Karisma Kapoor’s wedding in 2003 was one of the most talked-about celebrity weddings of the time. The actress, who had ruled the silver screen through the late 90s and early 2000s, tied the knot with businessman Sanjay Kapoor. While the grand celebration made headlines, an emotional moment from the event involving actor Akshaye Khanna also caught the attention of many, both then and now.
Karisma’s Relationship Past Before Marrying Sanjay Kapoor
Before marrying Sanjay, Karisma Kapoor’s personal life often made headlines. She was once engaged to Abhishek Bachchan, but the relationship ended unexpectedly. However, even before Abhishek, Karisma’s name was strongly linked with Akshaye Khanna, son of the late superstar Vinod Khanna.
There were strong rumours in the early 2000s that Karisma and Akshaye were deeply in love and even planning to marry. According to media reports, her father Randhir Kapoor had approved of their relationship. Akshaye and Karisma shared a close friendship that gradually turned into a romantic connection.

Why Karisma Didn’t Marry Akshaye?
As per reports, the relationship didn’t get a happy ending due to opposition from Karisma’s mother Babita Kapoor. She reportedly believed that Karisma was at the peak of her career and marrying Akshaye at that time would not be a wise decision. Some sources claim Babita was also uncomfortable with the family background and lifestyle of Akshaye Khanna.

Eventually, Karisma moved on and married Sanjay Kapoor on 29 September 2003, in a grand traditional wedding that followed both Hindu and Sikh customs. The ceremony took place at a gurdwara and was followed by a luxurious reception at Krishna Raj Bungalow, the Kapoor family’s residence in Mumbai.
Akshaye Khanna Attends the Wedding and Shares a Graceful Moment
Despite the end of their relationship, Akshaye Khanna attended Karisma’s wedding along with his mother Geetanjali Khanna and brother Rahul Khanna. His presence at the wedding surprised many, but what touched everyone was his respectful gesture towards the bride.
In one of the wedding glimpses, Akshaye was seen greeting Karisma warmly and even kissing her hand as a gesture of goodwill. Karisma, dressed in a beautiful pink lehenga, was all smiles during the moment. It was an emotional scene for many, as Akshaye looked genuinely happy for her new beginning.
Other big names like Salman Khan, Govinda, Vivek Oberoi, Amrish Puri, Tabu, and Rajesh Khanna also attended the wedding.
Karisma and Sanjay’s Marriage and Divorce
Though the wedding was grand and full of love, the marriage between Karisma Kapoor and Sanjay Kapoor did not last. After 11 years of marriage, Karisma filed for divorce in 2014.

The split was messy, with allegations of domestic abuse made by Karisma. In response, Sanjay claimed that Karisma had married him only for money. Their court battle went on for nearly two years before they officially got divorced in 2016.
Sanjay Kapoor’s Sudden Death Shocked Everyone
On June 12, 2024, Karisma Kapoor’s ex-husband Sanjay Kapoor passed away due to a heart attack while playing polo in England. His last rites were performed on June 19 in Delhi, and Karisma attended the funeral with her children. His death brought an emotional closure to a chapter that was once a major part of her life.