11 years later, Kshitij proposed to Priyal in the same theatre seat

Some love stories begin quietly; not with grand gestures, but in school corridors and shared classrooms. For Kshitij Sabnis and Priyal Pitre, love grew slowly over time, shaped by familiarity, friendship, and years of knowing each other before they realised what they truly meant to one another.

What makes their story special is not just its longevity, but the way it came full circle. Eleven years after their first movie date, Sabnis chose to propose in the very same theatre, in the exact same seat, turning a place of young beginnings into a moment of lifelong promise.

From childhood acquaintances to best friends

Sabnis and Pitre first met when they were five years old. Growing up in the same environment, they watched each other change through the years. Back then, Pitre saw Sabnis as mischievous and notorious, while he remembers her as quiet, composed, and effortlessly pretty. After school, they reconnected as close friends. They became each other’s first and last message of the day, without any expectations. During a family trip to South Africa, Sabnis felt an unexpected urge to call Pitre. Sneaking away to make an international call from his father’s phone, he spoke to her as usual, but something shifted. The connection felt different, even if neither said it out loud.

Soon after, Pitre asked him out for a movie. That theatre became the setting for their first date and, unknowingly, the emotional anchor of their love story.

Eleven years of choosing each other

Their relationship unfolded over long-distance phases, career changes, parental opposition, and the natural growing pains that come with evolving together. What kept them steady was not constant excitement, but shared values and deep friendship. “Love isn’t excitement every day,” Sabnis says. “It’s about grit, about showing up, even when things feel routine.”

For both, being on the same page when it came to what truly mattered made the difference. Despite having very different personalities, they kept choosing each other.

A proposal rooted in meaning

When the time felt right, after studies, the pandemic, and once Pitre’s parents were comfortable, Sabnis began planning the proposal. While he briefly considered destination ideas, he realised nothing would feel as meaningful as returning to where it all began.

On February 27, 2025, under the pretext of attending a friend’s movie premiere, Pitre walked into the same theatre without suspicion. Friends coordinated logistics and timing. Sabnis’ brother helped with the opening video, and a DJ friend mixed two songs that mirrored their journey. Both families and close friends gathered quietly. Even their dog played ring bearer.

When Pitre saw Sabnis appear on the screen, confusion turned into disbelief and then overwhelm. By the time he knelt down, she already knew why she was there, and instinctively extended her hand. It was exactly what she had wanted: family present, friends surrounding them, and a setting filled with their own history.

Eleven years after their first date, they returned to the same seat, no longer teenagers but partners ready for the next chapter. For Sabnis and Pitre, it all began and began again in the very place where they first sat side by side.

All images: Weddings by Hemal

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