Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli and Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma -- India's most watched couple -- sealed their relationship with a wedding -- here amidst close family and friends on Monday.
"Today we have promised each other to be bound in love forever. We are truly blessed to share the news with you," Virat and Anushka posted on their social media accounts.
"This beautiful day will be made more special with the love and support of our family of fans and well-wishers. Thank you for being such an important part of our journey," the statement read.
The happy couple shared their wedding photographs on social media with fans. In one image, they are seen laughing happily during the 'phera' ceremony, while in another, a smiling Anushka is seen holding the garland to place it on Virat, who is held aloft by friends.
Today we have promised each other to be bound in love forever. We are truly blessed to share the news with you. This beautiful day will be made more special with the love and support of our family of fans & well wishers. Thank you for being such an important part of our journey. pic.twitter.com/Scobdiqk7l
— Anushka Sharma (@AnushkaSharma) December 11, 2017
Congrats Indian Skipper @imVkohli & Bollywood Star @AnushkaSharma 😍😍 #couplegoals #VirushkaWEDDING pic.twitter.com/bjSGkWVSxP
— raj michaels (@loyal_raj) December 11, 2017
A string of congratulatory messages from the film and sports fraternity followed the official announcement. The wedding was solemnised as per Hindu rituals at 2 p.m. here, with the bride and groom looking resplendent in ensembles by celebrated couturier Sabyasachi Mukherjee.
For the D-day, Anushka wore a pale pink lehenga with Renaissance embroidery in vintage English colours embellished with silver-gold metal thread, pearls and beads. The bridal jewellery, handcrafted with syndicate uncut diamonds, pale pink spinel and baroque Japanese cultured pearls, was by the Sabyasachi Heritage Jewelry collection.
Ab yeh hui na real Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. My love to both @AnushkaSharma & @imVkohli May God bless u with happiness & health pic.twitter.com/ymsT2Ay9Fh
— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) December 11, 2017
The groom looked smart in an ivory raw silk sherwani hand-embroidered in a vintage Benarasi pattern, with an old rose silk kota safa. The couple, who has been together for four years, is said to have chosen a luxury heritage resort Borgo Finocchieto, a little over 100 km away from here, for their nuptials. They appointed boutique wedding planning and production experts Shaadi Squad to ensure their celebrations were special and classy.
A host of photographs and video clips from the gala, which was preceded by a mehendi and engagement ceremony, suggest the decor was minimalistic and sophisticated.
Look at Virat kohli 😍😍😍😍😍 #VirushkaWEDDING pic.twitter.com/GVWBNBzown
— Nayana (@im_nayana18) December 11, 2017
#VirushkaWEDDING Haldi ceremony happening I think 😍😍 @imVkohli looking so happy ❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/ixl8GewoNs
— kusum Bhutani (@kusumbhutani) December 11, 2017
OMFG They kissed and hugged each other. And "PERFECT" song is playing in the background!!#VirushkaWEDDING pic.twitter.com/ELJybbFdxQ
— ∞ (@JustLykYouu) December 11, 2017
A Sneak Peak into the Jaymala ceremony of #VirushkaWEDDING @imVkohli @AnushkaSharma 😍😍❤️❤️ they are so adorable 😍 pic.twitter.com/ufJHTTZxfH
— kusum Bhutani (@kusumbhutani) December 11, 2017
She loves Mehndi and I love that hand 😍
— India Forums (@indiaforums) December 11, 2017
Anushka Sharma & Virat Kohli’s Mehndi function!😇💖 #VirushkaWEDDING @AnushkaSharma @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/zRrS5X8qRR
Indian cricket team's captain #ViratKohli and Bollywood actress #AnushkaSharma get married in Italy today pic.twitter.com/git9eP3xaS
— Doordarshan News (@DDNewsLive) December 11, 2017
An Instagram post by Shaadi Squad reads: "Four months of keeping a secret, hiding even from our own team, the secret recces, midnight meetings, vague conversations, and sleepless nights have finally manifested into this grand moment."
Anushka and Virat, both 29, set tongues wagging about their wedding when they were seen leaving the Mumbai and Delhi airport respectively with their family members last week. All of them maintained a stoic silence, keeping the secrecy about the much-anticipated union intact.
Virat has been fairly open about how Anushka's presence in his life has brought in positive changes in him, but the actress has preferred to keep her private life private. The rumours about their wedding had gathered steam when Virat asked for rest during the ODI and T20Is against Sri Lanka. He will join the team for the South Africa series which starts from December 30.
But before that, the couple will be hosting a reception in New Delhi for their relatives on December 21, followed by a reception for industry friends and cricketers in Mumbai on December 26.
Congrats Indian Skipper @imVkohli & Bollywood Star @AnushkaSharma 😍😍 #couplegoals #VirushkaWEDDING pic.twitter.com/bjSGkWVSxP
— raj michaels (@loyal_raj) December 11, 2017
Here are more pictures of @AnushkaSharma and @imVkohli
— Zoom TV (@ZoomTV) December 11, 2017
❤️ if you love these pictures!#VirushkaWEDDING #Virushka pic.twitter.com/M7PtVsBNH7
Finally, two souls become one and two hearts beat as one. All the very best for your future and happy marriage.
— Virat Kohli¹⁸ (@ViratCrew) December 11, 2017
It's already the biggest news. Thankyou for ending 2017 beautifully @imVkohli @AnushkaSharma!#VirushkaWEDDING pic.twitter.com/QjkhV3tblT
Hearty Congratulations @imVkohli @AnushkaSharma 💞🎁 #VirushkaWEDDING pic.twitter.com/YodOuAkZKD
— Girish Johar (@girishjohar) December 11, 2017
They will be shifting to their new residence in Worli, Mumbai in December once they return from Delhi.
The couple will then travel to South Africa where Virat will start prepping for the upcoming series and Anushka will spend New Year's Eve with him, read a statement from the actress' representative.
She will return in the first week of January to begin the next schedule of Aanand L. Rai's film with Shah Rukh in Mumbai. She will also start prepping for "Sui Dhaaga" as the shooting for the same starts in February 2018 with Varun Dhawan.
That apart, the actress-producer will also be busy with the marketing and promotions of "Pari", which will release on February 9.
Anushka, the daughter of an army officer, was a model before she made inroads with "Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi" opposite Shah Rukh Khan in 2008. It set the pace of a career which has seen her be a part of movies like "Band Baaja Baaraat", "Jab Tak Hai Jaan", "PK", "NH10", "Dil Dhadakne Do", "Sultan" and "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil". Her last release was "Jab Harry Met Sejal" earlier this year.
Even Virat's India career started in 2008 in the senior team, after he led the U-19 team to a World Cup win. He has had a glorious run on the cricket pitch ever since.
TWITTER ABUZZ WITH CONGRATULATORY MESSAGES FOR VIRAT-ANUSHKA
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) led congratulatory wishes for India skipper Virat Kohli, who on Monday married Bollywood actor Anushka Sharma in a private ceremony in Italy.
The couple took to Twitter to announce their relationship and social media has melted ever since.
"Heartiest congratulations to this lovely pair. Wishing the couple a very happy married life," read the message on the national cricket board's Twitter handle.
Cricketer Harbhajan Singh also took to the social networking site to congratulate the newly weds.
"Jug jug jeeve eh sohni Jodi ..@imVkohli @AnushkaSharma rab hamesha khush rakhe (May this beautiful couple enjoy a long life. May God keep them happy always)," Harbhajan's tweet read.
Congratulations @imVkohli & @AnushkaSharma. Wish you both all the happiness and a long married life! pic.twitter.com/bgD2TPA9dl
— Parvinder Awana (@ParvinderAwana) December 11, 2017
Congratulations to the lovely couple! God bless🤗🤗😊😊 @imVkohli @AnushkaSharma https://t.co/VAY7Jy7byV
— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) December 11, 2017
Congratulations Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma . May you have a blissful life together. #VirushkaWEDDING pic.twitter.com/U6BbAaC5SE
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) December 11, 2017
There’s no better union than the union of love! Congrats @imVkohli and @AnushkaSharma
— Suresh Raina (@ImRaina) December 11, 2017
Wish you both a very happy married life! So happy for you guys! 😊 pic.twitter.com/g8VsF2MSEI
Many congratulations to u ....👍👍🎉🎉
— Saina Nehwal (@NSaina) December 11, 2017
Heartiest congratulations to @imVkohli and @AnushkaSharma for the new innings. Wishing you both all the best always! #VirushkaWEDDING
— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) December 11, 2017
Wishing @imVkohli and @AnushkaSharma a very happy married life. #VirushkaWEDDING pic.twitter.com/dXCbN39L17
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) December 11, 2017
Heartiest congratulations to @imVkohli @AnushkaSharma. Wish you a happy & blissful married life!
— Jyotiraditya Scindia (@JM_Scindia) December 11, 2017
Awww congratulations👏🏻👏🏻...you look soo cute together and wish you both happiness and love ❤ 😇 @AnushkaSharma @imVkohli https://t.co/eT9bVp9wel
— geeta phogat (@geeta_phogat) December 11, 2017
Shaadi Mubarak, @imVkohli and @AnushkaSharma
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) December 11, 2017
May God bless you both with lots of happiness. 😊😇🙌
Happy married life both of you @imVkohli and @AnushkaSharma have a wonderful life ahead may god bless u both with lots of happiness
— Umesh Yaadav (@y_umesh) December 11, 2017
Now that the suspense is over, best wishes on the marriage @imVkohli & @AnushkaSharma. Stay blessed, stay happy https://t.co/hjACBrrQZo
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) December 11, 2017
Today we have promised each other to be bound in love for ever. We are truly blessed to share the news with you.This beautiful day will be made more special with the love and support of our family of fans & well wishers. Thank you for being such an important part of our journey. pic.twitter.com/aobTUwMNAK
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) December 11, 2017
Virat has been fairly open about how Anushka's presence in his life has brought in positive changes in him, but the actress has preferred to keep her private life private.
Pacer Umesh Yadav also tweeted: "Happy married life both of you @imVkohli and @AnushkaSharma have a wonderful life ahead may God bless u both with lots of happiness."
"Best wishes to both of you on your wedding @imVkohli & @AnushkaSharma. Wishing you a life filled with all the blessings and joys of life," Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara wrote.
Former BCCI President Anurag Thakur also took to Twitter to wish Kohli and Anushka: "Heartiest congratulations to @imVkohli and @AnushkaSharma for the new innings. Wishing you both all the best always!"
Ex-India Test opener Aakash Chopra wrote: "Shaadi Mubarak, @imVkohli and @AnushkaSharma. May God bless you both with lots of happiness."
Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi also congratulated the couple, saying: "Congratulations @imVkohli @AnushkaSharma on your wedding. May God Bless you two and give you happiness and a rewarding married life."
Indian women's hockey team captain Rani Rampal wrote: "Congratulations to the beautiful couple @imVkohli pajji and @AnushkaSharma for their wedding."
Wrestler Geeta Phogat wrote: "Awww congratulations...you look soo cute together and wish you both happiness and love..@AnushkaSharma @imVkohli."
The wedding was solemnised as per Hindu rituals at 2 p.m. in Italy with the bride and groom looking resplendent in ensembles by celebrated couturier Sabyasachi Mukherjee.
The couple, who has been together for four years, is said to have chosen a luxury heritage resort Borgo Finocchieto, a little over 100 km away from Florence, for their nuptials.
