When Vijay Mallya performed the 'Kanyadaan' of a famous Bollywood actress during her marriage

Economic Times

08-06-2025

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Sameera Reddy once revealed in an old interview that Vijay Mallya, her relative from her mother's side, gave her away at her wedding to Akshai Varde in 2014.
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Business tycoon Vijay Mallya has once again made headlines—this time for reasons that go beyond cricket or courtroom battles. Following Royal Challengers Bengaluru 's long-awaited IPL win, Mallya, the franchise's original owner, took to social media from the UK to celebrate the team's victory. But as fans revisit his legacy in sports and business, a lesser-known personal anecdote has caught public attention—his unexpected role at actress Sameera Reddy 's wedding.In a 2014 interview with DNA, Sameera Reddy revealed that Mallya, who is related to her from her mother's side, performed the kanyadaan ritual at her traditional Maharashtrian wedding to entrepreneur Akshai Varde . 'Only Vijay Mallya, who is related from my mother's side, gave me away to the groom. That apart there were only friends and family,' she said at the time, describing the ceremony as intimate and devoid of any Bollywood razzle-dazzle.Sameera and Akshai's wedding on January 21, 2014, was so private that even her closest friends were unaware. 'Isn't this the best way to do it?' she said, explaining their decision to pre-pone the wedding originally planned for April. 'Months of painful planning causes so much stress… Akshai said, why not. I said, why knot? Ha ha. And we said, 'I do.' And I'm glad we did.'The ceremony was organised in just 10 days by her sister Sushama. Sameera opted for a minimal look, requesting designer Neeta Lulla to dress her in a simple South Indian sari without jewellery. 'I had spent 11 years of my life decking up on screen. For my wedding, I wanted a minimalist look. We finally opted for a simple South Indian sari. I guess that was the 'Reddy' side asserting itself,' she added.The couple's love story is equally unconventional. Sameera and Akshai bonded over their mutual love for motorcycles. 'Akshai saw me whizzing past on this really mean macho machine. I think he was impressed,' she laughed in the DNA interview. Their relationship, she said, blossomed away from the spotlight. 'I wanted to marry outside the film industry.'Akshai Varde, who owns a custom bike company, had worked on several celebrity motorcycles—including actor Balakrishna's superbike in the film Legend. Their honeymoon, she revealed, was delayed due to his commitment to an auto expo, but a biking trip was always in the cards.As Royal Challengers Bengaluru lifted their maiden IPL trophy after 18 seasons, Mallya expressed joy from afar. Though he lost control of the franchise in 2016 following loan default charges worth over ₹9,000 crore, his early decisions—including drafting a young Virat Kohli in 2008—shaped the team's identity.More than a decade since her wedding, Sameera Reddy has stepped away from films but stayed active on social media, where she shares family updates and body positivity messages. In February 2025, she celebrated 11 years of marriage with Akshai by posting affectionate photos online. She is also set to return to the big screen in Anees Bazmee's Naam – The Dyslexia Aadmi starring Ajay Devgn.