Sobhita Dhulipala and Naga Chaitanya’s Telugu wedding celebrated cultural heritage with traditional rituals, meaningful jewelry, and a nod to family legacy, all set against the backdrop of Annapurna Studios in Hyderabad.
The couple tied the knot in a grand traditional Telugu ceremony at Annapurna Studios, Hyderabad, with the support of their families and close friends. The event beautifully merged heritage and personal significance, with Annapurna Studios, founded by the iconic Akkineni Nageswara Rao, serving as the perfect setting for their intimate yet memorable celebration. Sobhita wore a traditional gold puttu cheera sari, woven with real zari, and her bridal look honored Telugu customs, highlighted by bold jewelry choices.
Both the bride and groom wore basikams on their foreheads, symbolizing divine blessings. Usha Sree, a native Telugu, explained that the exchange of the basikam at the mandapam represents unity, a cherished tradition in Telugu weddings.
Sobhita’s bridal attire was further complemented by a matha patti and a bullaki. Her neck was adorned with a kundan choker in a jalebi design, a mangoharam, and a gold bead bottumala, according to Hyderabad-based makeup artist Niharika Rao. The mangoharam, with its mango-shaped motifs, symbolizes prosperity and fertility, commonly seen in South Indian jewelry.
The bride also wore a vaddanam, a waist belt that signifies strength and the bride’s pivotal role in the family, and a vanki, an arm belt, explained jewelry designer Mani Sri. On her wrist, she wore kankanalu, traditional bangles. The jewelry featured sun and moon motifs, symbolizing cosmic balance and harmony, ensuring the couple’s union would be blessed with these elements.
Sobhita’s bridal look successfully balanced tradition and modernity. By incorporating timeless pieces of heritage jewelry, she set a trend for contemporary brides seeking authenticity. Her understated elegance was further enhanced by minimal henna, a floral gajra-styled braid, and gold hair ornaments.
Naga Chaitanya, the groom, complemented Sobhita with a traditional madhuparkham, a white pancha bordered in red, and his own basikam, staying true to the heritage of the occasion.
Jewelry plays a vital role in Telugu weddings, representing cultural and spiritual values. The bride and groom’s choices reflected these beliefs and the deep symbolism embedded in their attire.
Nagarjuna Akkineni, the groom’s father, expressed his emotions on social media, calling the wedding a deeply sentimental moment. The couple exchanged vows under the statue of Akkineni Nageswara Rao, erected to mark his centenary. Nagarjuna reflected on the meaningful presence of his father’s blessings woven into the wedding ceremony.
The wedding was attended by several icons of Telugu cinema, including NTR, Ram Charan, Allu Arjun, and Mahesh Babu. It marked the culmination of a week of pre-wedding celebrations, such as the pelli kuthuru, where Sobhita wowed in a red sari paired with a high-necked, long-sleeved blouse, reintroducing vermillion hues as a bridal staple.
