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Dubai: As the dust settles on the fairytale wedding in Tuscany between Bollywood A-lister Anushka Sharma and Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli, it’s evident that the romance between athletes and celebrities is a relationship with a history of flourishing.
The union of these two Indian sweethearts has given birth to a new royalty, whose appeal lies in their combined prowess in their respective fields. Plus, they make one good-looking pair.
Just like how the late Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi had married top Bollywood actress Sharmila Tagore four decades ago while both were at their career peaks, Sharma and Kohli chose to legitimise their relationship on Monday with an intimate, but lavish ceremony while they were both on top of their games. She’s one of Bollywood’s top draws, while he’s a force to reckon with on the cricket field.
But the script of their romance trajectory is slightly different. Unlike the Pataudi-Tagore romance, which saw Tagore embrace Islam and a deep class divide as Pataudi was a real-life prince while she was from an illustrious Hindu family, Sharma and Kohli paint a portrait of a modern-day couple. They are the poster children for self-made superstars with no dynasty backing them in their fields. Their marriage which took place in a postcard-perfect villa isn’t all gloss either. The high-profile couple have weathered their share of highs and lows. But what sets this couple apart is that even during their brief break-up in 2015-2016, they displayed immense grace.
Blamed for poor form
The gallant Indian skipper spoke out in defence of his then ex-girlfriend Sharma when rabid cricket fans began blaming the actress for his poor form on the sporting field.
His tweet: “Shame on people for trolling @AnushkaSharma non-stop. Have some compassion. She has always only given me positivity,” was telling. He also posted the message with the word ‘Shame’ emblazoned on it and called out the deep-rooted sexism in his society.
“Shame on these people that hide and take a dig. And I don’t need any respect for this post. Have some compassion and respect her. Think of how your sister or girlfriend or wife would feel if someone trolled them and very conveniently rubbished them in public. #nocompassion #nocommonsense,” he continued. With a neat stroke, he raised his stake as a well-rounded individual and their stock as a couple who belong together sky-rocketed in the public imagination.
This new royalty, in the era of celebrity, is also symbolic of progressive relationships. They hook up without fuss and they break up without any drama and hook up again with minimum buzz, instantly making them seem more mature as a unit.
Battling patriarchy
In a move that will go a long way in battling patriarchy, the Delhi-based Indian skipper has made the unusual decision to shift his base to Mumbai once they return to India after their destination wedding in Italy. In India, it’s customary for the bride to move to their new husband’s native place and therefore it’s endearing to see Kohli make the move to accommodate her thriving career in Mumbai, the hotbed for Hindi cinema.
According to a statement from Sharma’s publicist, the couple will move into their new home in Worli in Mumbai once they are done with their slew of wedding after-parties. While the reception in Delhi is for their family members on December 21, the Mumbai shindig after five days is likely to be star-studded, with Bollywood actors such as Shah Rukh Khan and Katrina Kaif and top cricketers attending.
It isn’t the first time that athletes have gravitated towards actors. Recently, cricketer Zaheer Khan married Chak De! India star Sagarika Ghatge in a glitzy ceremony, while Yuvraj Singh and actress Hazel Keech are together as man and wife. Former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin and actress Sangeeta Bijlani, who have divorced, were also popular during their good times.
Another element that sets this modern day royalty, labelled Virushka by netizens, apart is that they are both switched on about advancing their careers. Unlike actresses who fade into oblivion after marriage, Sharma has her game-face on. She will soon return to Mumbai to resume work with Shah Rukh Khan in director Anand L Rai’s project and begin work on Varun Dhawan’s film.
For this new-age couple, the decision to marry is a new milestone in their laurel-filled life. But not the end game. If their pictures in Italy are any indication, this pair also know how to enjoy the new era of royalty.
The union of these two Indian sweethearts has given birth to a new royalty, whose appeal lies in their combined prowess in their respective fields. Plus, they make one good-looking pair.
Just like how the late Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi had married top Bollywood actress Sharmila Tagore four decades ago while both were at their career peaks, Sharma and Kohli chose to legitimise their relationship on Monday with an intimate, but lavish ceremony while they were both on top of their games. She’s one of Bollywood’s top draws, while he’s a force to reckon with on the cricket field.
But the script of their romance trajectory is slightly different. Unlike the Pataudi-Tagore romance, which saw Tagore embrace Islam and a deep class divide as Pataudi was a real-life prince while she was from an illustrious Hindu family, Sharma and Kohli paint a portrait of a modern-day couple. They are the poster children for self-made superstars with no dynasty backing them in their fields. Their marriage which took place in a postcard-perfect villa isn’t all gloss either. The high-profile couple have weathered their share of highs and lows. But what sets this couple apart is that even during their brief break-up in 2015-2016, they displayed immense grace.
Blamed for poor form
His tweet: “Shame on people for trolling @AnushkaSharma non-stop. Have some compassion. She has always only given me positivity,” was telling. He also posted the message with the word ‘Shame’ emblazoned on it and called out the deep-rooted sexism in his society.
“Shame on these people that hide and take a dig. And I don’t need any respect for this post. Have some compassion and respect her. Think of how your sister or girlfriend or wife would feel if someone trolled them and very conveniently rubbished them in public. #nocompassion #nocommonsense,” he continued. With a neat stroke, he raised his stake as a well-rounded individual and their stock as a couple who belong together sky-rocketed in the public imagination.
This new royalty, in the era of celebrity, is also symbolic of progressive relationships. They hook up without fuss and they break up without any drama and hook up again with minimum buzz, instantly making them seem more mature as a unit.
Battling patriarchy
In a move that will go a long way in battling patriarchy, the Delhi-based Indian skipper has made the unusual decision to shift his base to Mumbai once they return to India after their destination wedding in Italy. In India, it’s customary for the bride to move to their new husband’s native place and therefore it’s endearing to see Kohli make the move to accommodate her thriving career in Mumbai, the hotbed for Hindi cinema.
According to a statement from Sharma’s publicist, the couple will move into their new home in Worli in Mumbai once they are done with their slew of wedding after-parties. While the reception in Delhi is for their family members on December 21, the Mumbai shindig after five days is likely to be star-studded, with Bollywood actors such as Shah Rukh Khan and Katrina Kaif and top cricketers attending.
It isn’t the first time that athletes have gravitated towards actors. Recently, cricketer Zaheer Khan married Chak De! India star Sagarika Ghatge in a glitzy ceremony, while Yuvraj Singh and actress Hazel Keech are together as man and wife. Former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin and actress Sangeeta Bijlani, who have divorced, were also popular during their good times.
Another element that sets this modern day royalty, labelled Virushka by netizens, apart is that they are both switched on about advancing their careers. Unlike actresses who fade into oblivion after marriage, Sharma has her game-face on. She will soon return to Mumbai to resume work with Shah Rukh Khan in director Anand L Rai’s project and begin work on Varun Dhawan’s film.
For this new-age couple, the decision to marry is a new milestone in their laurel-filled life. But not the end game. If their pictures in Italy are any indication, this pair also know how to enjoy the new era of royalty.
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