Pony Verma's family worried she'd ‘die from eating sambar every day’ after marrying Prakash Raj, friends questioned 12-year age gap

Choreographer Pony Verma has recalled the strong reaction from her family and friends when she said she wanted to marry actor Prakash Raj. Her family worried about cultural differences, while her friends questioned the couple’s 12-year age gap.

Family feared a daily diet of sambar

Speaking on Prema’s YouTube channel, Verma said her family knew little about South Indians at the time. She recalled that they warned her she would have to eat sambar every day and joked that she might “die” from it.

Verma said she pushed back against their concerns, explaining that she already liked sambar. She also noted that her family had previously eaten idli sambar occasionally at a hotel and considered it good.

Friends questioned the age difference

Verma said her friends also challenged the relationship because Prakash Raj was 12 years older than her. According to her recollection, their questions led to what she described as a “big hue and cry.”

The choreographer said she met Prakash while mourning her mother’s death. At the time, the actor was going through a divorce from Lalitha Kumari, whom he had married in 1994.

A relationship that drew scrutiny

Verma’s account highlights how the couple’s relationship faced questions over food, cultural familiarity and age. Her family’s concerns focused on what they believed daily life might look like, while her friends concentrated on the age gap.

Her recollection offers a personal account of the discussions that surrounded her decision to marry Prakash Raj.