Salman Khan
The stage is set for Salman Khan’s sister Arpita Khan’s marriage with businessman Aayush Sharma hereTuesday as the actor’s entire family landed here.
Arpita and other women members of the family landed at the Hyderabad airport Monday evening and drove straight to Taj Falaknuma, the venue of the marriage, amid tight security.
Salman, his brothers Sohail and Arbaaz, their father Saleem Khan, mothers Salma and Helen and other close relatives also checked into the heritage hotel, which has turned into a fortress for the wedding.
A large number of die-hard fans of Salman stood on both sides of the road leading to the hotel to catch a glimpse of the star. They were, however, disappointed due to the tight security.
“I have been standing for more than two hours. I am a big fan of Salman and met him on a couple of occasions,” said Mohammed Saleem, a youth from the Muslim-majority old city, where the palace hotel is located.
There were many like Saleem who are die-hard fans of the actor and gathered near the hotel in the hope of meeting him.
As the palace is located on a hillock, the security was tightened on the road leading to the hotel.
Security personnel of the hotel allowed guests and staff members only after screening.
Security will be further tightened Tuesday when many top Bollywood stars, corporate honchos and other celebrities turn up for the wedding.
Salman has booked the entire hotel for two days – Tuesday and Wednesday – for Rs.2 crore.
Sources said this was done to ensure that nobody gatecrashes into the festivities by booking a table at the restaurant.
The wedding celebrations began in Mumbai Sunday with ‘haldi’ and ‘mehendi’ at the actor’s house.
Shah Rukh Khan, who blessed Arpita at Sunday’s ceremony, is also expected to attend the wedding.
Salman personally invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the wedding but the latter expressed his inability due to his ongoing foreign tour.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi is also said to be among the invitees but she is also not likely to come.
Though the actor has also invited Amitabh Bachchan, there is no confirmation whether he will turn up.
Aamir Khan, Katrina Kaif, Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone, Saif Ali Khan and his wife Kareena Kapoor, Dharmendra and his wife Hema Malini, Karan Johar, David Dhawan and many other film personalities have reportedly confirmed their participation.