It was the Big Manipuri-Bollywood wedding. Bollywood hunk Randeep Hooda tied the knot with his long time girlfriend and Manipuri beauty Lin Laishram in a very simple, somber ceremony following Meitei Manipuri rituals and traditions.
The day started with Lin, the supermodel and actor, weaving the wedding garland herself, a tradition followed by the Manipuri Meiteis. After that it was the special lunch before the wedding where parents and siblings hand feed the bride one last time before her vidai (bride leaving her parents’ home post marriage). Of course some happy, emotional moments!
The wedding mahurat (auspicious time to do something good) was between 1PM to 6PM. The wedding venue – Chumthang Senapung, a resort in Imphal, decked up in all white was symbolic enough spreading the message of peace, calm and harmony.
Randeep looked like the perfect Manipuri groom in a white cotton dhoti, a kurta, and a turban symbolizing purity and good fortune. Lin looked stunning in the traditional Manipuri wedding attire, known as Potloi or Polloi, a cylindrical skirt adorned with sequins and mirrors, typically worn by Meitei Hindu brides.
The ceremony featured traditional Manipuri dances and rituals, accompanied by Palasakpa the melodious wedding songs. The saat phere (seven rounds taken by the bride and the groom around a pyre) ceremony and barmala session added to the cultural richness of the event.
In some emotional moments, Randeep’s mom Asha Hooda was seen all teary eyes, tear of joy trickled down her cheeks as she saw her son dressed as the groom all set to enter into a more mature and responsible state of his life.
Randeep’s friends cheered and whistled as he exchanged garlands with Lin making them husband and wife.
Friends and family gathered around them showered blessings and good wishes on the just married couple.
It is on November 25, through an Instagram post, Lin and Randeep announced their wedding. The caption read: “We Have Exciting News”
The soberly designed wedding card read: “A date with Destiny. 29.11.2023. Taking a leaf out of Mahabharata where Arjuna married Manipuri Warrior princess Chitrangada, we are getting married with the blessings of our families and friends. We are filled with immense joy to share that our marriage will take place on the 29th of November 2023, Imphal, Manipur, followed by a reception in Mumbai,” the post read, “As we set to embark on this journey, we seek your blessings and love from this union of cultures, for which we are forever indebted and grateful. In love and light, Lin and Randeep.”
Meet Mr Randeep Hooda
47-year-old Randeep Hooda who was born in Rohtak, Haryana, is best-known for his performances in films like Jannat 2, Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai, Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster, Sarbjit, Sultan and Kick among others. He was also seen in Imtiaz Ali’s Love Aaj Kal, co-starring Sara Ali Khan and Kartik Aaryan. He also featured in Extraction co-starring Marvel star Chris Hemsworth.
Meet Mrs Lin L Hooda
Born in Manipur, Lin did her schooling in Mumbai and graduated from Sophia College For Women, University of Mumbai.
Now a popular model and actor, Lin was first spotted by Elite modelling agency Mumbai. She soon became a regular face at fashion events like the India Fashion Week, New York Bridal Week and other such events.
She represented Manipur in Miss North East 2008 and was the first runner at the event held in Shillong.
She went on to participate in the reality TV show Kingfisher Calendar Girl and won many hearts with her exotic looks and athletic body. She courted controversy back home when she wore a swimsuit on national television. She also lived and worked in New York with some leading photographers and stylists. She studied at New York Stella Adler in the Art of Acting school while she was modelling in New York.
Lin was a theatre actor too.
Once back in Mumbai, she did theatre with Motley by Naseeruddin Shah. She even performed at the famous Prithvi Theatre.
She entered the world of Bollywood with Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone’s Om Shanti Om. She featured in a brief role in the movie. In 2014 she played the character of Bembem in the National award-winning movie Mary Kom where the lead role of ace boxer Mary Kom was played by Priyanka Chopra.
A trained archer and the 1998 Junior National Champion in archery, Lin played the character Mema in the period romantic drama Rangoon directed by Vishal Bhardwaj starring Kangana Ranaut, Shahid Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan.
In 2017, Lin started her jewellery line called Shamooo Sana.
As mentioned in the invite, the theme of the wedding is drawn from the Mahabharata…it is believed…legends say that Lord Krishna’s charioteer and cousin Arjuna, one of the five Pandavas, married Manipur Warrior Princess Chitrangada…They had a son BABRUIVAHANA.
