An episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati, celebrating India’s ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup triumph, was shot early this week, but the celebrations were without vice-captain Smriti Mandhana. While host Amitabh Bachchan welcomed a number of members from the champion squad, Mandhana pulled out at the last minute, amid continuing uncertainty over her marriage to music composer Palaash Muchhal, which was postponed.
According to a report in The Times of India, Mandhana was supposed to join her teammates for the Wednesday evening recording but opted out citing “personal reasons.” Her absence is all the more striking since this would have been her third appearance on the iconic quiz show hosted by Amitabh Bachchan.
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This is a no-show that has come pretty close on the heels of her wedding festivities in Sangli being brought to an abrupt halt. Already, ceremonies like haldi, mehendi, and sangeet had started when her father, Srinivas Mandhana, had a sudden medical emergency and was hospitalized. Following this incident, Smriti had taken down all her pre-wedding pictures from social media, though her earlier posts featuring Palash remain there.
However, Palaash Muchhal’s mother Amita Muchhal revealed to Hindustan Times that it was Palaash who insisted on the wedding postponement after he came to know of Srinivas Mandhana’s condition. He reportedly broke down and did not want to continue with the wedding rituals because he was so shaken. Palaash became so emotionally stressed that he had to be medically observed briefly, with his sister, singer Palak Muchhal, visiting him in the hospital.
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Smriti’s father, Shriniwas Mandhana was immediately rushed to Sarvhit Hospital and Medial Research Centre after he showed signs of heart attack. On November 24, Smriti’s husband-to-be Palash Muchhal was also admitted in hospital in Sangli due to sudden health complications. It has been reported that while Palaash is recovering well, Smriti’s father continues to be monitored closely. The couple were scheduled to get married on November 23 in an intimate ceremony but the celebrations came to an abrupt pause after back-to-back medical emergencies struck during the festivities.
