Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal unite in wedded bliss in intimate civil ceremony

For the better part of 2024, Sonakshi Sinha has been synonymous with Fareedan from Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, but this weekend, the Indian actor chose to make waves for the sweetest of reasons. To the delight of her fans and followers, Sonakshi rocked her Instagram with a photo from her intimate wedding ceremony as she tied the knot with the love of her life, fellow actor Zaheer Iqbal. 

“On this very day, seven years back (23.06.2017) in each other's eyes, we saw love in its purest form and decided to hold on to it,” captioned a radiant Sonakshi, clad in an elegant ivory sari and a beaming smile that is the hallmark of newly wedded brides. 

Marking the occasion with a picture of her devoted groom kissing her hand, the overjoyed bride continued, “Today that love has guided us through all the challenges and triumphs… leading up to this moment… where with the blessings of both our families and both our gods… we are now man and wife.” 

Showcasing candid photos as she beamed alongside her groom, clad in a matching ivory outfit, Sonakshi signed off her caption with a lovestruck note, writing, “Here’s to love, hope and all things beautiful with each other, from now until forever.” 

Widespread congratulations  

With Zaheer sharing the same post on his own Instagram handle, the couple made public the relationship that, according to Indian media, had been carefully kept under wraps. The Indian Express reported that the newly minted couple tied the knot at Sonakshi’s residence in a close-knit civil ceremony attended only by their family and closest friends. Among the big-ticket names in attendance were Sonakshi’s Heeramandi co-star Aditi Rao Hydari, actors Siddarth, Aayush Sharma, Huma Qureshi, and the rapping sensation Yo Yo Honey Singh.

Taking to Instagram, B-town A-listers congratulated the happy couple on their long-awaited nuptials. Sharing a photograph of Sonakshi and Zaheer, Bollywood actor Parineeti Chopra, littering her message with pink hearts in her IG story, gushed, "Congratulations you two! Welcome to the club. Wish you both all the happiness!" 

Echoing similar sentiments, Bollywood star Ali Bhatt also showered her good wishes on the new couple, welcoming them both to the “club” of married couples. Sharing a picture from their civil marriage on her Instagram Story, the Raazi actor wrote, "Congratulations Sona and Zaheer! You look so full of love and joy! Big hug and welcome to the club."

Having completed the business of getting married in an intimate ceremony, the Hindustan Times reported that the newly-wedded couple then widened the net by hosting a party at the celeb-favourite restaurant Bastian in Mumbai later in the evening, with Bollywood’s who’s who in attendance. 

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, looking dapper in an all-black ensemble, arrived at the wedding reception amid heavy security, avoiding interaction with the crowd. And of course, Sonakshi’s wedding reception could not be complete without her Heeramandi director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, as well as fellow actors Aditya Roy Kapur and Meezaan Jafri, among others.  

Sharing the news on their own terms 

Sonakshi and Zaheer both worked together in the 2022 film Double XL. Whilst the two have often shared affectionate photos on social media, the couple have largely kept their romantic life private, preferring to keep details of their relationship to themselves and resisting the urge to share. 

Prior to her marriage, Sonakshi had responded to wedding speculation with a shut-up call. According to The Economic Times, the actor had remarked, “Firstly, it’s nobody’s business. Secondly, it’s my choice, so I don’t know why people are so concerned about it.”

With fans and the media demanding details, the actor had wryly noted, “People ask me about my marriage more than my parents, so I find that very funny. With a tinge of resignation to the widespread interest in a celebrity’s intimate affairs, Sonakshi added, “Now, I am just used to it. People are curious; what can we do about it?”

According to the publication, despite attempts to keep the wedding as private as possible, pictures of the wedding invitation had been leaked online. The invitation featured a romantic picture of the couple from one of their vacations and was designed to look like a magazine cover. 

Meanwhile, prior to the wedding, pictures from the couple’s mehndi ceremony had gone viral, showing Sonakshi in a stunning ethnic maroon outfit beside Zaheer, who looked dapper in a kurta-pyjama, accessorised with sunglasses. As a nod to her fans and followers, Sonakshi opted to share the news of her wedding on her own terms, with her and her new husband’s latest Instagram post standing as a testament to their rock-solid relationship.

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