When Vijay Mallya performed Sameera Reddy’s ‘Kanyadaan’ at her wedding - Here’s how they are related

Vijay Mallya may often make headlines for controversies or cricket. After RCB finally won the IPL, Mallya celebrated from the UK. While netizens looked back at his past, a surprising story about his personal life has resurfaced—his role at actress Sameera Reddy’s wedding.

In a 2014 interview with DNA, actress Sameera Reddy shared a personal detail about her wedding that many had never heard before. The actress revealed that it was none other than Vijay Mallya—her relative on her mother’s side—who performed the traditional kanyadaan ritual at her wedding.

“Only Vijay Mallya, who is related from my mother’s side, gave me away to the groom. That apart, there were only friends and family,” Sameera had said. The ritual, a traditional gesture in Hindu weddings where the bride’s family entrusts her to the groom. A wedding that surprised everyone
Sameera and entrepreneur Akshai Varde tied the knot on 21 January 2014 in a quiet Maharashtrian-style ceremony that took everyone by surprise. The couple had originally planned to get married in April, but a change of plans led them to prepone the wedding.

“Isn’t this the best way to do it?” Sameera said during the same DNA interview. “Months of painful planning causes so much stress… Akshai said, why not. I said, why knot? Ha ha. And we said, ‘I do.’ And I’m glad we did.” The wedding was so private that even many of her industry friends were unaware.
Sameera’s new chapter beyond films
Fast forward to 2025, earlier this year the couple celebrated 11 years of marriage. Sameera marked the occasion by posting a series of sweet, affectionate photos online, receiving a flood of love and warm wishes from fans.

Sameera Reddy made her Bollywood debut with 'Maine Dil Tujhko Diya' in 2002. She went on to appear in several popular films such as 'Darna Mana Hai', 'Musafir', 'Race', 'De Dana Dan', and 'Tezz'. Her versatility and glamorous screen presence helped her earn a strong fan following during her acting years.

On the work front, Sameera has taken a break from acting but continues to stay connected with fans through her active presence on social media. She’s become a prominent voice in conversations around body positivity and parenting, often sharing real and relatable content. Sameera Reddy was last seen in 'Naam' which was released in the year 2024.