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Shilpa-Raj tie the knot

Photo: AP

Just married: Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty and London-based businessman Raj Kundra posing for the media after their marriage ceremony in Khandala near Mumbai on Sunday.

MUMBAI: Bollywood beauty Shilpa Shetty is now a married woman.

In one of the most awaited weddings of tinseltown, the actress tied the knot with London-based businessman Raj Kundra in a lavish ceremony in Khandala on Sunday.

The 34-year-old actress 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, with 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.

This is Ms. Shetty’s first marriage, while Mr. Kundra was previously married and has a young daughter.

A reception will be held in Mumbai on November 24.

The actress reportedly turned down a proposal worth Rs.50 lakh from a British magazine for coverage rights to 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 actress of being a home-wrecker. But after much speculation, the couple finally got engaged on October 24 in a private ceremony.

Ms. Shetty and Mr. Kundra are also business associates, co-owning the Indian Premier League team ‘Rajasthan Royals’ and a food chain in the UK. — PTI

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Shilpa-Raj tie the knot

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