Ronit and Neelam

Neelam Singh, a Rajput began her career in modeling. She participated in 'Femina Look of the year' in 1995 after which she was a regular on the Ramp. She has acted in commercials and television serials including Saans, Kaleerien and Koshish Ek Asha.

How they Met
Ronit and Neelam met at a friend's party four years ago. The duo says: "We liked each other in the first meeting, then occasionally met at parties, after which we exchanged telephone numbers. It took some time for us to decide on marriage, as we were both very busy with our careers. We planned to get married in February 2004, but preponed the wedding because Ronit was committed to his work projects in February. We decided on December and chose the most auspicious day- 25th December."

The Wedding Ceremonies
Tika and Ring ceremony: The wedding functions started with a tika and ring ceremony at Ronit's parent's home on 22nd December, 2003. It was a small gathering of close family members. Neelam wore a red and yellow bandhani saree picked from Jodhpur. Ronit wore a co-ordinated yellow kurta and churidar, which Neelam bought from Agra. The bride's side took Shagun to the groom's house and the ring ceremony soon followed. Both Ronit and Neelam's engagement rings are plain gold bands. The food was a typical Bengali home made lunch.

Mehendi: The bride's side organised for a mehendi ceremony on 24th Dec. Over hundred guests attended this function at The Club, Andheri. The function started in the afternoon and went on till evening.

Neelam's sister-in-law, Manasi dressing her in floral jewellery	Ronit and Neelam at the Mehendi

As a Bengali tradition, Ronit's sister-in-law got floral jewellery for Neelam. The floral pieces included earrings, a necklace, maangtikaa and armlets all made from mogra flowers. Neelam wore a chiffon sharara in a pink and sky blue combination with kundan work done all over. She bought the fabric from a friend and got it dyed and stitched. Ronit wore a brown colour self designed brocade kurta with cream satin churidar, which he picked from Mumbai's Millionaire boutique. Bollywood's ace make-up artist Jaiwant Thakrey and his team did Neelam's make up and hair for the mehendi and wedding. Mehendi artist Shahnaz and her team of girls did Neelam's mehendi.

The cuisine for the function was assorted. There were continental starters and chaat stalls, fresh fruits, juices and Indian and Chinese food. The dcor for the mehendi and the wedding was done with fresh flowers by Girish of Jaypal Decorators.

Haldi, Wedding and Reception
The Haldi ceremony was on 25th Dec at Neelam's home. The ceremony was for close family members and Neelam's sister-in- law gave her the traditional Bengali bangle, Shaka Pola on this occasion.

Neelam being carried (as per Bengali wedding traditions) by her brother for the wedding ceremony	The wedding ceremony conducted as per Bengali traditions

The wedding took place on the same evening, at The Resort, Madh Island. It was followed by a reception and dinner attended by 350 guests. Some of those present included Ronit's colleagues from his serials, film director Subhash Ghai and his wife, Aditya Pancholi and wife Zarina Wahab, Niki Aneja and husband Sunny Walia, singing sensation Sonu Nigam, actor Apoorva Agnihotri and his fiance Shilpa Saklani.

Ronit and Neelam with Ronit's mother, brother Rohit and his wife Manasi

The couple with Neelam's parents, her sisters and brother

Neelam with the female star cast of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi

Ronit with the male star cast of Kyunki

Ronit and Neelam with Ronit's mother, brother Rohit, Subhash Ghai and his wife, Achint Kaur and Mohan Kapoor (of Saanp Seedi fame) at the Reception

What they Wore
Neelam wore a golden net ghaghra choli, which she had designed and stitched before her marriage was finalised. The net ghaghra had a silk inner lining, zardozi work on the border and semi-precious pearls, beads and swarovski crystals embedded all over. The choli had some work done on the borders in self-design brocade. She also had a red head dupatta and got her ghaghra dupatta re-embroidered with sequin work on the border to match the whole look. For jewellery Neelam wore a gold, pearl and ruby set, which her mother bought from Jaipur.

Ronit wore a full-embroidered silk Jodhpuri with a red bandhani stole and satin churidar from Jodhpur.

Wedding Planning Experiences
Says Neelam: "I planned almost all aspects of the wedding, took care of all the minute details and really enjoyed doing so. It was all very exciting and now with my experience I am ready to help my friends plan their weddings. Like in all weddings, whether well planned or unplanned, we too had to face some last minute crisis'. The car decorator refused to send anyone to pick up the car. The turban supplier didn't land up. But in both times my brothers were of great help and helped ease matters."

Ronit was shooting a day before the marriage and the day after marriage too. He took a five-day break from Balaji Telefilms and the newly wed couple had a honeymoon break in Goa.

This was Ronit's second marriage. His 12 year old daughter lives with her mother in the US. Ronit also runs a security agency, Ace Security & Protection which he started during a low phase in his acting career. He is currently busy acting in Kyonki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Kasauti Zindagi Ki.

Ronit and Neelam have set up home in Oshiwara, near Andheri. WeddingSutra wishes them a happy and prosperous married life and great times ahead.