Saif-Kareena wedding away from media glare

The centre of attention, yet far away - Bollywood's star couple Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor's five-day wedding celebrations turned out to be an extravaganza to remember for the guests. But there was little that the event offered to satiate the media frenzy around it.

Ever since Saif and Kareena started dating each other in 2007, they were hardly any interviews that ended without the big question about the D-day. But they evaded it and maintained silence till the last minute.

Even as Saif's mother, veteran actress and Begum of Pataudi, Sharmila Tagore, had confirmed the wedding date as Oct 16 way in advance, the speculations continued.

As the date drew closer, rumours about their attires surfaced, but any confirmation was away from the prying cameras and sharp ears of journalists, until the eleventh hour.

Given that Saif, 42, is the son of late Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, and Kareena, 32, belongs to Bollywood's famed Kapoor clan, the celebrations were bound to be big. And that, they indeed were.

A pre-wedding gala, a covered terrace event at Kareena's Bandra residence Sunday, allowed no peek-a-boos, except for an inkling about the attendees - which included the bride and groom's close family and friends.

What followed was the much-awaited D-day - surprisingly, a simple registered marriage affair, with Kareena dressed in a mehndi green and vermillion suit and Saif in a grey kurta-pyjama.

Kareena's mother Babita and father Randhir Kapoor signed as witnesses from the bride's side, while Saif's mother Sharmila Tagore signed as a witness from the groom's side. The actors, finally husband and wife, now posed for shutterbugs and waved at the media, whole-heartedly.

But they cocooned back soon, now for the reported 'nikaah' ceremony, as well as a party for Bollywood's who's who.

Kareena decided to go traditional and she dressed in her mother-in-law's wedding gear, which was reworked upon by ace designer Manish Malhotra.

If the bride's trousseau was dominated by Malhotra's original creations, except the "exchange of vows" at the Taj Palace and Hotel in Colaba, Mumbai, designer Raghavendra Rathore added his royal touch for Saif's wardrobe.

But amidst all the hoopla created by entusiastic media, paparazzi couldn't breach the couple's security arrangements for any scoops. Till the last moment, only a few details could be availed.

Even the guests remained faithful to their hosts and refused to give away any vital information, except for a leaked invitation about the Delhi reception, attended by high profile politicos including Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi and Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dixit.

Media, that camped outside the venues both in Mumbai for 'nikaah' and in Delhi for the 'walima', just for a photo opportunity, kept waiting.

This was unlike the last high profile Bollywood wedding of Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan in 2007, where megastar Amitabh Bachchan played a perfect host. The 'uninvited' media was catered for, with water and food.

Recently, at his 70th birthday bash, Big B also laid out a separate dinner for journos standing there to cover the red carpet.

However, Saif and Kareena's union will be remembered as a classic case of celebrities' acquired ability to maintain privacy in their personal lives. Not bad!

After five-day-long wedding celebrations in Mumbai and Delhi, actress Kareena Kapoor reached Ibrahim Palace along with her husband Saif Ali Khan, a relative said.

Ibrahim Palace is Saif's ancestral home, 26 km from Gurgaon. Saif-Kareena, who completed the formalities of a registered marriage, came here with a few selected relatives for a traditional family feast, said a source.

Sharmila Tagore, Saif's mother, reached the mansion in the morning, while the actor's daughter Sarah and sister Soha accompanied them.

From Oct 1, Pataudi Palace, being run by Neemrana Hotels, had put bookings on hold and since then Sharmila has been visiting the mansion regularly.

On Thursday evening, relatives from Pakistan arrived at the Pataudi Palace. The family will stay there till Saturday.

After the death of Nawab Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, his son Saif was anointed the 10th nawab of Pataudi (symbolic) by the heads and prominent figures of 52 villages of the area. But for the Friday's function, none of them were invited.

Locals were seen standing near the main gate since morning, but they could not have a glimpse of Saif-Kareena as the security was beefed up by a private company.

Mansoor Ali, who died in New Delhi Sep 22 last year, is buried in the palace compound along with his forefathers.