Neither Love Nor Arranged, COLORS Brings a New Contemporary Route with ‘Manpasand Ki Shaadi’

‘Wah wah Ramji, jodi kya banayi!’ As a couple, what does it take to hear these words in today’s world? Do you walk the paved path of your parents’ expectations or follow your heart’s compass? For centuries, shaadi has been about two extremes: arranged alliances devised by parents, and love ignited by attraction. Cutting through that age-old binary of love vs arranged marriage, COLORS and Rajshri Productions (P) Ltd. reunite to introduce a third contemporary route. ‘Manpasand Ki Shaadi’ is about finding your life partner with your family by your side—parents are as involved in choosing as you are. And once the couple says ‘yes,’ families walk the journey forward together. It’s a new-age marital drama will redraw the predetermined narrative of ‘shaadi ka laddoo’ into something personal, thoughtful, and inclusive—where ‘parents’ pasand and ‘couples’ pasand meet on the same level. Produced by Rajshri Productions (P) Ltd., Manpasand Ki Shaadi stars Esha Suryawanshi as Aarohi and Akshun Mahajan as Abhishek, and premieres on August 11, 2025, airing every Monday to Friday at 10 PM, only on COLORS.
 
Alok Jain, JioStar said, “At COLORS, we’ve always held a mirror to the changing times, and with Manpasand Ki Shaadi, we’re bridging tradition and modernity in the definition of marriage. India is evolving, and so are its relationships and this show captures that shift with honesty and heart. With Rajshri Productions as our collaborator, we’re bringing together the best of two worlds: their legacy of timeless storytelling and our instinct of viewers’ emotional pulse. We're now expanding the shaadi universe with the launch of Manpasand Ki Shaadi, a heartfelt narrative that redefines marriage by blending tradition with contemporary choices.”
 
Sooraj Barjatya, Director, Rajshri Productions (P) ltd. said, “Reuniting with COLORS feels like a marriage of two creative energies. For over three decades, Rajshri stories have celebrated the sanctity of pyaar, parivaar and parampara. With Manpasand Ki Shaadi, we are proud to bring that legacy to television with the firepower of pasand. Today’s generation is not rejecting values; they’re reinterpreting them with awareness and agency in the world of social media and dating apps. This show is our tribute to that evolution. It introduces an entirely new kind of marriage — one that’s born out of choice, respect, and conviction. It’s about two people saying ‘yes’ to each other and then saying ‘yes’ to their families together. For audiences, I hope this show feels like a warm invitation to rethink how we view marriage, while relishing the family entertainment Rajshri is known for.”  
 
Set in Indore, Manpasand Ki Shaadi is the story of Aarohi Shinde, a brilliant engineer from a modest, cowshed-running family where women are heard and valued. With conviction, she’s ready to choose her life partner on her own terms. In contrast stands Abhishek Dewan, the pampered heir to a masala empire, raised in a household where only the men have a voice—and one who still has much to unlearn. When Aarohi returns home for Gudi Padwa, she’s unimpressed by her traditional suitor that her family has chosen and knows in her heart he isn't the one. A chance encounter with Abhishek—who selflessly saves her beloved calf—changes everything. He’s not trying to be a hero, but his sincerity stands out. In that moment, Aarohi sees someone who matches her values, not just her checklist. But will she dare to defy her parivaar, reject the rishta, and set off on a quest for a manpasand ladka? 
 
Speaking about her role as Aarohi Shinde, Esha Suryawanshi said, “As someone who grew up imagining herself in Rajshri films, this debut is a huge honour. I’ve idolised the leading ladies of this banner and I’m proud that my character Aarohi takes that tradition of being a role model forward. And yet like so many Indian girls, she lives in that delicate dance between ‘log kya kahenge’ and 'dil ki suno'. I hope that watching her deal with that complicated dilemma makes young women feel understood. Manpasand Ki Shaadi is a conversation we all need to have as a viable third option to love and arranged marriage. All Aarohi wants is for her marriage to check the boxes of prem, parivaar, parampara and most importantly pasand.” 
 
All set to step into the shoes of Abhishek Dewan, actor Akshun Mahajan said, “My character in the show, Abhishek Dewan lives in his own dreamland where he’s the hero of his own movie and everyone around him augments this fairytale of his. He’s got the slo-mo entries, the mesmerising background score, all in all, the whole ‘Rajshri’s Prem 2.0’ vibe. Of course no one can come close to the original lovable Prem that we all grew up admiring. Having said that, Prem’s been my inspiration in life, on a personal level. But what’s interesting is watching what happens after the delusion fades. Because while he is charming, he is also entitled, impulsive and totally unaware of how privileged his life has been until he crosses paths with Aarohi, who pops his bubble with the pin of reality. Abhishek must earn the love he desires by becoming a better version of himself. His journey from being oblivious to reality to becoming aware, compassionate and more sensitive towards his surroundings is what makes the story truly special.”