MUMBAI: Bollywood’s hottest stars, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai, on Friday entered into matrimony, amidst much fanfare, in a grand culmination of three days of celebration, but the day was marred by a couple of unpleasant incidents.
The couple exchanged garlands amid chanting of ‘mantras’ by priests specially flown in from Benares and took ‘pheras’ around the holy fire (hom) as friends and family looked on.
Clad in a cream and gold sherwani and his face fully covered by strands of flowers, Abhishek Bachchan looked every part the jubilant groom, waving at his friends and onlookers as he made his way — astride a beautifully decorated white horse — to the venue of the wedding, from his residence Jalsa to the Bachchans’ Juhu residence Prateeksha which was the venue of the wedding.
Before he started off, younger sister Shweta performed ‘Nazar Utarana’, to ward off the evil eye.
The father of the groom, however, looked grim as he herded his family into the gates, even as a band played the hit song ‘rock and roll’ from ‘Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna’, a film that stars both Amitabh and Abhishek.
However, the waiting media was left disappointed as their view of the baarat entering was obstructed by a row of buses parked deliberately before the gate.
Tight security has been put in place for the function which is expected to go on till late tonight. Police had a tough time keeping away hundreds of curious onlookers and had to resort to a mild lathi-charge near ‘Prateeksha’.
All the men in the baarat were dressed in traditional kurtas and sherwanis and bright saffron turbans while the women literally shone in their best sarees and lehengas.
Very few people, however, could have a glimpse of the bride as Aishwarya zoomed into Prateeksha some time in the afternoon, accompanied by her mother in a heavily tinted but flower adorned Mercedes. She is said to be wearing a traditional lehenga and choli, designed by Neeta Lulla, for the ceremony.
The day, however, did not start off on the right note for the couple, with an attempted suicide by struggling model and actress Janhavi Kapoor, who slashed her wrists early this morning claiming that Abhishek had promised to marry her.
Kapoor was later arrested by the police and produced in Andheri court where she was granted bail.
The scenes outside the two Bachchan residences were ample proof of why they are known as the first family of Bollywood as fans came from far and wide to catch a glimpse of the couple and the Bachchan family.
Police had a difficult time controlling the teeming crowds, and had to resort to a lathi charge to disperse enthusiastic fans seeking closer glimpse of the ceremony.
The lucky ones who did get to witness the wedding ceremony included some of the best known faces in the country, including cricketer Sachin Tendulkar andwife Anjali, actors Ajay Devgan, Kajol, Preity Zinta (with boyfriend Ness Wadia), Sanjay Dutt, with girfriend Maanyata, and Suneil Shetty.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister MulayamSingh Yadav, industrialist Anil Ambani and wife Tina, Sahara Group chairman Subroto Roy and Samajwadi party leader Amar Singh were some of the close family friends who attended the wedding.
Other prominent guests included actors Dimple Kapadia, Anupam Kher, Shammi Kapoor, Vashu Bhagnani, director Ashutosh Gowariker, Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray and his wife Rashmi Thackeray.
The main ceremony was a short and simple one, sources said, adding that Aishwarya’s ‘Bidaai’would be held on Saturday early morning at her Bandra residence.
dna
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aish is having somany fans
and iam a fan
we r eager 2 watch her in wedding attire
2 watch such a beautiful lady evry 1 is waiting
but we all r really dissappointed
wats deir private fair
even dey cant release 1 pfoto of their wedding