Smriti Mandhana-Palash Muchhal Wedding Postponed After Father’s Heart Attack

When Smriti Rajiv Mandhana and Palash Muchhal were supposed to say "I do" in Sangli on November 23, 2025, they instead sat by the bedside of her father, Srinivas Mandhana, who had just suffered a heart attack during breakfast. No confetti. No music. No guests. Just the quiet hum of hospital machines and the weight of a life paused. The wedding—planned for weeks, teased on social media, and expected to draw stars from Indian cricket—wasn't delayed. It was canceled. Indefinitely.

When the Celebration Turned to Crisis

The morning of November 23, 2025, began like any other wedding day in Sangli. Family members were already in their finery. The mehndi artist had packed her henna. The catering team had delivered the first batch of sweets. But at around 7:15 a.m., Srinivas Mandhana clutched his chest mid-bite into his paratha. His wife screamed. His daughter, still in her robe, ran from her room. By 7:45 a.m., he was in an ambulance headed to a local hospital. No name was released. No official statement followed. But within hours, Tuhin Mishra, Mandhana’s manager, confirmed the news to PTI: "He was not well. The wedding has been postponed indefinitely." What followed wasn’t just a cancellation—it was a quiet act of devotion. Palash Muchhal, a composer known for soulful melodies, didn’t just agree to delay the wedding. He insisted on it. "When Smriti’s father had the heart attack, Palash cried a lot," his mother, Amita Muchhal, told Hindustan Times. "He’s very close to Uncle Srinivas. He decided before Smriti—even before she could speak—that the rituals would wait until Uncle recovers."

A Love Story Built on Quiet Moments

Their romance wasn’t built on grand gestures. It started in 2019, at a private Mumbai gathering, when Palash hummed an unreleased tune. Smriti, exhausted after a long training session, stopped in her tracks. "That’s beautiful," she said. He didn’t know she was the vice-captain of India’s women’s cricket team. She didn’t know he’d composed songs for films like Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan. They met again. Then again. He proposed in front of his sister, singer Palak Muchhal. She posted a photo on Instagram in 2024 with the caption: "Found my person." He showed up in Indore during the Women’s World Cup, sitting quietly in the stands, holding a handmade banner: "Go Team India!" She scored 67 runs that day. He posted a video of her walk back to the pavilion with the caption: "My heart beats in fours and sixes."

Pre-Wedding Frenzy—Then Silence

For a week before the wedding, social media had been ablaze. Videos of the haldi ceremony showed Smriti laughing as turmeric paste flew across the lawn. One clip, with over 12 million views, featured a cricket match between the bride and groom’s teams—Smriti, in a lehenga, smashing a six off a cousin’s underarm delivery. Friends from the Indian women’s cricket squad, fresh off their World Cup win, were expected to arrive. Former captain Mithali Raj was rumored to be a bridesmaid. Now? All that energy evaporated. The hashtag #SmritiPalashWedding, which had trended for three days, was replaced by #PrayForSrinivasMandhana. "We didn’t want this to become a spectacle," said a family friend who spoke on condition of anonymity. "They’re not celebrities. They’re people who love each other—and who love their family more than any ceremony."

What Happens Now?

As of November 24, 2025, Srinivas Mandhana remains hospitalized under observation. No details about his condition have been released beyond "stable but requiring rest." Doctors have reportedly advised against any physical exertion or emotional stress for at least six weeks. That means the wedding—scheduled for a festive autumn day in Maharashtra—isn’t just postponed. It’s on hold until he’s fully well. And no one is rushing it. Palash’s family has quietly canceled all remaining pre-wedding bookings. The mandap? Returned. The band? Paid in full but asked to wait. Even the cake, a five-tiered masterpiece shaped like a cricket bat and ball, was donated to a local orphanage. "It wasn’t wasted," said Amita Muchhal. "It went to children who needed joy."

Why This Matters

This isn’t just a celebrity wedding delay. It’s a reminder—especially in a culture obsessed with grand events—that family comes before spectacle. Smriti Mandhana, one of India’s most visible female athletes, has spent her career breaking barriers. But in this moment, she chose to stand by her father. And Palash, in his own quiet way, chose to honor that. No press release. No Instagram post. Just love, in its most unedited form. In a world that demands constant performance—on the field, in the studio, on social media—they chose stillness. And that, perhaps, is the most powerful statement of all.