New Delhi: Yes, they did -- after days of will they-won't they. Actress Anushka Sharma and cricketer Virat Kohli married in Italy on Monday. A tweet posted on Anushka's official account read: "Today we have promised each other to be bound in love forever. We are truly blessed to share the news with you. This beautiful day will be made more special with the love and support of our family of fans & well wishers. Thank you for being such an important part of our journey."
Virat and Anushka married according to Hindu rites, said a statement released on behalf of the actress. The wedding venue was a countryside resort in Tuscany where security had been massively stepped up for the nuptials. Entry to the resort was strictly by invitation. A video of what appeared to be wedding preparations being made at the resort went viral over the weekend.
Both bride and groom were dressed in Sabyasachi. Anushka's wedding lehenga was pale pink with silver-gold embroidery. Virat's ivory raw silk sherwani was embroidered in a vintage pattern. Sabyasachi also posted pictures of the mehendi, with Anushka wearing a brightly coloured lehenga in pink, orange and teal:
Two receptions have been planned -- one in Virat's hometown of New Delhi on December 21, another for friends and colleagues in Mumbai on December 26. The guest list will likely include Anushka's co-stars Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan and Katrina Kaif, and Virat's cricketing buddies.
Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli will live in their new apartment in Worli, Mumbai. They will bring in the New Year in South Africa, where Virat will stay on to play a series -- Anushka will fly back to resume filming on her projects, which includes a film with SRK and Katrina.
A spokesperson for Anushka Sharma said in the statement: "We are extremely grateful to the media for their support and understanding in making this special occasion a memorable one and thank them for their continued love and support."
Last week, the Internet exploded with rumours that Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli had a hush-hush wedding in Italy planned -- the actress' spokesperson said there was 'no truth' to the reports and continued to deny the wedding rumours, right up until Anushka Sharma was photographed at Mumbai airport with her parents and brother Karnesh on Thursday night.
Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli have been dating for several years after meeting on the sets of a commercial. They often post messages to each other on social media and are pictured attending social events together. They were last spotted at cricketer Zaheer Khan's wedding to actress Sagarika Ghatge.