Priyanka, Nick 'seal relationship' with Indian ceremony

Actress Priyanka Chopra and American singer-actor Nick Jonas have taken their relationship a step closer to marriage after solemnising their bond in a traditional Indian ceremony at Priyanka’s Mumbai residence.

The intimate ceremony was attended by the couple’s close family members and friends and came after months of speculation about their relationship. While photographs from the occasion surfaced widely on social media, the couple had yet to make an official announcement at the time.

Priyanka, 36, opted for a subtle yellow designer outfit for the ceremony, while Nick, 25, wore a white kurta-churidar as he participated in the puja rituals.

One of the pictures showed the couple posing closely together against a green backdrop featuring an intertwined “NP” logo, symbolising the coming together of their names.

The activity around Priyanka’s residence had intensified over the previous few days, suggesting that preparations for a major family celebration were underway. The semi-circular balcony of the residence was decorated with green foliage on Friday evening, while a priest and several relatives were seen entering the building.

Priyanka’s cousin and actress Parineeti Chopra was also spotted at the residence in a yellow outfit. A gathering for the couple’s close friends was expected to follow the ceremony later in the evening.

Nick had arrived in Mumbai on Thursday night accompanied by his parents, Denise and Kevin Jonas Sr. His father was photographed carrying a large Tiffany & Co. bag, further fuelling speculation about the couple’s engagement.

International media reports had earlier claimed that Nick purchased Priyanka’s engagement ring from Tiffany after the luxury jeweller reportedly closed its London store for him. The couple was also said to have become engaged on Priyanka’s birthday on July 18.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Priyanka’s engagement ring was reportedly a five-carat diamond valued at around $300,000. The actress was later seen proudly wearing the ring while stepping out for dinner with Nick and family members on Friday night.

Priyanka, a former Miss World, is one of India’s most successful actors to have established a career in both Bollywood and the international entertainment industry. Her acclaimed Hindi films include “Fashion”, “Mary Kom”, “Barfi!”, “Bajirao Mastani” and “7 Khoon Maaf”.

She later expanded her career internationally with music and television, gaining global recognition after landing the lead role of Alex Parrish in the American series “Quantico”. Her international film credits include “Baywatch” and “A Kid Like Jake”, while she was also set to appear in “Isn’t It Romantic?”.

Nick Jonas, meanwhile, has built a successful career as a singer and performer and has also appeared in films and television shows. His acting credits include “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle”, while his earlier television work included “Hannah Montana”, “Camp Rock” and “Scream Queens”.

The couple’s relationship first became a major talking point after they appeared together on the red carpet at the 2017 Met Gala. At the time, Priyanka played down speculation about a romance, saying the two were friends and happened to share the same agent. She also explained that they attended the event together because both were dressed by designer Ralph Lauren.

Their relationship subsequently attracted intense international attention, with the pair making several public appearances together before their engagement rumours gathered momentum.

Nick had also previously expressed his interest in visiting India. While promoting “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” in December, he told IANS that he had never visited the country but was eager to travel there, adding that his “new friend” Priyanka had already told him a lot about India.

The traditional ceremony marked an important milestone in the couple’s much-publicised relationship and added another chapter to the cross-cultural romance that had captivated fans in both India and Hollywood.