Around 9.30 am on November 25 (Friday). Everyone hurries to Hotel PGS Vedanta in Kaloor, Kochi, after being told about the much-anticipated marriage of two of the most admired actors of Mollywood — Dileep and Kavya Madhavan. The venue is more or less ready. A few film personalities are already present at the venue while others are trickling down to form a small crowd. However, most seem clueless about the exact nature of the event. Even mediapersons are slightly confused as the direction board reads ‘film puja’. Also because, as Dileep himself mentioned to the media later on, they had been ‘married off’ many times by rumour mongers.
Dileep unhurriedly enters the hall in traditional mundu and shirt, accompanied by his friends and family including his daughter Meenakshi. Then enters the bride Kavya — yes by now everyone is sure it is the much-rumoured wedding — in a simple Kerala sari. She is styled elegantly with minimal makeup and accessories. Both walk onto the dais accompanied by camera flashes. And, the marriage ceremony begins, putting an end to all the confusion. Murmurs emerge from the audience who cannot catch a glimpse of the wedding. Amid all commotion, Dileep and Kavya tie the knot. There is happiness on all faces as they witness a new beginning in the lives of both the actors, who have the record for acting together.
The most notable aspect of the marriage is certainly its hush hush nature, till the hour when it finally happened. Although some were aware of the wedding, no one knew the exact date. Even a makeup artist who is close to Kavya came to know about it just after draping the sari! “Yesterday photographer Shani called me and told me to be present at the venue at this time. Though I quizzed him what the event was, he said, ‘just come’. When I arrived in the morning, I was surprised,” says Srinda, who is friends with the couple. “I know Dileepettan since the time I began assisting in movies. I have acted with both of them in their recent release Pinneyum,” says Srinda.
Dileep-Kavya with MammoottyMammootty, Jeethu Joseph, director Joshiy, Siddique, actor Sidhique, Chippi, Meera Jasmine, Suja Karthika, Janardhanan, Kaviyoor Ponnamma, Kalabhavan shajon, Narain, Jayaram, Nadhir Shah, Apoorva Bose, Salim Kumar, Srinda, Lakshmi Priya and Siddharth Bharatan were among those who attended the low-key affair. Producer G. Suresh Kumar who attended the ceremony along with his wife Menaka says that he was aware of it for the past few days. However, according to media reports, he kept it a secret even from Menaka, who was told to get ready for a temple visit along with friends! Actor cum director Salim Kumar, who has been Dileep’s close friend since his mimicry days, says, “I knew that they would marry. It was yesterday that Dileep called me and informed me about today’s ceremony.” Scriptwriter Benny P. Nayarambalam, who penned Dileep’s many hits including Kalyanaraman, Chanthupottu and Welcome to Central Jail, also came to know about the ceremony only a day before the wedding.
Dileep-Kavya with Salim KumarActor Meera Jasmine, who is back to the big screen after a sabbatical, is happy for the couple. “I am close to both of them. I am really happy that they are together now. They deserve it. My best wishes and prayers for them,” she says. For Suja Karthika, Kavya Madhavan is more than a friend. “We are like a family. We have known each other for the past 14 years. Our families are also quite close. Dileepettan is like my brother. We knew they would marry but did not know when. We got a clue the other day when they asked me to come wearing sari,” says Suja. “Life after marriage is most important. I wish they stay together till the end of their life,” she wishes. Actress Lakshmi Priya is all praise for the way the couple coordinated for the ceremony.
“They made sure that everyone was invited properly. She has been sending me messages. But, I didn’t receive them as my phone was damaged. I rushed to the spot the moment I came to know about it,” she says. It is their second marriage for both actors. Dileep married actress Manju Warrier in 1998 but the couple got separated in 2015. Kavya was briefly married to Nishal Chandra. Dileep-Kavya linkups were in the gossip columns for a long time although they never admitted that they were having a relationship. In a video that he shared minutes before the wedding and also in his chat with the media after the ceremony, Dileep referred to the persistent rumours and his promise to let everyone know if and when he actually took the plunge. He added that he had taken a decision that if he ever chose a partner, it would be none other than Kavya who was a victim of such gossip. And that it was his daughter Meenakshi who was the key decision maker.
