Actress Sharmiela Mandre got engaged to her longtime partner, producer Sudhan Sundaram, last week. Speaking exclusively to Filmfare, she opens up about how they met, fell in love and eventually decided to spend their lives together.
Actress Samyuktha played cupid
Sharmiela says that getting engaged to her best friend, Sudhan, still hasn’t fully sunk in, “It’s thrilling. Although we talk to each other every day, getting engaged is a completely different feeling.”
She reveals that actress Samyuktha, her co-star in Gaalipata 2, played cupid. The two became close friends during the shoot. “She asked me about my life and my marriage plans, but I wasn’t very optimistic about getting married,” says Sharmiela.
Later, Samyuktha worked with Sudhan on another film and introduced the two. “I live in Bengaluru while he is based in Chennai, but we stayed in touch as friends for a long time,” she says, adding that things moved very quickly this March.
“I’m someone who likes to plan everything. Surprisingly, he proposed completely on the spur of the moment. It wasn’t like a typical filmi proposal, but the way he did it was really funny. Everything happened so quickly,” says the The Devil actor, adding that Sudhan preferred to keep the engagement ceremony intimate.
Sharmiela admits she had sensed the proposal was overdue but never wanted to make the first move. “I’m still old-school when it comes to romance,” she says with a smile. After the proposal, the couple met her parents and sought their blessings.
Love brought emotional stability
According to Sharmiela, she and Sudhan connected deeply because they both belong to the film industry. Their conversations naturally revolved around films, scripts and creative ideas. She adds, “We also love travelling, and that’s something we really connect over.”
Asked how love has changed her life, Sharmiela says she was never someone who wanted to be in a relationship for the sake of it. She explains, “I was always very clear that I wanted to marry the person I loved. I’m happy that’s exactly what happened. Love has brought a sense of emotional stability into my life. The fact that Sudhan and I were friends for so long is an added advantage.”
She laughs while describing their contrasting personalities, “Sudhan is shy and reserved, while I’m quite talkative. Despite being a producer, he’s perfectly happy staying away from the limelight.”
Speaking about the wedding, Sharmiela reveals that the couple is planning a destination ceremony. She says, “The wedding will happen this year. We’re exploring places like Rajasthan, and we’ll also host a reception for our colleagues from the film industry.”
‘Acting is my identity’
After spending nearly two decades in cinema as an actor, stepping away from the arc lights is not something Sharmiela is willing to consider. “Acting is my identity, and I never want to lose that. I will continue doing films even after marriage,” she says.
Apart from acting, Sharmiela has also produced films such as Evanukku Engeyo Matcham Irukku, Naanum Single Thaan, Sila Nodigalil and Sandakkari.
Also Read: Vicky Kaushal Shares His Reaction To Aamir Khan And Gauri Spratt’s Wedding Announcement
