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NT Bureau
Mumbai, Apr 20:

        A galaxy of personalities from various fields are expected to throng Amitabh Bachchans' bungalow 'Prateeksha' here this evening when Abhishek Bachchan (son of Amitabh Bachchan) and Aishwarya Rai would tie the knot.

        The wedding ceremony will be attended by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, directors Karan Johar, Ramesh Sippy, Yash Chopra, Apoorva Lakiya, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, actors Sanjay Dutt, Ajay Devgan, industrialists Anil Ambani and Subrato Roy, cricketer Sachin Tendulkar among others.

        From the south Indian film industry directors Mani Ratnam, Priyadharshan and cinematographer Rajeev Menon have been invited.

        Before the ceremony, the marriage procession will leave from the Bachchans' other bungalow 'Jalsa' in the evening.

        The traditional mehendi ceremony was celebrated last night.

        The mehendi ceremony held at the bride's home in La Mer apartments in suburban Bandra was a totally private affair on the second day of the three-day marriage festivities.

        'As per tradition, the mehendi ceremony was held at the bride's house. It was a small, private ceremony with only close relatives and friends of the Rais invited,' sources close to the actress said.

        Abhishek's sister, Shweta Nanda and Sonali Bendre, wife of Goldie Behl, who is very close to the bridegroom, brought the mehendi to Rai's home to the accompaniment of Bhangra dancers.

        The mehendi was specially ordered from Sojat in Rajasthan. Rai wore a resplendent red and gold zardosi sari designed by Nita Lulla.

        A special pandal was also erected in the compound of La Mer apartment.

        Security has been tightened at Prateeksha and over 400 members of a private security agency have been deployed. An elaborate 'sangeet' was held at Bachchans residence on Wednesday night. It was marked by dance and singing amid a boisterous atmosphere with some of the celebrities shaking a leg or two.

        Sources said the sangeet ceremony was an 'emotional affair' with all members of the Bachchan family putting irmances and dancing away into the night to their favourite Bollywood numbers.