Randeep Hooda calls Manipur rituals detailed, compares Haryana’s rawness to Manipur’s refined traditions

Actor Randeep Hooda, who tied the knot with Lin Laishram in a traditional Meitei wedding in Manipur in 2023, has revealed some unexpected and unique experiences from his ceremony. In a candid conversation with Mid-Day, the actor opened up about cultural shocks, strict rituals, and even a pee bowl he was handed during the wedding.

Randeep, who met Lin through Naseeruddin Shah’s theatre group Motley, shared that marrying into a different culture was both enriching and challenging. “People joked about me not marrying a Jaat girl,” he admitted, referring to his roots in Haryana. Adding to the complexity was the political unrest in Manipur at the time, which made the wedding arrangements even more intense.

The actor confessed he wasn’t familiar with Meitei customs. “Lin tried to show me videos, but I was busy editing Swatantrya Veer Savarkar,” he said. Brigadier Sanghwan from the Assam Rifles helped the couple plan the event amidst civil tensions.

On the wedding day, Randeep said he was treated “like a god.” A cultural guide was assigned to help him follow the rituals. “I had to sit straight for hours with a headpiece on while people looked at me like I was divine,” he recalled. At one point, he was given a bowl — which he learned was in case he needed to pee. “You’d just open an umbrella and go. You can’t move because you’re god.”

Lin too had her share of rules. “She got scolded for smiling,” Randeep laughed. “They’d send messages asking her to stop. It was so disciplined.” He reflected on the difference in traditions, saying, “Haryana is rough and raw. Manipur is refined. But both produce champions—be it brides or boxers.”

Despite the seriousness of the rituals, the celebration didn’t lack drama. “As soon as pheras ended, AK-47s were fired in celebration,” he said, describing the intense environment.

The couple had kept their relationship mostly private, with only occasional glimpses on social media. Lin once shared, “We met at Motley. He was my senior. Friendship turned into something beautiful.”