Madhuri Dixit, Sonam Kapoor and other stars who married outside show business

Veteran Indian star Madhuri Dixit Nene and her husband Sriram Nene on October 17 marked their 21st wedding anniversary. Throughout her Bollywood career, Dixit has kept her personal life to herself and never faced any speculation about romance. So, news that she had gotten married to a US-based surgeon on October 17, 1999, came as a shock to many. Rumour has it that Nene didn’t know of Dixit’s Bollywood fame, and that their marriage had been arranged by their families. Here’s a look at other stars who married people outside of show business.

Sonam Kapoor: After dating for two years, the ‘Neerja’ actress and daughter of actor Anil Kapoor married businessman Anand Ahuja in Mumbai on May 8, 2018. Kapoor and Ahuja reportedly met through their common friend, designer Pernia Qureshi, a few years prior. Kapoor had always maintained silence about her relationship status. However, there was plenty of proof of their budding relationship on their Instagram accounts.

Shahid Kapoor: Bollywood heartthrob Kapoor broke hearts when he married Delhi University graduate Mira Rajput on July 7, 2015. The ‘Haider’ star, son of veteran actor Pankaj Kapur and his former wife Neelima Azim, and Rajput have a 13-year age gap. They are said to have met through the Radha Soami sect, a philosophical organisation based on the spiritual teachings of all religions. Both the families are followers of the group.

John Abraham: The Bollywood action star married investment banker Priya Runchal in a hush-hush wedding in 2014. The duo reportedly met via mutual friends in 2010. At that time, the ‘Madras Cafe’ star was dating actress Bipasha Basu, who he was with for almost a decade before they broke up in 2011. Runchal and Abraham have been very private about their marriage. “She is a private person. She finished her course from business school in London and was earlier in Los Angeles. She chooses to quietly do her work and I appreciate it,” Abraham said in an interview with Mid-Day.

Imran Khan: The ‘Delhi Belly’ actor and nephew of actor Aamir Khan married childhood sweetheart Avantika Malik, who he has been with since he was 19, in 2011. The reportedly met at a party and dated for around eight years prior to their low-key civil wedding ceremony. They have a daughter Imara together.

Vivek Oberoi: In 2010, actor Vivek Oberoi married Priyanka Alva, daughter of late Karnataka minister Jeevaraj Alva. Alva is a management graduate from London and Oberoi told Gulf News in 2010 that the match was made by his parents. “We always complain of generation gaps and what do our parents know what I like or don’t like. So, when my parents introduced me to Priyanka, I was quite cynical about meeting her. But it’s so funny. There was this immediate connection,” he said at the time. The couple have a son and daughter together.