Aishwarya Rai

With the news that Bollywood star couple Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai are to get married next month, late shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan’s nephew has expressed his desire to perform at the wedding.

“I have already sent my biodata to Amitabh Bachchan stating my desire to perform shehnai at his son Abhishek’s wedding and am hopeful of being invited by the family,” Mumtaz Hussain said on Tuesday.

Hussain, who trained for years under the Bharat Ratna, said he wanted to bless Abhishek and Aishwarya on his uncle’s behalf through rendition of several ‘ragas’ created by the legendary shehnai player.

He said the playing of shehnai was considered auspicious for matrimony and an opportunity to perform at the Abhishek-Aishwarya wedding would also allow him to pay homage to his departed uncle.