/> For the longest time the prolific filmmaker Priyadarshan and his favourite actor Akshay Kumar have shared a profitable and productive professional partnership going from Hera Pheri to Khatta Meetha within a decade before we could say De Dana Dan.

Now the Priyan-Akshay alliance just got strengthened. On Wednesday (August 25) Priyadarshan's long-standing assistand and associate Abhilash Nair tied the knot with Akshay Kumar's cousin Saneepa whom Akshay treats like his own sister.

Saneepa is Akshay's mother's only brother's daughter. In other words, his Maama's daughter. Akshay's Maama and Maamee (maternal uncle and aunty) and their daughter Saneepa used to stay in another town. Akshay invited them to come and live with his mother in Mumbai.

Says a source close to Akshay, "Akshay's Maama and Maamee are very close to him. Some time ago he invited them over to Mumbai to give his mom company.Since then he has looked after Saneepa as his own sister."

The marital alliance between Priyan's associate and Akshay cousin was Akshay idea.

Says the source, "Though Abhilash and Saneepa knew one another, it's an arranged marriage. Akshay has known Abhilash since he started working with Priyan. This is not only a good match for his cousin but also a way of strengthening his professional and personal bond with Priyan."

While Akshay remained unavailable for comment, Priyadarshan reluctantly spoke on the marriage. When told that he and Akshay are now related by marriage Priyan chuckled, "Yes, you can say that. Abhilash is like my own brother. He's marrying Akshay's cousin. So we are related now.Saneepa is a very nice girl."

It is actually a double-wedding for Priyan in Mumbai this week. On Tuesday Prakash Raj (who won a National award last year for his performance in Priyadarshan's Kanchivaram) wedded choreographer Pony Varma. This was followed by the Abhilash-Saneepa wedding on Wednesday.

Said Priyan, "I'm not a wedding type of a person. But these are two back-to-back weddings that I've no choice but to attend. So here I am.Wish me luck."