Last Updated:
Randeep Hooda reveals unique wedding rituals from his Manipur ceremony with Lin Laishram, including a pee bowl and smile restrictions during the ceremony.
Randeep Hooda has opened up about his traditional Meitei wedding to Lin Laishram in Manipur, describing it as intense, beautiful—and unexpectedly dramatic.
In 2023, actor Randeep Hooda tied the knot with long-time partner and actress Lin Laishram in an intimate yet culturally rich Meitei wedding in Manipur. While the pictures from the ceremony had already won hearts online, the actor recently opened up about the behind-the-scenes drama and beauty of the rituals in a candid interview with Mid-Day.
Randeep, who had dated Lin for several years after meeting her at Naseeruddin Shah’s theatre group Motley, admitted that marrying someone from a completely different culture was both challenging and enlightening. “There were stereotypes around me not marrying a Jaat girl,” he said with a chuckle, adding that the wedding itself unfolded amid intense political unrest in Manipur.
The actor revealed that he was completely new to Meitei customs. “Lin tried to prepare me by showing me videos of the rituals, but I was busy editing Swatantrya Veer Savarkar at the time,” he admitted. Randeep traveled to Manipur with a group of close friends and family, with Brigadier Sanghwan from the Assam Rifles playing a key role in helping plan the ceremony amidst the prevailing civil tensions.
Describing the wedding day, Randeep said the rituals were far more intense and detailed than anything he had experienced before. “I had a helper, sort of like a cultural tutor, who guided me through it. At one point, I had to wear a headpiece and keep my posture absolutely straight for two hours while everyone came to look at me like I was god,” he recalled. “I even asked about a bowl they handed me, and the helper said it was in case I had to pee — you’d just open the umbrella and go. You can’t move because you’re god.”
Lin too had a mentor helping her through the customs. “She got scolded for smiling during the ceremony,” Randeep laughed. “They’d send messengers telling her to stop smiling! It was all so meticulously choreographed.” Reflecting on the cultural differences, he added, “Haryana is rough and raw, while Manipur is structured and refined. But both states produce champions — be it boxers or brides.”
Despite the solemnity of the rituals, the wedding was not without some action-movie drama. As soon as the pheras concluded, celebratory gunfire erupted. “Hundreds of AK-47s went off in the air,” Randeep said, describing the surreal mix of love and civil unrest.
The couple, who mostly kept their relationship private over the years, had shared glimpses of their bond during festivals and special occasions on social media. Lin, speaking to ANI, said, “We met at Motley. He was my senior. What started as friendship turned into a beautiful journey.”
Yatamanyu Narain is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for all things entertainment. Whether he’s breaking the latest Bollywood news or chatting with rising stars in the OTT world, he’s always on the hun…Read More
Yatamanyu Narain is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for all things entertainment. Whether he’s breaking the latest Bollywood news or chatting with rising stars in the OTT world, he’s always on the hun… Read More
- First Published:
