Given how unusual 2020 has been, Priyanshu Painyuli wanted to end the year on a happy note. The Rashmi Rocket actor tied the knot with longtime partner Vandana Joshi in an intimate ceremony in Dehradun yesterday. Getting married amid a pandemic can be a tricky affair. Where the bride hired her favourite designer to create the beautiful lehenga and the bridegroom arranged an all-terrain vehicle for their sweeping send-off, the couple had another item to strike off their to-do list — ensuring the safety of guests. The actor hired a team of COVID-19 specialists to ensure that necessary safety measures were adopted during the do.

It is learnt that the team, comprising medical experts, set up a disinfection tunnel at the entrance of the wedding venue. "Additionally, six sanitisation counters were set up in the premises, and guests had to undergo the customary temperature check. With the guest list restricted to 50, the seating arrangement was designed such that people could maintain physical distancing. The chefs and attendants too had to undergo a Coronavirus test before the big day," says a source. The safety protocols extended to the low-key reception that the newly-weds hosted last evening.

The Coronavirus pandemic may have roadblocked many weddings this year, but it could not stop Rana Daggubati, Neha Kakkar and Kajal Aggarwal from taking the plunge. The latest to hop on to the marry-go-round is actor Priyanshu Painyuli who will marry the love of his life, Vandana Joshi, today.

“The idea was to get married in 2020, but Covid hit our plans for a toss. But recently, we decided to go ahead with our original decision,” Priyanshu shares, adding that ceremonies will take place between November 25-28, leading up to the wedding today and reception tomorrow in his hometown Dehradun. “We wanted a grand wedding with all our loved ones in attendance till the rogue virus came along. But despite everything that has happened in the last eight months, we still want to end 2020 together. When things improve, we will host a reception in Mumbai.”

The couple met about a decade ago while doing a Bollywood musical for Vaibhavi Merchant, titled Taj Express. They’ve been dating for seven years now. “We have travelled and performed together in several countries for around two years. I come from a stage background, and Vandana has been on Dance India Dance and many TV shows. I loved her dancing while she loved my acting,” he laughs.

Priyanshu recently wrapped up the Pune schedule of Rashmi Rocket. He plays Taapsee Pannu’s love interest in the sports drama. He headed to Dehradun on Tuesday. “I’ve been multi-tasking, juggling the shoot, the wedding and planning for our new house,” he says tired. “The film is special for me as my father is a retired colonel and I am playing an army man,” he informs. After the wedding he’ll resume shoot and the honeymoon will have to wait.

Actor Priyanshu Painyuli and his long-time girlfriend, actor-dancer Vandana Joshi, are set to take the next step in their relationship. The couple will be tying the knot on November 26 in Painyuli’s hometown, Dehradun. “We had been thinking of getting married early this year but didn’t have a date in mind, and then Coronavirus happened. So we had to change our plans but we didn’t want to postpone the wedding. We thought why not end the year on a happy note...,” shares the Mirzapur actor, 31, adding that the wedding will be an intimate affair with 50 people as per the safety norms, 25 people each from both sides.

The sangeet and cocktail ceremony is on November 25, and there will be a reception in Dehradun on November 27. They were planning a reception in Joshi’s hometown, Delhi, but given the pandemic situation, they have decided to hold it for now. “We’d be returning to Mumbai in the first week of December, and some time in the second week, we’ll have a small reception there for our industry friends,” he adds.

The couple met in Mumbai during their theatre days, in 2013, while they played lead roles in Vaibhavi Merchant’s musical Taj Express. “We’ve seen our ups and downs, and grown up together in this journey... We’ve always understood each other... We’re very different, in the sense of our personalities, that’s why we kind of compliment each other,” he says. Ask him how does his think his female fan following will react to him being taken, and the actor replies with a laugh: “I’m sure everybody understands that we all have a personal life. Nothing will change as I’ll continue to entertain them.”

On the work front, he has finished the first schedule of Rashmi Rocket, and will resume shooting in December. After that, he will start on his untitled web series and then the film Pippa. “I’ve been shopping for my wedding, doing up my new house where I’ll be shifting soon and also finishing my film,” the actor shares about his hectic schedule.