Sujata Mehta says Marriages are a ‘Social Media Spectacle’

Sujata Mehta is a veteran Bollywood actress renowned for film, television, and theatre.

She has a plethora of experience in the industry and life. 

Sujata recently addressed how marriages in India are becoming increasingly short-lived. 

She asserted that people must focus on making their marriages last and not having a lavish wedding. 

Sujata Mehta also added that people should only celebrate after their marriage has lasted for five years.

She said: “I love celebrations, but my idea of celebrating marriages in a big way is to celebrate after five years of marriage.

“Have a sweet and simple wedding, and if your marriage works for five years, then celebrate after that.

“In recent years, I have noticed that many marriages don’t last.

“In the past, marriages tended to endure, whether the partners got along or not. But now, marriages can dissolve within a month.

“Parents invest so much effort and money to see their children married, yet some people break it off within weeks.

“In one community, I even heard of a marriage ending at the mandap itself.

“In Indian culture, marriages hold significant importance, whether people live in urban or rural areas.

“Many factors are at play. Today, marriages often involve a lot of show and comparison with others.

“It’s a personal choice, but I feel that with so much money involved, marriages should ideally last.

“Additionally, parents sometimes have unfulfilled desires, as weddings in their time weren’t as extravagant.

“So they wish to celebrate their children’s weddings in a grand way.

“There are events like the mehndi, sangeet, haldi, cocktail parties, pre-wedding parties, post-wedding parties, and more.

“There’s nothing wrong with it, but I’ve seen mothers asking beauticians to make their daughters’ makeup or styling resemble a particular celebrity.

“Some brides are naturally beautiful and don’t need so much makeup, but they want to emulate a celebrity-inspired look.

“People even rent costumes and jewellery to showcase extravagance.

“While everyone has the right to celebrate their wedding, the significance often fades quickly these days.”

Sujata Mehta highlighted that marriages were what she described as a social media spectacle.

She continued: “Marriages have become a social media spectacle, and everyone wants theirs to be the best in their community.

“So much money is spent on pre-wedding shoots. I wonder why people feel the need to imitate.

“Additionally, the traditional Indian touch is often missing in today’s weddings.

“So much food is wasted, with elaborate six-course meals, high tea, and drinks served only for show.

“I am strongly against this. Instead, there should be limited, high-quality food.”

In recent months, the biggest Indian wedding was arguably the marriage of Radhika Merchant and Anant Ambani.

Before the couple eventually tied the knot in July 2024, they had lavish pre-wedding festivities.

The parties and events included performances from international musicians like Rihanna, Katy Perry, and Justin Bieber.

Meanwhile, Sujata Mehta began her Bollywood career in the late 1980s. 

Her films include Pratighaat (1987), Gunaah (1993), and Hulchul (1995).

She was last seen in Dhara 370 (2019).