Aishwarya Rai

The wedding of film stars Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai in Mumbai today has an Orissa connection - three sarees for the bride were designed and woven at Sonepur, one of the places where the state’s magnificent ‘Pata’ ’sarees are made.

The sarees were woven by master craftsman Chaturbhuja Meher, who was honoured with a Padma Shri award in 2005.

“We have supplied such sarees in the past to the Bachchans. Jaya Bachchan purchased few of them in the past,” Meher told newspersons.

“I often hold exhibitions in Mumbai where film stars are invited,” Meher said, adding he had established contacts with the Bachchan family through such events.

Meher said he contacted the family after learning of the wedding and orders for the sarees were placed by Bachchans.

Aishwarya is supposed to wear a maroon bridal Sonepuri saree, locally known as ‘Radhakunja’, that had taken three months to weave.

The sarees were delivered to Amitabh Bachchan’s residence in Mumbai, Meher said. (Agencies)