Exclusive: Prateik Smita Patil and Priya Banerjee's wedding took place in the groom’s late mother’s home

16 February 2025

House On The Clouds

“It is the first house that my mom bought and my home, so it was the best way to honour her and make her part of the happiest day of our lives [in spirit],” says Patil

For actors Prateik Smita Patil and Priya Banerjee, everything, from their meet-cute to the wedding ceremony at his late mother, the National Award-winning actor Smita Patil’s home felt like “cosmic showers from the heavens,” says Patil. As it turned out, the couple had been in each other’s peripheral vision for years—they lived a few blocks apart, had mutual friends, and even circled each other at parties, but they had never actually met.

“We met when it was meant to be,” Patil shares, who confesses to sliding into her DMs on a random evening amidst the lockdown. “After a few days, I asked Priya if she wanted to go for a drive.” What they deemed would be a perfunctory encounter turned into a four-hour-long rendezvous. “I was instantly struck by his simplicity and honesty,” says Banerjee.

The initial catch-up that blossomed into a long-lasting bond prompted Patil to get down on one knee after three years into the relationship. Unbeknownst to Banerjee, he had it all figured out, with a custom solitaire trinity ring to signify their past, present and future. “Days before, I had asked Priya’s parents for their daughter’s hand in marriage. I originally planned to propose to her on my birthday, November 28, with an exclusive dinner at our favourite restaurant. But as with all good epiphanies that occur to me in the bathroom, I decided to pop the question two days prior at home where we have shared our most beautiful memories,” he laughs.

“I woke up because I heard him choking. He was on his knees and gave a whole speech. I was half asleep and it took me missing the first couple of sentences to realise it was a proposal,” Banerjee remembers.

The duo considered their engagement anniversary for the big day. “I didn’t want to wait that long to call Priya my wife. Her parents were visiting us from Canada in January 2025, so we decided to get married on February 14.” While the date was in place, the venue wasn't easy. “We pivoted amongst different locations but nothing struck a chord. One night I had a dream about Prateik’s mom, and I knew it was our sign to get married at home as it has always held a magical sway over him,” reminisces Banerjee. “It is the first house that my mom bought and my home, so it was the best way to honour her and make her part of the happiest day of our lives [in spirit],” added Patil.

But pulling it all off within two months was an ambitious task. The duo intrinsically marshalled loved ones to organise the special occasion. Aastha Sharma, a close friend, celebrity stylist and the curator behind The Wedding Style Project came on board in a heartbeat. From enlisting experts to curating a dream wedding wardrobe, “she put together a beautiful affair that was hyper-personalised and honoured our roots.”

The festivities kicked off on February 12 with a mehendi ceremony at a plush suite in Grand Hyatt Mumbai Hotel & Residences. The bride-to-be opted for a crimson Devnaagri lehenga with ornate jewellery by Tribe Amrapali. The groom-to-be complemented her in a matching red kurta and an open jacket from the label.

Come Valentine’s Day, their day began with a “ghar ki shaadi”, surrounded by just 40 guests—a total antithesis of that larger-than-life Bollywood wedding. They tied the knot in a traditional ceremony that retained time-honoured customs and interspersed with rituals that spoke to their journey. Designer Tarun Tahiliani designed the couple’s custom outfits with the same spirit. The bride-to-be commanded all eyes in an embellished fishtail skirt paired with a structured corset and a signature TT drape and veil. Her polki and emerald jewellery by Khurana Jewellery House infused colour to the ensemble. The groom-to-be cut a dapper figure in a draped shirt and a sherwani jacket teamed with a dhoti with a kamarband.

Pritie Jain of Bling Mushrooms transformed the home into a multi-sensorial space in white, layered with a kaleidoscope of textures, textiles and fresh fragrant flowers. The pièce de resistance? The larger-than-life portraits of the groom’s mother, the iconic actor Smita Patil along with his maternal grandparents who raised him, right next to the deconstructed mandap. “I had tears in my eyes and felt a profound sense of bliss and blessings, knowing that they were present with us,” shares Patil.

The personalisation didn’t end there—customised stationery by Akanksha Negi elevated the space, there was a lady weaving gajras and a signature cocktail menu that paid tribute to the couple’s pets, Rocco and Chico. Patil’s friend and co-founder of The Big Zest, Rohan Manglorkar brought together culinary delights that teemed with their mixed cultures and global travels. His schoolmate and pastry chef behind Le 15, Pooja Dhingra dreamed up the dessert grazing table, while House On The Clouds captured every detail. Singers Urgen Yolmo of Z&U and Kamakshi Rai regaled the relatives with romantic English tracks and Bollywood bangers as they boogied on the living room floor.

The guest then proceeded to the couple’s suite for the after-party. Patil and Banerjee slid into monogrammed pyjamas with their hashtag #priyaKAprateik. “Priya means love and Prateik translates to symbol, which is exactly what our wedding was,” they concluded.