📣 For more lifestyle news, click here to join our WhatsApp Channel and also follow us on Instagram
© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
[[{“value”:”
Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal tied the knot in an intimate wedding ceremony in Mumbai last year. Despite belonging to a family with extensive political and film industry connections, she chose to celebrate her special day with only a select few people. In an episode of The Male Feminist podcast, Sonakshi opened up about her decision, which went against her parents’ wishes, and why it was vital for her to stand her ground.
“It was a small wedding, that’s how I wanted it. I am a very private person, and for such a big day, especially, I want those who are happy in my happiness to be around me. I told my mom, who obviously expected otherwise — ‘[she said] dad knows so many people, he will have to call everyone. He’s got political friends, film friends. I was like, ‘Mom this is not about any of them, this is about me, and this is about Zaheer and me together. This is how we want our wedding to be.”
“When you (her mother) got married, no one told you how to do it, when Kush (her brother) got married, no one told him how to do it. So I feel I should be allowed to make this decision about my big day,” the Lootera actor recalled having told her mom, adding that they understood and didn’t interfere in any of the planning.
“We planned everything in two weeks, and finished everything in one day. There were no 10 functions, everything was very chilled out,” said Sinha. “Actually, my mom thanked me after that. She was like, ‘Thanks for taking all our stress. We didn’t have to do anything’,” she quipped.
Reflecting on Sonakshi’s approach, Gurleen Baruah, occupational psychologist and executive coach at That Culture Thing, told indianexpress.com that deciding your timeline for life’s milestones, like marriage and other significant decisions, is crucial for personal empowerment and mental well-being.
“As adults, we possess the autonomy to make choices that align with our values, feelings, and circumstances. While society may impose norms and suggest ‘ideal’ ages for achieving certain milestones, like settling down or starting a family, it’s important to remember that these are human-made constructs,” she shared.
Sonakshi and Zaheer tied the knot last year (Source: Instagram,/@aslisona)
Doing things your way
Rima Bhandekar, Senior Psychologist at Mpower, Aditya Birla Education Trust, stated that linking one’s self-worth to external metrics of success and what is trending on social media can be detrimental to mental health, relationships, and finances in the long run.
Story continues below this ad
“It can lead to anxiety and a mindset in which the person rigidly believes that their special moments in life and their worth are fixed by metrics like packages, assets, or social media virality, which can fluctuate anytime. This creates self-doubts, and failures feel too personal, and gradually the sense of identity becomes shallow and fragile,” she explained.
Choosing to celebrate your special day the way you want it to can be empowering, yet daunting. Pushing against centuries of conditioning and societal judgement is not easy, and it is essential to remember that change does not happen overnight. To let go of this mindset, Bhandekar suggested noticing where attachment to external factors creates a void in your life.
“When things do not go as planned, treat yourself with compassionate thoughts. Quit measuring yourself in the moment through someone else’s parameters of success; this is your life journey point, and focus on creating memories on your terms,” she said. Foster a support circle where your uniqueness is celebrated and valued.
“}]] 