Aishwarya Rai

Amidst the reverberating beat of drums and colourful bhangra dance, the much-awaited wedding celebrations of star couple Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai got off to a rollicking start here on Wednesday evening.

The high point of the evening was Amitabh Bachchan looking resplendent in a white crystal-studded kurta. The megastar came out to welcome the Rai family (Krishnaraj and Vrinda) even as shutterbugs jostled to get a shot of the moment at the Bachchans’ residence in suburban Juhu.

The sangeet ceremony, which is said to have many Bollywood-style performances by the couple’s closest friends, got underway at around 10 pm and is expected to go on till the wee hours of the morning.

Contrary to reports that none of Abhishek’s leading ladies had received an invitation, his KANK co-star Preity Zinta put in a late appearance at the ceremeony.

Shiv Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray along with wife Rashmi also made it to the function.

The groom himself arrived at around 9.30 pm with sister Shweta Nanda and her daughter Navya in a white limousine.

Several prominent personalities from the world of films, politics and business attended the sangeet ceremony.

The guests included Ajay Devgan, Kajol, Karan Johar, Ram Gopal Varma, singers Amaan and Ayaan Ali, Amar Singh, Sahara head honcho Subrata Roy and Anil Ambani.

The Kapoor family members, including Krishna Raj Kapoor, her sons Rishi, Rajiv as well as Rishi’s actor-wife Neetu were also present. Actors Sanjay Dutt and Suniel Shetty were seen arriving together.