Ira Nupur Wedding: If That’s How They Want It, Who Are We To Tell Them Otherwise?

Bollywood star Aamir Khan’s daughter, Ira Khan, recently tied the knot with her boyfriend, fitness trainer Nupur Shikhare. Videos of the wedding went viral.

The ceremony was unconventional because Nupur ditched the traditional baraat and chose to jog eight kilometers to the wedding venue. He took part in the festivities wearing a gym vest and shorts. Ira wore a choli and breezy harem pants.

Influencers and netizens went berserk and started to weigh in.

My eyes hurt seeing Ira’s dress. Was she going for a Jasmine-from-Aladdin look?

Who comes to their wedding in shorts? Is he using this to promote his business? What an opportunist!

Here are four outfits that are better than what Ira wore at her wedding. And don’t get me started on Nupur’s sherwani!

Which bride wears Kohlapuri chappals? Didn’t she wear them a few months ago?

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I would have preferred a more ‘conventional look’ for the bride and groom.

Netizens did not spare Aamir Khan too, questioning his dressing sense, and the active participation of his blended family.

Don’t people have anything better to do? Why the vitriol, if at all?

Ira later issued a clarification that Nupur and she had preferred it this way because it was special to them, as a couple. She had kept cute posters along the route Nupur ran. The ceremony had been joyful and relaxed. And most importantly, both looked HAPPY and not hassled or stressed out. As we speak, Ira’s and Nupur’s wedding festivities continue in Udaipur.

While wishing the young couple happiness, I wonder what gives influencers the right to criticize someone on their big day. It’s THEIR wedding, and how they want to celebrate it, is THEIR choice. No one else has a say. FULL STOP.

Months ago, actress Parineeti Chopra was criticized for wearing a bridal dress similar to Kiara Advani’s, at her wedding.

Too conventional. Too copycat. Too boring.

No matter what you do, no matter how hard you try, there will always be a troll somewhere, yelling nay. If anything should change, it is not the dress but the judgment.

6 ways to tone down the Great Indian Wedding Tamasha!

Weddings don’t have to be extravagant or opulent. How you want to get married is your choice. If something conventional is your jam, then by all means, go for it. However, if you are open to trying something new, here are some new-age wedding goals that defy stereotypes:

Settle for comfortable attire

Does a wedding check boxes only if the bride wears her equivalent weight in gold and a breathing-is-optional, tight-fitting, flashy lehenga? A marriage is the union of hearts; the couple should be free to choose what is important to them. You don’t have to splurge on designer clothes. This is the most important day of your life; wear what makes you happy and what makes you feel confident and good.

Fitness as a theme

It is a fact universally acknowledged that no one ever lost weight at a wedding. The free-flowing drinks, the sugar-soaked sweets, and the deep-fried crunchy fritters add copious calories and inches. Instead of extravagant entries and entrées, how refreshing would it be to have a fitness-themed wedding? Free Yoga sessions and planks before feasting.

Lunges before lunches; what say?

Pre-marriage counselling

It is prudent to invest in a pre-marriage counselling session. This is to align expectations so that there is no space for future misunderstanding. Medical screening is a positive step, too. If you are going to share your life with someone, you have every right to be fully informed. For those cringing at the idea, it is best to be transparent and have uncomfortable conversations upfront rather than after. Even better would be to have counselling sessions with the future in-laws, too!

If you believe in horoscopes, match them with your potential groom AND your potential in-laws, just in case.

Celebrate in ways that make the world a better place

Two mothers organized a zero-waste wedding for their children in Bengaluru. They made sure that the wedding was plastic-free. Another family decided to feed children at an orphanage instead of hosting a reception. Yet another couple in Pune decided to plant trees for every guest to minimize the carbon footprint. Wastage, whether food or gifts, needs to be minimized. More weddings are going down the green, sustainable route. Do what matters to you.

Also, plant a tree for every influencer who says they shudder at the lack of plastic cutlery.

All that glitters is not gold

Jewelry is losing its sheen. The younger generation is more comfortable with the idea of rental over ownership. What is the point of splurging on ornaments for a day and storing them in a locker for the rest of the time? Artificial gemstones are cheaper and sparkle just the same.

As a plus, you don’t need a bodyguard.

Cut unnecessary expenses and say no to expensive gifts

To date, neither my spouse nor I have had the patience to view our lengthy wedding video. I have perused through my album a total of ONCE. There are a zillion photos of us as a couple posing with strangers who turned up for our wedding. (I haven’t seen them afterward). There are about twenty-thirty pictures of me and my close friends and family that I have digitized, and these are the photos that matter. 

Let’s focus on creating beautiful memories rather than following convention. Let’s say no to expensive gifts that result in some sort of status-matching competition, putting undue pressure on both households. Expenses need to be split equally; after all marriage is an equal partnership.

More young couples are either choosing to create a gift registry specifying what they want or listing charities of their choice for the guests to contribute to.

This is better than being stuck with a hundred identical pass-me-on plastic casseroles.

While marriages are made in heaven, they are celebrated on Earth. Let a couple celebrate their big day in the way they want, free of judgment, and joyfully!

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