'Shilpa bhangda karke doli mein baithegi'

With Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra tying the knot today, November 22, the venue in Khandala (a hill station near Mumbai) is brimming with activity and excitement.

The sangeet held the previous day and the wedding will be a private affair attended by family and close friends only. They will take place at the Bawa Villa, Kiran Bawa's bungalow. Bawa is Shilpa's close friend and business partner of the Iosis spa in Mumbai.

Text: Nithya Ramani in Khandala

Jaccky and Shilpa's sister Shamita danced to Singh Is Kinng's Teri Ore at the sangeet, acting as Raj and Shilpa respectively. Daler Mehendi belted out some popular Punjabi tracks as well.

Looking beautiful in a Tarun Tahiliani ankarkali outfit in gold and yellow, Shilpa danced to Mere haaton me nao nao chudiyan hai. Raj danced to Michael Jackson's Smooth Criminal. The bridal couple also danced to the title track of Om Shanti Om.

"Raj would be better off as an actor rather than a businessman!" Kiran Bawa exclaimed to the media assembled outside the venue.

Indian tradition has it that the bride leaves for her in-laws home after the wedding, and there is a certain degree of sadness attached. But Bawa claimed that there was no sadness in this wedding. "Shilpa is very happy to get married to Raj. She will be a daughter first, than a daughter-in-law. So I think woh bhangda karke doli mein baithegi," Bawa said.

Shilpa's father was unwell and could not make it to the ceremonies. But her mother seemed to compensate for his absence. "I feel sad that my husband is not here but I'm happy for my daughter," Sunanda Shetty said.

The mahurat for the wedding is between 5 and 6 pm today. The wedding will be done in a Bunt style, with Shilpa donning a traditional South Indian lehenga sari. Raj will be seen in a sherwani.

The couple will leave for Mumbai on Sunday evening itself. A reception has been arranged in Mumbai on November 24 for Shilpa's Bollywood guests.

After that, the couple will leave for the Bahamas for their honeymoon.