Aishwarya Rai

Billed as the wedding of the year, Bollywood stars Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai exchanged nuptial vows at a colourful but an extremely private ceremony this evening.

Abhishek (31) and Aishwarya (33) entered into wedlock in a North-Indian style with the couple exchanging garlands at Bachchan’s residence ‘Prateeksha’.

Priests from Benaras conducted the rituals. The who’s who of India’s rich and famous, including movie stars, top industrialists and politicians, graced the occasion.

They included UP Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, Bollywood actors Sanjay Dutt, Ajay Devgan, Kajol and close friends of the Bachchan’s, Anil and Tina Ambani, Amar Singh and Sachin Tendulkar.

The function was held at a huge air-conditioned pandal in a garden adjoining the bungalow.

The bride arrived in a grey Mercedes car decorated with rose petals accompanied by her mother Brinda. The car drove into the heavily barricaded bungalow, which was screened by huge canvas tents to keep out prying eyes.

Before the start of the wedding rituals, Abhishek came in a baraat from another Bachchan’s residence ‘Jalsa’.

Dressed in a gold-embroidered white sherwani and with his face covered with a frill of flowers, Bollywood’s Bunty rode a colourfully decorated white horse with his nephew Agastya sitting in front of him. Aishwarya was believed to be wearing a maroon lehenga designed by Nita Lulla.

Traffic on the roads outside the bungalow was closed as a security measure.

As the accompanying musical band played popular songs from Abhishek’s movies like ‘Kajra Re’ and evergreen tunes such as ‘Aaj Mere Yar Ki Shaadi Hai’, the groom waved to multitudes of fans and onlookers who had gathered outside Jalsa, eliciting crazed cat-calls and shrill whistles. While male members of the ’baraat’ wore saffron turbans, the women were clad in richly embroidered saris.

The Bachchan’s were keen to prevent all photographs of the event from leaking out to the media as they have signed a multi-million rupee deal with a celebrity magazine to carry exclusive pictures of the wedding, said sources.