Kerala movie star Rima skips lavish wedding; donates to hospital

Actress Rima Kallingal marry director Aashiq Abu. (Twitter)

It’s not every day that you find movie stars willingly giving up their spotlight for something more meaningful.

So, when Malayalee actress Rima Kallingal and film director Aashiq Abu decided to skip lavish wedding festivities for a low-key ceremony, they made headlines.

That’s not all, the couple donated a substantial amount, which they would’ve otherwise spend on their wedding party, to a cancer hospital.

Video links of the wedding ceremony, that was held on November 1 at the sub-registrar's office near Kochi, were posted on YouTube.

The wedding ceremony was simplistic, and was attended only by close family and friends.

The actress also made news for being untraditional and refusing to be decked in gold jewellery that’s typical to a Kerala bride.

In her official facebook post, the actress explained about her decision not to “wear a single gram of gold”.

She posted a childhood picture of hers with her grandmother, and wrote; “Today if my grandmother was alive she would have been ecstatic to see me as a bride but at the same time heartbroken to see me not decked up in gold from head to toe!!

“From a very young age I knew I didn't want to wear so much gold for my marriage.. For aesthetic reasons.. But as I grew up the feeling grew stronger on many other levels and today when I am getting married, I want to use this beautiful life I have and this amazing platform that cinema has given me to send across my strong vote of protest against the dowry system that we still shamelessly silently follow and dedicate my decision to the millions of parents who have spend their life time earnings on their children's weddings!”

The bride accessorized her traditional Kerala sari with simple, silver jewellery, while the groom was dressed in a striped shirt and trouser.

A day before the wedding, the couple donated INR 100,000 (nearly Dh60,000) for the welfare of poor cancer patients at Ernakulam General hospital.

They also offered INR 25,000 (nearly Dh1,500) to meet one day’s expense of the hospital kitchen.

Talking to media persons, Rima stated that she hoped their action would set a benchmark for her peers, and would kick-off a movement of sorts.

Aashiq had earlier directed Rima in his famed thriller ’22 Female Kottayam’.

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