Aadhi and Nikki: This Diwali is special as it’s our first as a married couple

In the years that they have known each other, became friends, and fell in love, Aadhi Pinisetty and Nikki Galrani have celebrated many festivals together. But for the two — who got married this May — this Diwali will be extra special because it’s their Thala Diwali. We got the two together for a photoshoot, and their chemistry made for a crackling atmosphere. Be it Nikki ensuring Aadhi looked perfect for the camera, or the latter holding up a fan for the actress as she posed for us — these cutesy moments showed that their romance and friendship are for keeps.Excerpts from a chat…
This is your Thala Diwali. Have you planned any special celebrations or rituals?
Aadhi: Well, this is our first Diwali together after the wedding. That itself is special for us. We will be celebrating the day with our family as a married couple and that feels amazing.
Nikki: When it comes to rituals, I think most of the practices are the same. In our household, we do Lakshmi Puja two days before Diwali, on Dhanteras. And in the south, I think it’s on the day of Diwali. But apart from that, the idea behind celebrating the festival is the same — coming together of families and friends — and that will be extremely special for us.
What are your earliest memories of this festival?
Aadhi: My dad (director Ravi Raja Pinisetty) had a huge crew of assistants and associates, who were like family to us. So, on Diwali, everyone would come over to our place with their families. And my mom would light up the entire place with diyas. I used to have a bucket of sand, from which I would set the diyas, and my brother would pour the oil. Mom would follow us with wicks and then light the diyas. It used to be a major process, which would start post noon and end by 5-5.30pm. Our home was the hub, where families and friends would come together. Those were the best days. We also had this competition with kids from the neighbourhood, on who burst the loudest crackers and for how long. My house was on MGR Street in Saligramam, and kids from our area would burst ten-thousandwalas and other crackers. After we were done, kids from the next street would start bursting firecrackers. This would go on till 10.30-11pm. Of course, I have cut down on crackers in the last 10 years and it’s all about pujas and sweets now.
Nikki: I was not big on loud crackers; I was a very bijli pataka-sky shots-susurbatti (sparklers) kind of person. But I enjoyed going shopping with my parents and performing pujas. Also, Diwali meant a holiday from school (laughs).
You guys are pet parents as well…
Nikki: Yes, we only do sparklers as part of our ritual now.
Aadhi: We make sure our pets are inside a room, comfortable, and not exposed to the sound outside. One of my pets used to hide in the cupboard whenever he heard the sound of crackers being burst. So, we don’t do loud crackers at all.
So, what does Diwali mean to you?
Aadhi: It is colours — of diyas and rangolis — and people getting together. And of course, sweets!
Nikki: While growing up, I have always been told that Diwali marks the start of a new year. You kind of burst away all the negativity of the past and look forward to a happy beginning with your favourite people. A lot of people consider Diwali their new year. So, for me, Diwali means a fresh, new start.
Aadhi: Lighting diyas seems like a small thing that we do on this day, but I feel it’s very important because it signifies light and a bright future.
Do you have any fond memories of celebrating festivals and get-togethers from when you were dating?
Nikki: A lot! We have celebrated so many festivals and birthdays together.
Aadhi: We stayed in the same apartment. She was on the eighth floor, and I was on the 16th. Every festival, every weekend, we used to meet. First, as friends. At least, that’s what my parents used to think initially (chuckles). And then, gradually, after they got to know about us, she was part of every celebration — my parents’ birthdays and all the festivals. We also used to go to her house on many occasions.
Nikki: I used to stay alone in Chennai most of the time. So, they would invite me over for festivals. Those make for some beautiful memories.
Aadhi: Initially, she used to be very formal, but soon, she became family. She would just walk in, open the fridge and hunt around for sweets (laughs).
You guys kept your relationship status under wraps till your engagement. Now, tell us, who proposed first, how and where?
Aadhi: Nobody proposed per se, though she was vocal about her emotions.
Nikki: Yes, we both liked each other. We started off as very good friends.
Aadhi: We share a very good rapport and I really liked her. But when it came to the wedding, I wanted to be entirely sure. We both come from different backgrounds; culturally, we are very different. Even as people, we are unique. So, I had to think if I would be able to keep her happy for life and if she would be able to keep me happy for life. That took time. But once we were sure, there was no looking back. One day before our wedding, during one of the ceremonies, I proposed to her.
So, how has life changed post marriage?
Aadhi: Actually, nothing has changed after marriage. More than husband and wife, we are friends. The only thing I told her before our wedding was that we would never ever be ‘husband and wife’. I don’t know why I told her this... I think it could be because I used to keep hearing how the husband-wife relationship kind of takes away the friendship in a couple. So, I told her, ‘Never be my wife, always be my girlfriend, and I’ll always be your boyfriend’.
Nikki: That’s our pact.
You both are in a profession that takes you to different cities, different countries quite often. How difficult is it to make time for each other?
Nikki: I feel it’s a blessing that we are both actors because we understand the demands of the profession. So, we make that effort to find out when the other person is not working and try and work a schedule around that.
Aadhi: We both prioritise family, and that’s what we have been taught since our childhood at our homes. We give ourselves that time and space to enjoy family time. Since we are from the same industry, we understand each other’s work schedules better. She looks at my work as her own and I do the same; that makes life easier.
Nikki: See, it takes effort to make any relationship work. If we are shooting in different cities, we make it a point to meet at some place convenient — even if it’s for a short while — and then get back to shoot. But if we are shooting in Chennai, it’s not a big deal. Earlier, we used to come back to the same building. Now, we come back to the same home.
Location Courtesy: THE Park Chennai; Makeup and Hair: Vurve Salon (Makeup for Nikki & Aadhi: Hema, Hair for Nikki: Jessy, Hair for Aadhi: Naveen); Outfit: Studio 149; Stylist: Prathishta Rajasekaran