Nov 25, 2016: Malayalam stars Dileep and Kavya Madhavan got married in Kochi on Friday (November 25) amidst a gathering of select guests. The wedding came as a big surprise to everyone as even the guests were informed only hours in advance.
Speaking to media after the wedding, Dileep said, “Kavya was not the reason for whatever problems that happened in my family. So I decided if I were going to get married, I will marry someone who was made a scapegoat for my problems… In the last couple of days, I discussed with my family and daughter about this wedding. And today I am marrying Kavya with their full backing.”
The wedding took place between 9 and 10 am and about 200 guests were present at the hotel. Among the Mollywood stars, yesteryear actress Menaka, Chippi and Joemol attended. Dileep also took to Facebook to announce the wedding moments before it took place, “I am here to tell you about a big event happening in my life today. I am getting married today. When I thought of a marriage, I discussed it with my daughter, her mother, my friends and family and arrived at a decision. My partner is a person who has been linked to me in gossip magazines. I earnestly hope all Malayalis and people around the world who love me would shower your blessings on us and remember us in your prayers. Please do not create controversies out of this. Bless us instead.”
Both Dileep and Kavya greeted the guests with folded hands. Kavya first garlanded Dileep while he tied mangalsutra and then garlanded her. A slew of actors, directors and producers came up to the dais to greet the newlyweds.
Actor-producer Lal, actors Kaviyoor Ponnama, KPAC Lalitha, Menaka Suresh, her husband and producer Suresh were among those who attended the ceremony. The couple touched the feet of director Kamal who had introduced the duo in the industry. Kavya had debuted in Kamal’s film while Dilip had started as his assistant.
Mammootty, Jayaram, actor-turned-director Nadirshah and director Ranjit, who is starting his new film today, also attended. The couple is slated to fly to Dubai after the wedding. The date of the reception is yet to be fixed.
A lot has been spoken and written about the relationship between Dileep and Kavya Madhavan. There were several speculations about their secret wedding too, but the couple has chosen to keep mum on the issue.
For long the famous onscreen pair has denied rumours about their marriage. Dileep had earlier said that he has no plans of marrying Kavya. However, he hinted that he was open to the idea, while recently talking to Malayalam magazine. “My life has been an open book and whenever a new thing happens, it will be communicated to all. Time will tell everything,” he had said.
He had also said that Kavya was not the reason behind his breakup with his former wife Manju Warrier. Dileep and Manju, who got married 1998, separated in 2014 and they have a daughter. The CID Moosa actor had claimed that revealing the real reason behind his failed marriage to Manju would hurt many people’s lives.
Kavya, meanwhile, was married to Nishal Chandra, who is also an actor. However, that marriage was short-lived. Kavya debuted as a leading lady with 1999 film Chandranudikkunna Dikhil, at the age of 14. The film had Dileep in the lead role. Since then they both have worked in as many as 23 films.