Actress Aishwarya Arjun didn’t have an arranged marriage per se, but it won’t be a stretch to say her father and south superstar Arjun Sarja inadvertently played Cupid for his daughter and Umapathy Ramaiah, a Tamil-language film actor, director and son of veteran actor Thambi Ramaiah. “Back in 2021, my dad hosted a television reality show called ‘Survivor’, and that’s where Umapathy came in as a contestant. He totally stood out, charming everyone with his strength and personality. After the show ended, dad invited him over for a guys night. Before that I first got introduced to Uma. Our story began in a pretty unexpected way, all thanks to my dad,” Aishwarya reveals.
The duo “hit it off as friends right away” and their values, passions and mutual love for cinema further strengthened their bond. The friendship soon solidified into a long-term commitment. “Uma and I have so much in common. We have always encouraged and supported each other’s dreams, and we’ve got some exciting times ahead, both personally and professionally. I’m really looking forward to my upcoming Telugu movie, and Uma is gearing up for his directorial project, which we’re all super excited about. Now, we can’t wait to start this new chapter together: marriage.” Three years in, Aishwarya and Umapathy decided to seal the deal.
The Starting Point
The couple was confident about the wedding vision, but the same can’t be said when it came to the planning process. “From the beginning, we knew we wanted something intimate, just with the people who truly care about us. Keeping it private and personal was super important to both of us. We wanted to spend time with every guest and pay attention to every detail,” Aishwarya says, adding, “At home, we all are last-minute people. It’s like living in a movie sometimes. So, when it came to planning our wedding, we only started about two months before the big day. My dad’s used to the film industry where last-minute stuff is normal, so we thought we had it under control.” But planning a wedding, she says, came with its share of chaos. “Despite all our efforts, it felt like we were stuck in a whirlwind of tasks and decisions. But honestly, we had a lot of fun along the way, and those little moments of love amidst the chaos are what really matter in the end.”
The Venue
Giving commercial venues a rain check, the bride decided to doff the hat to her heritage by choosing the temple ‘Anjaneyar’ in Chennai at her family’s farmhouse. “We wanted a place that felt like it was truly ours. And since we wanted a traditional wedding, we chose the temple as the venue as it holds special meaning for us for many reasons. This temple is built by my father, Arjun Sarja. Both our parents met each other for the first time at the temple on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti. Umapathy was part of the first procession at the temple on June 10 in the past, which coincidentally matched the date of our wedding this year. Plus, Umapathy and I got engaged next to the temple. Ours was the first wedding hosted here. Looking back, it all feels like it was meant to be, even though we looked at other options like palaces, resorts, and even going abroad,” Aishwarya shares.
The Expert Ensemble
The couple chose Purplerings for seamless planning, along with Black Tulip Flowers for the floral work. Celebrity wedding designer Ambika Gupta behind The A-Cube Project™️ was enlisted to bring their décor vision to life, which also included an exquisite hand-painted art of Lord Ram and Sita in the mandap. “When we were planning our wedding décor, we did a lot of research. We were super impressed with Ambika’s work. Her eye for design and the way she made everything look perfect really matched our style. So, we contacted her, and they turned our vision into something amazing and exactly the way we wanted,” Arjun says. Photographer Naman Verma captured the beautiful moments on the big day and Claude documented the reception photos and videos, while Advekar Sudarshan did the videography for the rest of the events.
The Haldi
Held at Aishwarya’s residence in Chennai, the pre-wedding celebrations welcomed the bride-to-be’s close family and friends. The daytime, close-knit ceremony was filled with traditional customs and food. The bride-to-be was the epitome of simplicity with grace who opted for a simple white kurta. The haldi ceremony’s décor radiated with the theme ‘Cover Me In Sunshine’, blending vibrant yellows, colourful textiles, and traditional Indian florals, capturing her minimalistic style and kicking off her wedding festivities in style.
The Mehndi
On June 7, 2024, Aishwarya and Umapathy hosted an intimate mehndi ceremony. The couple’s mehndi decor, themed ‘The Sky Turned Pink’ exuded traditional charm with shades of pink, creating a picture-perfect setting adorned with pink, white, and green florals and complemented by creative use of existing rafters for floral accents and mirror work cushions. “For the mehndi, I kept it simple with a vibrant yellow outfit by Anamika Khanna,” she reveals. The menu for the evening featured delectable chaat from Agra, with special chefs flown in for the event.
The Sangeet
The duo grooved into their happily-ever-after with a glamorous sangeet soireé at Gokulam Studio. Drawing inspiration from Le Jardin De Lumière, the evening’s décor transformed the venue into a luxurious lounge evoking the elegance of the Ritz in Paris, one of the couple’s favourite hotels. The couple’s understated yet opulent style was brought to life with canopy of hanging chandeliers, regal accents, plush seating, and lush florals.
Aishwarya dazzled in a champagne-coloured pre-draped sari by Gaurav Gupta. With exciting performances from both families, the night was filled with dance, laughter, and unforgettable moments.
The Wedding Ceremony
June 10, 2024 was the big day. The intimate ceremony around the sacred fire retained the sanctity of a traditional South Indian wedding. Drawing inspiration from Nithya Vaibhavam (Timeless Glory), the décor, done by The A-Cube Project™️, celebrated Aishwarya and Umapathy’s heritage. Set in a Hanuman temple, the décor told the tale of Rama and Sita, with classic elements like Kanchipuram silk cushions, Athangudi patterns, terracotta centrepieces, brass Kuthuvilakkus, tender coconuts, Kolam motifs, Pookolam, hanging brass lamps, intricately designed and hand-painted panels, floral installations and thread work that came together in a beautiful symphony to create a timeless backdrop as they tie the knot.
The bride was resplendent in a red sari. Paying homage to time-honoured tradition, Aishwarya chose an exquisite Kanchivaram sari. Crafted by Gaurang Shah, the sari was intricately embroidered with scenes depicting the coronation ceremony of Lord Ram. The groom complemented her in a traditional ivory outfit. “Every detail, from the traditional rituals to the specially curated menu inspired by the Chola dynasty, reflected our culture. The personal touches, like the traditional décor celebrating our South Indian heritage and the presence of our pets, made it an emotional experience,” Aishwarya says.
The Wow Moment
“One special ritual was the Gauri Pooja. It happens just before getting into the main outfit. As the bride, I had to maintain silence and wasn’t supposed to talk to or meet a lot of people. It was a unique experience for me, wearing a golden saree for the pooja and then changing into a red saree. The entire wedding ceremony was traditional, from the decor to the venue. I was especially excited about getting married in our temple, built by my father. It was the first wedding ceremony to happen there, which made it all the more special.”
The Wedding Reception
In contrast to the low-key wedding ceremony, the couple’s reception at five-star hotel, Leela Palace in Chennai was a star-studded affair that welcomed the big names from the film fraternity including veteran actor Rajnikant, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M K Stalin, Jackie Shroff, actor Dhruva Sarja and wife Prerana, and dance legend Prabhudeva among many others.
Aishwarya looked breathtaking in a quartz pink pre-draped sari by Falguni Shane Peacock, intricately crafted with soft tulle and adorned with shimmering pink sequin work and Swarovski. The ensemble is elevated with a chic corset top featuring playful tassels and a signature buckled belt. A flowing drape embellished with charming tassels, added an extra touch of glamour to her ensemble. She paired it with jewellery from Tyaani.
Looking ahead, Aishwarya is awaiting the release of her debut Telugu film, while Umapathy is planning his directorial film.
The Bride’s Checklist
The bride: Aishwarya Arjun
The groom: Umapathy Ramaiah
The venues: Family temple and Leela Palace in Chennai
Wedding planner: Purplerings
Wedding flowers: Black Tulip Flowers
Wedding décor: The A-Cube Project™️
Wedding photographer: Naman Verma and Claude
Wedding videographer: Claude and Advekar Sudarshan
