Abhishek Bachchan-Aishwarya Rai Wedding

Bollywood couple’s low-key wedding disappoints celebrity-mad India

THE celebrations had transfixed Bollywood and sent India’s celebrity-crazy media into a feeding frenzy.

But for fans, yesterday’s union between India’s most beautiful woman, former Miss World Aishwarya Rai, and Abhishek Bachchan, son of Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, was a let-down.

The Bachchans, the first family of Bollywood, had decided against the usual Indian over-the-top extravaganza, settling instead for a private event with 100 to 150 close friends and family.

That left police preparing for the worst. Extra fire extinguishers were on hand in case fanatical fans of Amitabh — who is adored and revered in equal measure — decided to set fire to themselves out of disappointment at seeing nothing of the most glamorous union the country has ever seen.

Even as the two prepared to complete the three days of ceremonies yesterday a fan took drastic action. A woman claiming to be the lover of Bachchan slashed her wrist in front of the actor’s home.

She told reporters she wanted to kill herself because Bachchan had gone back on his promise to marry her.

Police later arrested the woman, who they said was a struggling fashion model. They said she had no proof of the relationship and could be playing out a publicity stunt.

The only glimpse Indians had in the lead-up to the wedding was of the flowers decorating the big wooden gate of the Mumbai bungalow where the Bachchans live and a silver palanquin being carried inside for the 33-year-old bride. About 400 security guards and huge contingents of Mumbai police kept out prying eyes.

Neighbours with views over the bungalow were asked not to allow photographers to peep in and the guests — much like Liz Hurley’s guests at her nuptials with Arun Nayar — were sworn to secrecy.

Rumours that Bollywood was going the way of Western celebrities with the Bachchans having sold the rights of the wedding to an international magazine proved unfounded.

A family friend said the Bachchans regarded such an idea as “demeaning”. But in terms of glamour and big names, the quiet three-day affair to celebrate the union was a gathering of the who’s who of India. Top industrialists, film stars and politicians attended.

The most conspicuous absence was that of the other big dynasty that dominates Indian life as much as the Bachchans — Congress Party leader Sonia Gandhi and her children.

The two families used to be inseparable. It was Amitabh’s mother, Teji, who gave Sonia away at her wedding to Rajiv.

Their children grew up together. The family albums are full of shared picnics, dinners and holidays. But at some point after Rajiv’s assassination, a rift occurred between Sonia and the Bachchans. They have been estranged since.

Speculation was rife that the Gandhis would be invited, but the Bachchans evidently decided to seal the estrangement.

The “sangeet” (music) ceremony on Wednesday where traditionally everyone lets their hair down and has a rollicking time — rocking to Bollywood hits — went on past 3am.

Thursday saw the “mehndi” (henna) ceremony and yesterday was the wedding — quite short compared with the week-long Hurley-Nayar marathon.

The gold-embossed invitation cards were four-pages long and came in a box, accompanied by flowers and traditional Indian sweets.

The henna was brought in especially from Rajasthan, the brocade silk saris were from Benares and the white tents air-conditioned.

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