FARHAN AKHTAR AND SHIBANI ON THEIR FIRST CHRISTMAS AFTER MARRIAGE: IT FELT PERMANENT FROM THE THIRD DATE

Farhan Akhtar and Shibani Dandekar pose for HT City as they celebrate their first Christmas after getting married this year

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He’s ready on time, she takes a teensy bit longer. As we enter the sprawling Mumbai house of actors Farhan Akhtar and Shibani Dandekar, we are greeted by Tyson and Jimmy, who take their time in warming up to us, unlike their pet parents. The two soon complete a year of getting married (February 21) and celebrate their first Christmas together. and much like the warm, intimate vibes their wedding had, they prefer their Christmas to be that too. Excerpts from an exclusive chat with the much-in-love couple over a hot cup of Joe, right beside their Xmas tree and furbabies:

First Christmas after getting married, any special plans?

Farhan: We will go for lunch at her sister’s (Anusha) house, and then for a lunch at my mom and sister’s (Honey Irani and Zoya Akhtar). Just family time.

Do you remember your first-ever Christmas together?

Farhan: Tell him, when Santa came and left me under the Christmas tree for you!

Shibani: It was very memorable. We had a Christmas dinner with his huge group of 30-35 friends.

Do you two remember the first time you met? How did it all begin?

Farhan: I met Shibani on a show I was hosting, and she was a contestant. It was a very formal introduction of two people working together. But over a period of time, we sporadically stayed in touch on Facebook and Instagram. This was in 2015. I don’t think we sparked any kind of friendship until 2017. It was very gradual, not instant. It took us a while to know each other and become friends. We had no clue about each other.