What was meant to be a family occasion in Goa for Khushbu Sundar’s elder daughter put on quite a show. With a guest list that included Chiranjeevi, Nagarjuna, Venkatesh, Trisha, Jackie Shroff and Anil Kapoor, the nuptials were being discussed well beyond the usual film circles.
Glamour took centre stage at the Goa resort
The first thing you see in the photos and short clips is a bit of old-world charm. You have Chiranjeevi, Nagarjuna and Venkatesh in all their traditional finery and Trisha looking every bit as elegant. The way the old guard got along was, in a way, the highlight of the day.
If you followed the videos making the rounds, you could see the Telugu trio with some of their Bollywood counterparts. Those unscripted moments have been the talk of the town, even now that the pheras are over and done with.
The couple and the ceremony
Avantika, the daughter of actress-politician Khushbu and director Sundar C, and Shravan Sreenivasan made it official at one of the finer resorts in Goa. It was a proper ceremony with all the right rituals, but with who was in the room, it had the feel of a reunion.
Khushbu has put it down to a little of both – love and an arranged setup – with the families on board. As for the groom, he is a Merchant Navy officer from Chennai, which is how the family has been putting it when they talk of the union.
Scale surprised even insiders
Word before the event was that this would be a small, private thing. In the end, it was something of a spectacle, with more than its share of stars, and has put itself up there with the best of this year’s industry weddings.
VIP invites and goodwill tours
Leading up to the date, Khushbu and Sundar C made a point of going to New Delhi to put in a personal word with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They put out some pictures from the visit and put in a word of thanks for his good wishes.
Then a few weeks back, the whole family, Avantika and her fiance included, were in Chennai to call on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay at his home. Khushbu was effusive about it, saying it was a special time and the welcome was very warm.
What fans are talking about
It’s not just the star power; there is a lot of nostalgia in the air. For those of us who have seen the films, the fact that Khushbu is reuniting with Chiranjeevi, Nagarjuna and Venkatesh after all these years means something.
This is what you will hear people say:
– Seeing Chiranjeevi, Nagarjuna and Venkatesh in the same frame is not common
– How well Trisha pulled off the traditional look
– Having Anil and Jackie in the mix from the other side of the industry
– The size of the party, which was no secret
Inside the build-up and the family roles
The pre-wedding pictures tell you the mood was in full swing. Khushbu has said the house was abuzz with it all, even as Sundar C was tending to his own work on set.
The two have been married since 2000 and have two girls, Avantika and Anandita. A day like this puts the focus on them and where they are in their careers.
Beyond the wedding: the sisters’ next chapters
Avantika is on the move with some new acting work under her belt. Anandita has been making a name for herself on the other side of the lens, open about everything from her weight loss to the pressures of being in the public eye.
She’s put in time with Mani Ratnam on Ponniyin Selvan 2 and Thug Life, and has come out with Double Occupancy as a producer. You can see the family’s creative side in how they have handled things.
Why this wedding landed differently
When you get a room with talent from the Tamil, Telugu and Hindi worlds, it doesn’t happen often unless it’s for an award. Add in some of the more candid, likeable moments and you have a recipe for a story that lingers.
To a lot of people, it was a modern-day version of a good old-fashioned get-together. And that is why the doings in Goa for Avantika and Shravan were the one to watch this weekend.
