Bollywood actor Randeep Hooda has opened up about the traditional Manipuri wedding ceremonies he experienced during his marriage to actress and model Lin Laishram. In one of his latest interviews, the actor shared several unusual and memorable moments from the wedding, which took place in Lin's home in Manipur.
Speaking about the preparations, Randeep credited his friend Brigadier Sanghwan, who was serving with the Assam Rifles, for helping him plan the ceremony. He revealed that he travelled to Manipur with a group of 10–12 people and admitted they were largely unfamiliar with the region's customs and rituals.
During a conversation with Midday, Randeep stated that although Lin tried to brief him about the rituals with videos ahead of time, Randeep said he was too busy editing his film Swatantrya Veer Savarkar to pay much attention.
Describing the wedding ceremony, Randeep said, "I had a helper with me, more like a tutor. So once the groom puts his thing on his head, you can’t tilt your head. You go to the ceremony and they give a bowl and an umbrella. They then put you in a holding area where everyone is supposed to come and look at you, and you are supposed to look very dignified. And once you are in the mandap, which has got all these midang players summer-salting, and all these pandits chanting mantras, you are not supposed to move; they wrap a blanket around you."
He further said, "So if I sit in rest mode, the helper would correct me and say 'you have to look the best, you are god today.' For two hours I had to sit with my back straight and head up. Then I asked what was the bowl for and he said in case you need to pee, you just open the umbrella and pee over there, you cannot move out of there because you are God."
The actor also mentioned that Lin was not allowed to smile during the ceremony, a ritual symbolic of the solemnity and dignity expected from the bride.
"She got so much scolding. She was smiling and you are not supposed to smile, so messengers would come and tell you 'Stop smiling'," Randeep added.
Randeep and Lin tied the knot in November 2023 in a traditional Meitei wedding in Imphal. They dated for several years before getting married.
