Hindu-Zulu duo win sceptic hearts
DIFFERENT AND DASHING: Dhiren and Bathabile Armichand, who were featured in the TV show ‘Our Perfect Wedding’, at their home in Pietermaritzburg WHEN their perfect wedding previewed on Mzansi Magic, Dhiren and Bathabile Armichand nearly regretted taking part in the reality series.
But since the full episode of Our Perfect Wedding aired last week, the Pietermaritzburg couple have been basking in the limelight after winning hearts as South Africa’s favourite culturally mixed couple.
“During the preview there were quite a few people who did not know us. But they were already passing judgment at the idea of cultural mixing . . . and I got upset,” said Bathabile.
By the end of the popular show, the Zulu bride and Hindu groom were a hit and their wedding — a two-day affair to include a Hindu and Christian ceremony — was declared “perfect”.
“Once people saw the show and saw us as a couple, they liked us as people, regardless of race and culture,” said Bathabile.
Media personalities were among those who gave them the thumbs up — 5FM DJ Poppy Ntshongwana tweeted: “The bride looks stunning in her bridal garana. She’s gorgeous!!”
TV personality Boity Thulo said: “How gorgeous is their daughter??”
Even Khanyi Mbau was impressed: “She looks like a dream. I love love . . . #opw #opwmzansi. Wishing them the best . . . ”
The beauty of the nuptials did not even escape constitutional law expert Pierre de Vos, who quipped: “Ja, this is also usually the point during attendance of a wedding that I start to cry. #OPW.”
Bathabile, who owns a branding and IT company, and sales consultant Dhiren met and fell in love at a party five years ago.
The couple, who have a twoyear-old daughter, have been overwhelmed by the positive response to their wedding.
“I expected people to talk about it on Sunday and then carry on with their lives. I had not expected random people to come up and congratulate me. We feel like the
Once people saw the show and saw us as a couple they liked us as people
newest celebrities in maritzburg,” said Dhiren.
Bathabile said she was surprised at the diversity of the show’s audience.
“We were at a shopping mall and people from all walks of life were congratulating us. Two elderly white women approached us to tell us our wedding was beautiful,” she said. But support for their relationship did not come automatically: their parents had initially urged them “to marry their own kind”.
Political analyst Eusebius McKaiser had this to say about the couple’s parents: “That awkward moment when the two moms both cry at the dilution of their kulchas! #OPW.”
Pieter-