Actor Shamna Kasim is overwhelmed with joy on finding a partner who has won her heart after a long wait. The actor tied the knot with Shanid Asif Ali from Malappuram.
Shamna Kasim opens up about her love, marriage and how she found Shanid who is settled in Dubai to Manorama Online. Shamna also speaks about a gang which tried to fraud her with a marriage proposal.
Marriage …
Nikah is over. The function was held in Kannur. The other ceremonies in connection with the marriage would be held this month end or in November. ‘Ikka’ (she fondly calls Shanid) is running a business in Dubai.
Shanid is the CEO of JBS group company. He is from Malappuram while I am from Kannur, not too far away. Even our families did not expect to get such a matching alliance. I had never in my dreams thought I would ‘settle’.
I have known him for quite some time now. He used to call to talk about the golden visa. This was at a time when the golden visa was approved for me too. Though I was invited to give the golden visa many times, I was not able to go and collect it owing to my tight shooting schedules. It kept getting delayed.
That was when Shanid organised a programme titled ‘Marhaba’ in Dubai. We met for the first time during Marhaba. When we met and talked, we developed a liking towards each other. Our families also talked. Finally, everything fell into place. Things happened as if God had greater plans while we thought of something else.
In fact, I had a liking towards him at first. When my family brought marriage proposals for me, I used to set a lot of conditions. But when they asked about Ikka’s proposal, I also liked it. I had felt this would be okay when we talked. Then, everything happened all of a sudden. Things got decided in a month. We did not get many days for a whirlwind courtship. I felt very comfortable while talking to him.
He is from a reputed family. Ikka and his family are very supportive. Though Nikah got over, I have been engaged with my work schedule. There are a few films that I have already committed to, which are to be completed by October. There are still some functions we are yet to host that are part of our marriage. Only close relatives from both families were present for the Nikah. I have to take a two-month break. I will commit to new films only after that.
From being mom’s pet to wedlock
My marriage was a big dream for my mother. We are 5 children – three elder sisters and an elder brother. I am the youngest. All my 4 elder siblings have got married and have settled down in life.
Mummy used to be tensed as my marriage was being delayed. Wherever my mum visited, be it a family function or something, people asked mummy about my marriage. People ask if we are looking for a groom in another caste or religion as it is pretty late.
No one of my age is left to get married in our family. It has been three to four years since my family started looking for a groom. However, for some reason, nothing worked and it kept getting delayed. I did not like some proposals. Some others which I liked got rejected as the groom’s family was apprehensive about my profession.
At present, mom is so very happy and so are others in the family. I don’t go anywhere without my mom. I have told Ikka to book tickets to Dubai for both of us together. I have told him it is a ‘buy one, get one free’ deal. Mummy says, “You go ahead, I will reach in a week.” I keep telling her, we are going on the same flight. Ikka knows about it all.
Media reports on Shanid being a ‘business magnet, a millionaire’
I saw many such news doing rounds on Youtube and other online media platforms. None of those were written or telecast after verifying with me. Many people still comment on those posts.
Shanid is the CEO and founder of JBS group company. When I told Shanid that I had developed a liking for him, he asked whether I knew everything about him, whether I had seen his company etc. I told him, that I had fallen for him and not his company. I only had one condition for marriage– my work in future must be comfortable, and life happy.
I am happy now. I did not have to hurt anyone in the name of this marriage proposal. It happened with the blessings and approval of both families. The happiness of both our families is important. At the time of marriage, we only think of our own happiness. As I am getting married at this age and I have lived with my parents so far, I can read their minds very well.
In my opinion, girls should marry only after getting a job and standing on their own feet. I believe, girls will start thinking for themselves and be mature only when they turn 30. They live as per the directions of whoever directs them until then. We see cases of divorce and such issues mostly in marriages that happened at a very young age.
Controversies surrounding the marriage
I got many marriage proposals. Once one group started asking us for money when they realised we were a bit interested in the proposal. We did not know they were frauds. However, when they asked us for money for the second time, we grew suspicious and complained to the police. Then, I did not face any trouble.
But later, I started feeling tensed, when the media started carrying news with titles ‘Shamna Kasim issue, Shamna Kasim ..’ all the time. I act in other industries as well, not just in Malayalam, right? So other language media houses also report the news published here. They give the version that they have understood from whatever was reported here. Then, a clarification has to be made in that.
Whatever it was, because I made a complaint, many girls were saved. Many girls had called me after I filed the case, saying they (the fraudsters) were constantly threatening them. Their threat is that they have the girls’ visual footage. Many girls had cried saying they had not slept for days together due to their threats. Police had told me that my case is nothing compared to what the other girls went through before that.
New movies?
My latest movie is with Mysskin sir. I and Andrea play lead roles. The Tamil movie Devil is complete. A Tamil remake of the Malayalam movie Ishq has also been done.
In Telugu, two movies are gearing up for release - Aslum and Dussera, in which Keerthi Suresh, me and Nani act. I had got a project in Malayalam, but the shooting would begin only in November. So I could not take that up.
I need a break for two months. I would commit to fresh projects only after that, Shamna said
