Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty is now a married woman. In one of the most awaited weddings in the tinsel town, the actor tied the knot with London-based businessman Raj Kundra in a lavish ceremony on Sunday.The 34-year-old actor wed in a traditional Mangalorean ceremony at businesswoman Kiran Bawa's villa in Khandala, 100 km from here, in the presence of close friends and family.
Ms. Shetty, who shot to international fame with her stint in the U.K. reality show 'Celebrity Big Brother,' did not invite many of her Bollywood associates. Only Sunny Deol, Suneil Shetty, Jackky Bhagnani and Vasu Bhagnani attending the private ceremony that was out of bounds for the media.
The bride wore a burgundy and red saree embellished with Swarovski crystals, designed by Tarun Tahiliani, while 33-year-old Kundra, who arrived 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 the Mehendi and Sangeet were conducted as per Punjabi tradition.The groom was welcomed by Ms. Shetty's parents and her sister Shamita Shetty, who recently left the 'Bigg Boss' reality show house to attend the wedding.
Mr. Kundra was previously married and has a young daughter.
Reception on Tuesday
A reception will be held in Mumbai on November 24.The actor reportedly turned down a proposal worth Rs.50 lakh from a British magazine for coverage rights of her wedding.Ms. Shetty first met Mr. Kundra soon after her surprise win at 'Celebrity Big Brother' in 2007, which made her an internationally recognised face. The romance was not a smooth affair, with Mr. Kundra's former wife Kavita publicly accusing the actor 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, Ms. Shetty and Mr. Kundra are also business associates, co-owning the Indian Premier League team 'Rajasthan Royals' and a food chain in the U.K. Ms. 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.Her Bollywood career was almost done with, but her appearance and the race controversy in 'Celebrity Big Brother' helped her climb the popularity charts once again.
