Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma's wedding, which took place in 2017 in Tuscany, Italy, continues to fascinate fans. Recently, their wedding filmer, Vishal Punjabi, revealed some behind-the-scenes details about the event, including a last-minute location change due to unexpected rain.
In an interview with Adhunika Singh on YouTube, Vishal Punjabi, also known as "The Wedding Filmer," shared that the wedding was almost rained out. The inclement weather forced a relocation of the mandap (wedding altar) at the last minute. According to Punjabi, the wedding planner, Devika Narain, spent the entire night ensuring the mandap was moved to a different location.
Punjabi also revealed that he was initially unaware that he would be filming Virat and Anushka's wedding. He had a hunch but was only certain upon arrival in Italy. He met the couple and found them to be very welcoming and down-to-earth. They hadn't seen his previous work but placed immense trust in their wedding planners. Punjabi described the atmosphere as intimate and joyful, making the experience feel "divine".
The wedding was held at Borgo Finocchieto, a restored 13th-century village in Tuscany, about an hour's drive from Florence. This exclusive property, located near Italy's wine capital, Montalcino, can accommodate up to 44 people in its five villas. The property has historical significance, as it was once situated on the Via Francigena, a medieval pilgrimage route. Barack and Michelle Obama had also stayed at Borgo Finocchieto prior to Virat and Anushka's wedding.
Virat and Anushka wished for a private celebration with close friends and family, which led them to choose a destination wedding in Italy. They kept their plans under wraps to avoid excessive media attention.
A short video clip of their wedding was released a year after the event to celebrate their first anniversary. The video captured the essence of the dreamy Tuscan wedding, with Anushka walking down the aisle to a melodious song. Virat was visibly smitten, later declaring, "I feel like I was a child till morning and now I've grown up suddenly—my wife!".
Despite the popularity of the wedding video teaser, the full wedding film was never released. According to Vishal Punjabi, Virat felt the video was exceptional and wanted to keep it private to protect their personal moments from trolling and excessive public scrutiny.
The "Virushka" wedding video has been credited with revolutionizing wedding videography in India. Vishal Punjabi stated that it played a vital role in shifting wedding films from mere documentation to heartfelt narratives.
