Mumbai: Riteish, Genelia Turn 8-year Courtship into Marriage
Pics: Rons Bantwal / IANS
Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Feb 4: It was a moment fans of Bollywood star couple Genelia D'Souza and Riteish Deshmukh had been eagerly waiting for. As the two came together in wedlock on Friday February, a bevy of B-town celebrities and politicians flocked the venue to wish the couple and share their joy.
Genelia, a Mangalorean Catholic, looked stunning in the traditional Maharashtrian bridal attire, draped in red sari with golden work and a matching dupatta. The wedding sari was designed by Neeta Lulla.
Riteish, on his part, came with the 'baaraat' accompanied by 'band' and 'baja'. Dressed in a classic cream sherwani and the Maharashtrian style red turban and mundawali, he arrived seated on a horse that was as decorated as anyone at the wedding.
Though the wedding was Maharashtrian, Christian ceremonies were also conducted, including a roce at Genelia's house and seeking blessings at the church.
Genelia and Riteish have been dating for around eight years, having first starred together in "Tujhe Meri Kasam" in 2003. Their next film together, "Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya", will be released soon.
The venue, the Grand Hyatt at Santa Cruz, was abuzz with excitement and festivity, as a host of Bollywood stars and politicians turned up to bless the couple.
Riteish's father Vilasrao Deshmukh, former chief minister of Maharashtra, too was attired in traditional Marathi style, complete with sherwani, red turban and mundawali.
Jaya and Abhishek Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Karan Johar, Kajol-Ajay Devgn, Sohail Khan, Indra Kumar, Ashutosh Gowarikar and his wife Sunita to Shweta Pandit, Sajid Nadiadwala, Maria Goretti, Jackie Shroff, Sajid Khan, Akshay Kumar, Hussain-Tina, Ashish Chowdhary and his wife Samita Bangargi, Sujoy Ghosh, Asin Thottumkal, and Sophie Choudry came to bless the couple.
Industrialist Anil Ambani's wife Tina too was spotted among the guests.
From the political cirles, the guest list included chief minister Prithviraj Chauhan, state Congress chief Kripashankar Singh, Sharad Pawar, Praful Patel, and Aditya Thackeray, son of Shiva Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray and his wife, and minister for public works and tourism Chhagan Bhujbal too attended the wedding.
The 'bidai' was held at 5.30 in the evening.
After the wedding, several of their Bollywood friends tweeted best wishes to the couple. SRK wrote, "Wot a lovely wedding...ritesh & genelia looked beautiful...may Allah bless them with happiness. Side Note : the chola roti was very nice too."
So also Preity Zinta, "@Riteishd Thank you my dear Ritesh :-) Congratulations to you and Genelia and all the best for a happily married life ! Lotza love always.."
Riteish himself posted a photo of him and Genelia soon after the wedding, with the caption, 'Mr and Mrs Deshmukh'.
The reception will be held on Saturday February 4.