In wedded bliss

In a typical band baaja baraat style, veteran actors Hema Malini and Dharmendra’s daughter Esha tied the knot with businessman Bharat Takhtani on Friday in a traditional Hindu wedding ceremony. The groom came to the venue on a white horse before the couple took the marriage vows around a sacred fire.

Hema, wearing a Kanjeevaram sari, and her husband Dharmendra, looking dapper in a suit, welcomed the groom at the temple. Esha and Bharat got married in a South Indian style at the Iskcon Temple in Mumbai. Esha was clad in a red and gold Kanjeevaram sari, sourced from Chennai for the wedding day by her mother, to which designer Neeta Lulla had made some changes. The couple had been dating for quite some time and had exchanged rings on February 12 this year.

The wedding was the climax of the three-day festivities that included a sangeet (music), haldi and mehendi ceremonies. Besides family members like sister Ahana, Abhay Deol, several B-town celebrities were present at the occasion including Amitabh Bachchan with son Abhishek, Manoj Kumar, Vinod Khanna, Vyjayanthimala, Ramesh Sippy, Fardeen Khan, Poonam Sinha, Madhoo, Anu Malik, designer Neeta Lulla and her daughter Nishka.

“I am very happy for Esha. It is a very happy occasion for all of us. I am happy that she is getting settled,” said Abhay Deol. “I am here as a family member to give my blessings to the couple,” said veteran actor Manoj Kumar.

Actress Vyjayanthimala also said she was there to bless the ‘wonderful couple’. Actor Abhishek Bachchan also wished Esha.

The reception will take place on Saturday at a suburban five-star hotel where personalities from film and political world would be present.