Choreographer Pony Verma has opened up about her marriage to actor Prakash Raj, sharing how their 12-year age difference, which initially raised concerns among some of her friends, turned out to be an important aspect of their relationship. She believes the actor’s life experiences helped him understand her better and brought a sense of stability into her life.Pony recalled how some of her friends were unhappy with her decision to marry a man who was 12 years older than her. However, she never saw the age gap as a disadvantage. “My friends were mad because I was marrying a man who was 12 years older than me,” she said.Explaining why she was comfortable with the difference in their ages, Pony said Prakash’s experiences allowed him to understand her journey, struggles and perspective on life. “But I feel happy that we have a 12-year gap because I think a man like Prakash could really understand me and the depth of my life, where I have come from, how I think, and how I struggled,” she said.She also spoke about the sense of reassurance and emotional stability that Prakash brought into her life, saying his presence helped her look at things more calmly. “There is calmness that Prakash Raj brought into my life. So just sit back, enjoy the food, it’s all good. Nothing is going away, no time is running out, you’re not falling behind in life. Everything will work out,” Pony said.She further added, “Honestly, only a guy who’s been through what Prakash Raj has could’ve handled me well.” Pony also recalled what attracted her to Prakash when they first started getting to know each other. According to her, the actor never made an effort to impress her through extravagant gestures or by pretending to be someone he was not.“He was very honest with his approach,” she said. “He never tried to impress me. He never tried to make it all flashy for me, a girl from Mumbai. No, he was just himself, really simple. That’s what I loved about him.”She revealed that Prakash was equally straightforward about his expectations from their relationship and had made his intentions clear from the outset. “One thing was very clear from Prakash Raj. He said he wants a long-term relationship. ‘I want to get married, and that’s just how it is. I’m not here to waste time,’” she recalled.Pony also spoke about the bond she shares with Prakash’s daughters, Pooja and Meghana, from his first marriage. She described their relationship as affectionate and said they have remained an integral part of the family over the years. “Pooja and Meghana keep coming home,” she said. Recalling their presence at her wedding, Pony said both daughters actively participated in the ceremonies and stood by the couple during the celebrations.“On the wedding day, they were standing in front of me during the ceremony, putting mehendi and haldi on the father during the wedding. They stood with us throughout,” she said. She added that their equation has remained just as close over the years, with the family making it a point to come together for important occasions.“Every December, we are always together. We are together for every important milestone,” she said. “It has been a really warm relationship between us, and we have maintained it.” Pony also spoke about how marrying Prakash brought a significant change in her life, including moving away from Mumbai. Having worked as a choreographer in the city since 2000, she had never imagined settling anywhere else.“I could never imagine that I could leave Bombay and stay somewhere else,” she said. However, life eventually took her to Hyderabad, where she is now happily settled. “Today, I am happily settled in Hyderabad and really happy with my decision. But I never thought life had so many surprises for you,” Pony said. Prakash Raj and Pony Verma got married on August 24, 2010, in an intimate Punjabi ceremony attended by close family members and friends, including Prakash’s mother and daughters.The couple welcomed their son, Vedhant, in 2016. Before marrying Pony, Prakash was married to actor Lalitha Kumari. The two tied the knot in 1994 and had three children together: daughters Meghana and Pooja, and son Sidhu, who passed away in 2004 at the age of 10.
