Weddings in India have long been known for their extravagance, particularly among the country’s elite.
Business tycoons and celebrities often spare no expense, spending crores to ensure that every aspect, from couture to cuisine, is spectacular.
In recent years, weddings such as those of Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli, Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas, and Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal have captured headlines for their lavish scale.
These affairs featured luxurious venues, custom-designed outfits, and guest lists filled with Bollywood royalty and global personalities.
However, one wedding that continues to stand out, even over a decade later, is that of Telugu superstar Junior NTR, widely recognised for his role in the blockbuster RRR. In 2011, Jr. NTR married Lakshmi Pranathi, the daughter of prominent businessman Narne Srinivasa Rao. The arranged marriage was notable for its opulence and the legal controversy that briefly surrounded it.
The wedding, which took place in Hyderabad, reportedly had a budget of Rs 100 crore, an amount equivalent to the production cost of a major film at the time. Approximately 3,000 celebrities and 1,200 fans were in attendance. The décor alone cost Rs 18 crore, and the bride wore a Kanchipuram silk saree woven with gold threads, valued at over Rs 1 crore.
Despite the splendour, the union was almost derailed when a lawyer filed a case under the Child Marriage Act, as Lakshmi Pranathi was allegedly only 17 when the wedding was arranged. To quell the controversy, Jr. NTR delayed the ceremony until she reached the legal age for marriage in India. The couple now has two sons and leads a relatively private family life.