018, following a loss in the family.”

The Italian wedding was a close-knit affair with only families and a few industry friends in attendance. Surveen says, “In a quintessential Indian wedding, the couple is surrounded by guests. But we wanted the day to ourselves; the idea was to enjoy each and every moment with each other and with those who matter the most. Also, I always wanted a white wedding in a chapel located in a castle. Fortunately, Akshay shared the same dream and that’s how we zeroed in on a picturesque castle in Northern Italy. It took me six months to finalize the venue. Since I am a die-hard romantic, there was no other way I would have done it.”

Surveen met Akshay through a common friend in 2013 and hit it off instantly. Their friendship soon graduated to love and they started living in eight months later. “It was organic. We began spending a lot of time together. There was no official proposal. We just knew that we wanted to be with each other. Akshay hates media glare and is a simple guy. He respects my individuality and understands me and my profession. Most importantly, he lets me be the person I am. He is the calming effect in my life. He made me understand the true meaning of letting go. Akshay has made me a better person. The idea behind the unison of two people is to help each other evolve. The best part is that he is not from the industry and that helps me remain grounded. It’s a great feeling to go back home to someone who has different things to talk about with a unique perspective,” she says.

So, did she hide her marriage from the world fearing that it would hamper her career? “Initially, yes, as my films were up for release,” she replies, adding, “But I soon crossed that bridge and realised that a talented actor will shine irrespective of her marital status.We need to take a cue from the West and get over such stigmas. International actresses go about flaunting their love life, marriage and babies without a care in the world. What matters is what I am doing on screen. Also, we suffered a personal loss and didn’t know how to go about announcing the wedding then.” And what about starting a family? “Though it’s not going to happen in the near future, I will proudly announce when I embrace motherhood,” she beams.

The actress tied the knot in 2015 in Italy
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; December 27, 2017)

The secret is out! BT has it that Surveen Chalwa is married. In fact, it has been over two years since she tied the knot. The actress exchanged vows with businessman Akshay Thakker on July 28 in Northern Italy, back in 2015. The couple successfully managed to keep their marital status under wraps for long, until we discovered it.

According to a source, “Surveen met Akshay through a common friend in 2013 and soon after, they fell in love. They got married in 2015, with only family and a handful of industry friends in attendance. It was Surveen’s dream to have a white wedding in a chapel located in a picturesque castle and Italy seemed like an apt choice. The couple was waiting for the right time to announce the wedding and had planned to do it in January 2018.”