Randeep Hooda and Lin Laishram’s Cross-Cultural Love Story: From Different Worlds to a Traditional Manipuri Wedding
Bollywood actor Randeep Hooda and actress-model Lin Laishram’s marriage is a beautiful reminder that love knows no boundaries — be it caste, geography, or cultural background.
The couple, who tied the knot a couple of years ago, represent a harmonious blend of two distinctly different parts of India.
While Randeep comes from the heartland of Haryana, born into a Jaat family with deeply rooted traditions, Lin hails from the scenic and culturally rich state of Manipur in the Northeast.
The duo chose to honor Lin’s heritage by celebrating their wedding in a traditional Manipuri style in Imphal, the capital of her home state.
The ceremony was steeped in the rituals and customs of her culture, making it not just a personal milestone but a moment of cultural significance as well.
Recently, Randeep spoke candidly about his journey toward marriage and how meeting Lin completely transformed his perspective on relationships.
During a conversation on Shubhankar Mishra’s podcast, the actor confessed that for a large part of his life, he never saw marriage in his future.
Reflecting on his childhood, Randeep shared that his school days were not particularly joyful, and that experience left a lasting impression on him.
“I used to feel quite sad during my school days,” Randeep admitted. “I often thought — why would I bring another person into this world only to make them go through something like this?
That’s why the idea of marriage never really appealed to me. But then life has a way of surprising you. My path crossed with Lin’s, and I’m so glad it did. She brought a new light into my life.”
The actor also revealed that one reason for his late entry into matrimony was the perception that marriage was more common among those with stable, conventional jobs. He joked, “I got married a bit late because I always say, ‘I don’t have a government job!’”
When asked about his decision to hold the wedding in Manipur, Randeep explained that for him, love had always transcended social constructs like caste, region, or even age.
“When two people fall in love, these things become secondary,” he said. “Lin and I simply got along well. We complemented each other emotionally and intellectually, and that was what mattered.”
However, their relationship was not free of its fair share of challenges. As Randeep shared, both cultural and familial expectations had to be navigated carefully.
“Like many Indian families, mine, too, had their hopes and preferences when it came to marriage. Being from a Jaat household, there was an expectation that I would marry someone from the same caste.
I am the first person in my family to marry outside our caste. Naturally, there was some initial resistance, but over time, those concerns slowly faded away as they came to know Lin.”
Adding to the complexity, Manipur was going through a tense period of political and social unrest at the time the wedding was scheduled.
Despite the volatile environment, Randeep stood firm in his decision to host the ceremony in Lin’s hometown. He believed it was important to honor the bride’s roots and offer his full support to her family, especially under such difficult circumstances.
The couple went as far as coordinating with the Indian Army to ensure the safety of their wedding celebrations. Security was a top priority.
Randeep revealed that a special arrangement was made to accommodate him and nine members of his family, who had traveled from Haryana.
They were hosted at the residence of an Army brigadier, and throughout the wedding period, the security detail assigned to them outnumbered the guests from the groom’s side.
“There were only ten of us from my side. We wanted to make sure the bride’s family wasn’t overwhelmed, especially given the circumstances,” Randeep shared.
“The security was always present, escorting us wherever we went. Wee had more security personnel than baraatis.
Given the fragile situation in the region, we chose to keep things low-key and focused on the essence of the celebration rather than any grand show.”
Despite the understated nature of the ceremony, the couple’s wedding captured the imagination of people across the country.
Their union was widely appreciated not just as a personal commitment but as a symbol of unity — crossing regional and social divides.
Randeep expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming love and support that poured in once their wedding photos went public.
“What surprised us was the national response,” he said. “People from all over appreciated that, despite being actors and part of the glamour industry, we chose to have a simple, traditional wedding. It was deeply humbling.”
Interestingly, Randeep also revealed a funny twist — although they had kept the wedding private and away from the public eye, they later discovered that the ceremony had somehow been live-streamed without their knowledge.
“There was no internet where we were, so we didn’t realize it at the time. Later, we found out that the wedding had been live-streamed, though we still don’t know who arranged that,” he laughed.
Looking back at how their love story unfolded, Randeep and Lin’s relationship blossomed organically. The two met while collaborating on a theater production.
Randeep was acting in the play, while Lin was involved in organizing it. Their professional relationship slowly grew into a friendship, and over time, the connection deepened.
Their bond strengthened during the COVID-19 pandemic, when they began living together — a period that Randeep says gave them both the space and time to truly understand each other.
Later, Lin visited Randeep’s ancestral village in Haryana, an important gesture that brought their two worlds closer and led the couple to begin talking seriously about marriage.
Their journey from different states, social expectations, and even political turmoil to a respectful and heartfelt union stands as an inspiring story of modern love rooted in tradition.
