Smriti Mandhana & Palaash Muchhal Wedding Postponement Fuels Online Controversy

The much-anticipated wedding of filmmaker-composer Palaash Muchhal and Indian women’s cricket team vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, which was scheduled for Sunday, November 23, in Sangli, Maharashtra, was abruptly postponed. While both families initially cited health emergencies, the subsequent online activity and resurfaced photos have triggered widespread speculation and controversy.

Online Activity and Deleted Posts

The immediate aftermath of the postponement led to online scrutiny:

• Smriti Mandhana: Netizens quickly noticed that Smriti Mandhana had quietly deleted all her Instagram posts related to the wedding, including her engagement announcement and the proposal video.
• Alleged Chats: Screenshots were shared by an Instagram user named Mary D’Costa, allegedly showing May 2025 chats where Palaash reportedly asked to meet her and avoided questions about his relationship with Smriti.

Resurfaced Photos and “Grand Proposal” Pattern

The controversy deepened when “internet sleuths” began circulating old romantic pictures of Palaash, specifically with a former girlfriend identified as Dr. Birva Shah:

• Proposal Image: One widely shared image, reportedly from 2017, shows Palaash kneeling on one knee, resembling a proposal setup.
• Pattern Allegation: The similarity between the 2017 photo and Palaash’s recent, highly publicized proposal to Smriti at the DY Patil Stadium has led fans to discuss his alleged pattern of “grand proposals.”
  • Online comments suggest Palaash “chooses the girls’ big moments and make them about himself” and questioned the repetition in his gestures.

Family Defends Palaash Amid Illness

As the online criticism intensified, Palaash’s family members stepped forward to defend him, stating the postponement was due to genuine health concerns:

• Cousin’s Plea: Palaash’s cousin, Neeti Tak, posted on Instagram asking the public not to judge him based on rumors and to “Pray for him,” saying he is going through a “critical condition today.”
• Mother’s Statement: Palaash’s mother, Amita Muchhal, claimed that the decision to halt the wedding was made by Palaash himself, due to his distress over Smriti’s father’s health.
  • She stated that Palaash was so stressed that he fell ill and had to be hospitalized for four hours, where he received an IV drip and other tests.
• Sister’s Confirmation: Playback singer and Palaash’s sister, Palak Muchhal, also publicly confirmed that the wedding was put on hold “Due to Smriti’s dad’s health” and requested privacy for the family.

The wedding remains postponed indefinitely, and neither Smriti Mandhana nor Palaash Muchhal has issued a direct statement addressing the resurfaced photos or the allegations of infidelity.

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