Shaadi gets a ‘Salve’tion

 

Indian weddings are synonymous with the larger-than-life, sometimes outlandish, generally madding, and always high-octane world of countless ceremonies. After keenly observing and enthusiastically participating in several such weddings, author and daughter of eminent lawyer Harish Salve, Sakshi Salve presents a satirical account of the excesses of modern-day Indian marriages.

 

No marriage is complete without an entertaining sangeet. Sakshi confesses that it is her emceeing talent and the ability to handle wedding entertainment with such finesse that brought out the writer inside her. “I had absolutely no idea that I could write until 2009, when I happened to write a script for a friend’s wedding performance. It turned out to be such a huge hit that people started calling me requesting I handle wedding entertainment.

 

I realised I have a gift. Gift of the gab! Which is not surprising considering I am a lawyer’s daughter,” she quips and adds, “Once I realised this, I wanted to write something more than just a script for a sangeet. It didn’t take me very long to decide that my first book topic would be The Big Indian Wedding. After attending a crazy number of weddings, I really wanted to document all my observations and experiences, and share them with the world.”

 

Sharing some tips for our readers to put an end to those pre-wedding jitters, Sakshi says, “They are quite normal according to me and one cannot get completely get rid of them. Here a few handy tips to try and reduce them — communicate with your partner daily and discuss your fears. Do not make your wedding outfit the be-all and end-all of life.

 

A lot of stress stems from not being able to find the right outfit and jewellery. It really doesn’t matter. What matters is the person you are about to marry. Also, stop listening to every Tom, Dick and Harry about how things should be done. It’s your wedding and you should do exactly what you want, even if others don’t agree.”

 

When asked about her favourite shaadi rasm (ceremony), Sakshi is quick to add, “Of course, it has to be the honeymoon! I would say my favourite rasm would be the seven pheras because that is what ties two people together forever (at least symbolically). And, I am all about symbolism. That is the reason I would never get married until I am 200 per cent sure of my partner. It would kill me to get a divorce after pheras.”

 

Sakshi is 31-year-old and happily single and ready to mingle. She says, “I would definitely like to get married someday, when I find someone worth spending my life with. I will have a very private destination wedding with only very close friends and family. Nothing too traditional, relaxed and fun! I want to enjoy my own wedding!”

 

Born and brought up in the national capital, Sakshi has carefully imbibed the values and life lessons taught by her dad. “One invaluable lesson I have learnt from my father is — Comfort will not get you on the front page of a newspaper and just being a successful man’s daughter will not earn you respect,” she shares.

After working for a year at a reputed fashion house in London, Sakshi had two stints in the banking sector at UBS and Barclays, following which, she set up a leading lifestyle store at the DLF Emporio Mall. Her love for fine dining took her back to London, where she completed a course from Le Cordon Bleu. 

 

Behind the successful Sakshi is the unconditional love and support from her parents. Sakshi says, “My family has always supported me, and my choices — both personal and professional. My father being one of the top lawyers of the country has never pushed his profession on me. He has always given me the freedom to choose my own path and follow my dreams.”

 

Sakshi has also spent a summer in New York City and completed a scriptwriting course from New York University. Her future plans? Sakshi concludes, “I am working on my second book now. I still do not have a title but it is reality wrapped up in fiction. It deals with another national obsession — girls who are turning 30 and are still unmarried. It was actually meant to be a movie script but I’m writing it in book format first. Nothing like this has been written about before and the subject I’m dealing with is very relevant and currently a huge source of concern.”