Silk and sparkle: Inside the stylishly intimate wedding of Akhil Akkineni and Zainab Ravdjee
Akhil Akkineni and Zainab Ravdjee's wedding at Annapurna Studios was a masterclass in understated elegance, blending Telugu tradition with quiet luxury. The guest list included South Indian cinema royalty and political figures, celebrating the union. Zainab, an artist and perfume alchemist, brought her unique style to the event, hinting at a future of Nizami-inspired fashion.
Who needs a Bollywood big fat wedding when Tollywood's golden boy, Akhil Akkineni, just delivered the most refined celebration of the year? On June 6, 2025, under the nostalgic roof of Annapurna Studios, built by his legendary grandfather, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, the actor tied the knot with entrepreneur and artist Zainab Ravdjee in a ceremony that married old-school charm with understated elegance.
Ditching over-the-top theatrics for timeless tradition, Akhil stepped into marital bliss in a classic white shirt and pancha, radiating the quiet confidence of a man rooted in legacy. Meanwhile, Zainab stunned in an ivory silk saree, glimmering with diamond jewellery, looking every bit the modern goddess in a bridal moment that redefined less-is-more sophistication.
The traditional Telugu wedding was a fashion study in restraint and regal simplicity.
No couture excess here, just graceful drapes, heritage jewels, and a glowing bride and groom whose chemistry did all the talking.
But don't be fooled, while the styling was minimalist, the guest list was maximalist. It read like the Met Gala of the South: Chiranjeevi, Ram Charan and Upasana, Sobhita Dhulipala, Daggubati Venkatesh, and director Prashant Neel all arrived in full festive flair. Political royalty like Telangana CM Revanth Reddy and Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu were also sent personal invites by hosts Nagarjuna and Amala Akkineni because when an Akkineni gets married, everyone shows up.
As for the bride, Zainab Ravdjee is no ordinary 'plus-one turned wife.' A perfume alchemist and contemporary artist, she's carved a chic, creative lane for herself far removed from her family's construction empire. Her recent exhibit, Reflections, drew a fashionable crowd from Hyderabad to London, and her olfactory creations have earned her cult status among the city's elite.
From the sacred rituals to the dancing groomsmen to the subtle sparkle of heirloom diamonds, this was a wedding steeped in sentiment, style, and the soft power of restraint. While Akhil may have found his forever, we found our favourite wedding aesthetic of the year: quiet luxury, South Indian style.
Watch this space, if Zainab's wedding wardrobe is any clue, her post-wedding fashion is about to be a masterclass in new-age Nizami elegance.
One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
When Isha Koppikar spoke about her 'tough' divorce with husband Timmy Narang: 'It was irresponsible of him...'
Isha Koppikar opened up about her divorce from Timmy Narang. She said they drifted apart after 14 years of marriage. Timmy initiated the split. Isha found the decision tough but necessary. She expressed disappointment over how Timmy told their daughter, Rianna, about the separation. The couple officially divorced in November 2023. Isha and Timmy married in November 2009. Isha Koppikar had once broke her silence on a deeply personal chapter of her life—her divorce from husband and hotelier Timmy Narang. In a heartfelt conversation with Bombay Times, the actor reflected on the end of their 14-year marriage, calling the decision 'tough' but necessary. From emotional revelations to parenting challenges, Isha offered a rare glimpse into the complexities of love, separation, and self-discovery. When asked about the reason behind her separation from Timmy, Isha shared that there wasn't a single moment or issue to blame—the two simply drifted apart. She revealed that it was Timmy who initiated the split, saying it wasn't working out, and she accepted it. While it would have been easy for her to refuse the divorce, Isha said that would have gone against her values. The couple parted ways amicably, though she admitted it was a difficult phase. A deeply spiritual person, Isha said she eventually found the answers she was seeking. Reflecting on their relationship, she added, 'What's the point of staying together if it only leads to constant fights? Even water, when stagnant, begins to stink.' The actress also expressed her disappointment over how Timmy broke the news of their separation to their daughter, Rianna. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Nuova Škoda Octavia Škoda Scopri di più Undo She called his approach 'irresponsible,' explaining that she had hoped to ease their daughter into the conversation gradually. However, Timmy spoke about it before she could prepare Rianna in her own way. Isha shared that he later acknowledged it was a mistake and apologised for the way it was handled. Isha and Timmy officially divorced in November 2023, ending their 14-year marriage. The couple tied the knot in November 2009 after reportedly falling in love at a gym. They had known each other for three years before they began dating. Their daughter, Rianna, was born in July 2014. Isha Koppikar made her acting debut in 1997 with the Telugu film W/o V Vara Prasad. She went on to appear in several Hindi films, earning recognition for her performances in Fiza, Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat, Aamdani Atthanni Kharcha Rupaiya, Pinjar, Dil Ka Rishta, Krishna Cottage, Rudraksh, Hum Tum, and Inteqam: The Perfect Game.
Pink Villa
3 hours ago
- Pink Villa
Sekhar Kammula on Dhanush's Kuberaa success in Telugu but struggle in Tamil: ‘The word of mouth is strong but…'
Kuberaa, starring Dhanush and Nagarjuna Akkineni in the lead roles, hit the big screens on June 20, 2025. Following its release, the movie is running successfully in Telugu-speaking states but can't seem to reciprocate it in Tamil. Sekhar Kammula on Kuberaa struggling in Tamil Talking to OTTPlay, Sekhar Kammula reacted to the film's success and said, 'In Telugu, it has been exceptional. Even the overseas Tamil circuit is going well. But the domestic Tamil market, I was expecting a lot more, and I hope it will catch up, because the word of mouth is strong, but it is not converting into box office.' While talking about the movie's struggle at the Tamil box office, the director was in complete praise of Dhanush and added how no other actor would do such a role. Kammula added, 'I was in awe of him and thought it was a moment of pride. So, I thought it would catch on in Tamil and really hope that it happens.' About Kuberaa Kuberaa is a crime drama flick written and directed by Sekhar Kammula featuring Dhanush as a beggar, Deva. The film focuses on the story of a business tycoon who recently finds an oil reserve at the Bay of Bengal and seeks a monopoly over it. In the hope of acquiring the same, the man recruits a former CBI officer, Deepak. Both of them plan to bribe prominent businessmen and to smuggle the huge sum of money, taking in 4 beggars from around the country, including Deva. However, Deva soon figures out that he will be removed from existence if their plans succeed and escapes for his life with the money. This leads him to meet Sameera, with the rest of the movie becoming a cat-and-mouse chase. As Nagarjuna Akkineni plays the co-lead, the film features actors like Rashmika Mandanna, Jim Sarbh, Dilip Tahil, and many more in key roles. Coming to Dhanush's work front, the actor will next be seen in a lead role in Idly Kadai, directed by himself. The drama film is slated to release on October 1, 2025, and features actors like Arun Vijay, Nithya Menen, and more in key roles.
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Kannappa box office collection day 3: Vishnu Manchu film does not beat HanuMan; brings in ₹22 crore in 1st weekend
Kannappa box office collection day 3: Mukesh Kumar Singh's Vishnu Manchu-starrer Kannappa was released in theatres on Friday and gave the actor his career-best opening weekend. While the film failed to beat HanuMan's first weekend collections, it still made a decent ₹ 22.53 crore net in India. (Also Read: Kannappa box office collection day 2: Vishnu Manchu gets a personal best, crosses ₹ 15 crore despite minor dip) Kannappa box office collection day 3: Vishnu Manchu and Preity Mukhundan in a still from the film. According to Sacnilk, Kannappa saw a further dip in collections, bringing in an estimated ₹ 6.03 crore net in India on Sunday and taking its three-day total to ₹ 22.53 crore. The film touched ₹ 9.35 crore on its opening day but saw a 23.53% dip on Saturday and brought in ₹ 7.15 crore. The film performed better in Telugu despite also releasing in other south Indian languages and Hindi. However, it did show a decent 24.83% occupancy for the Tamil version on Sunday versus the 42.33% for the Telugu one. For context, Prasanth Varma's Teja Sajja-starrer HanuMan was a surprise juggernaut when it was released in theatres in 2024. The film managed to beat some star-led vehicles like Mahesh Babu's Guntur Kaaram, Venkatesh's Saindhav and Nagarjuna's Naa Saami Ranga, bringing in ₹ 40.65 crore in its opening weekend. The film had a ₹ 4.5 crore opening on Thursday and had collected ₹ 24.65 crore within two days of release. Kannappa has only Kuberaa to compete with, which was released last week in theatres and has collected ₹ 75.7 crore net in India so far. About Kannappa Kannappa stars Vishnu, Mohanlal, Prabhas, Akshay Kumar, Kajal Aggarwal, Preity Mukhundhan, Mohan Babu, R Sarathkumar, Arpit Ranka, Brahmanandam, Brahmaji, Siva Balaji, Kaushal Manda, Rahul Madhav, Devaraj, Mukesh Rishi, Raghu Babu, and Madhoo. At a press conference for the film in Hyderabad, Vishnu teased a prequel with a 'leading director'.
