Bollywood beauty Shilpa Shetty is now a married woman. In one of the most awaited weddings of tinseltown, the actress tied the knot with London-based businessman Raj Kundra in a lavish ceremony in Khandala on Sunday.
The 34-year-old actress wed in a traditional Mangalorean ceremony at businesswoman Kiran Bawa's villa in Khandala, 100 kms from here, in the presence of close friends and family.
The actress who shot to international fame with her stint in UK reality show 'Celebrity Big Brother' did not invite many of her Bollywood associates with only Sunny Deol, Suneil Shetty, Jackky Bhagnani and Vasu Bhagnani attending the private ceremony which was out of bounds for the media.
The bride wore a burgundy and red saree, embellished with Swarovsky crystals, designed by Tarun Tahiliani while 33-year-old Kundra, who arrived at the wedding venue in a horse-drawn chariot, was dressed in a maroon and gold sherwani designed by Shantanu and Nikhil.
The marriage combined the rituals of the Mangalorean bride and the Punjabi groom with the vows being exchanged according to South Indian tradition while pre-wedding rituals like 'Mehendi' and 'Sangeet' conducted as per Punjabi tradition.
The groom was welcomed by Shilpa's parents and her sister Shamita Shetty, who recently left the 'Bigg Boss' house to attend the wedding.
Clad in a maroon and gold sherwani, businessman Raj Kundra arrived in a horse-drawn chariot to marry s Shilpa Shetty in Khandala. Kundra arrived at the Bawa Villa in Khandala, about 100 kms from Mumbai.
He was accompanied by his family and friends. Bollywood actor Jackky Bhagnani was also a part of the 'barat' (procession).
The groom was welcomed by Shipa's parents and her sister Shamita Shetty, who recently left reality show 'Bigg Boss' to attend the wedding of her 34-year-old sister.
The Bollywood beauty was wearing a saree cum lehnga by designer Tarul Tahiliani, which was embellished with Swarovski crystals with red details.
The marriage vows were exchanged in the Mangalorean tradition while the pre-marriage rituals were conducted in the Punjabi style.
Shetty belongs to the Bunt community in Mangalore while Kundra is a Punjabi. The extravagant ceremony will be an exclusive affair with only close family and friends attending the do. The reception will be held in Mumbai on November 24.
It is Shetty's first wedding while Kundra was previously married and has a young daughter.
A reception will be held in Mumbai on November 24. The actress had reportedly turned down a proposal worth Rs 50 lakh from a British magazine for the coverage rights to her wedding.
Shetty had first met Kundra soon after her suprise win at the reality show 'Celebrity Big Brother' in 2007, which made her an internationally recognised face.
The romance was not a smooth affair with Kundra's former wife Kavita publicly accusing the actress of being a home-wrecker.
But after much speculation the couple finally got engaged on October 24 in a private ceremony.
Besides being life partners, Shetty and Kundra are also business associates, co-owning the Indian Premier League team 'Rajasthan Royals' and a food chain in the UK.
Shetty made her acting debut in Bollywood with a small role in 'Baazigar' in 1993 opposite Shah Rukh Khan and later went on to star in films like 'Main Khiladi Tu Anari', 'Dhadkan' and 'Phir Milenge'. PTI
