Bachchan and Rai family gear up for the April 20 wedding

Mumbai, Apr 18: As D-day draws near for the Ash -Abhi marriage, the two Bachchan bungalows 'Prateeksha' and 'Jalsa' in the posh locality of Juhu here wear a festive look.

The media has been kept out and various media reports are neither being confirmed nor denied by the Bachchan and Rai family. As far as preparations are concerned, La Mer at Bandra, where Aishwarya lives wears a merry look. Sources reveal that after the 'mehandi' ceremony, the only ceremony to happen at Ash's house, she will shift to 'Prateeksha' for the 'pheras' on Friday.

The 'sangeet' will be held this evening. Abhishek's friends Karan Johar, Goldie Behl and wife Sonali, Sikander Kher to name a few have been practising for their performances. It is being said that Amitabh and Jaya will perform a special number for their son. Actors Rishi Kapoor and wife Neetu Kapoor will also attend the function along with others.

Fifteen kgs of special 'mehandi' has been brought from Rajasthan. The wedding card is a seven page invite, personally signed by Amitabh Bachchan and the Rai family. Bollywood designer Neeta Lulla and the family designers, Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla, will be the designers for the bride.

Special sarees have been ordered for Ash from Varanasi.

According to reliable sources, a special 'doli' has been arranged for her and the 'baraat' will be going from 'Jalsa' to 'Prateeksha'. A bus has also been hired to carry the 'baraatis' to and fro.

On conditions of anonimity, the person in charge of the bus confirmed,''Yes, we were approached by the family, who have hired the bus for the upcoming Ash-Abhi marriage.'' BMC has granted the Bachchans special permission to erect small 'pandals' outside their bungalow. A photographer from the media informed that the small place Bachchan is erecting for the press photographers opposite his bungalow is inadequate. ''Even if we use zoom lens, we won't get anything,'' he said.

A source associated with Ashutosh Gowarikar's magnum opus ''Jodha Akbar'' that Ash and Hrithik are shooting for, at Karjat, says,'' The shooting of the film has stopped. They have taken a break for fifteen days. We had to shoot Ash's scenes first as she is getting married. And we are told that Ash is not going to be available for the shoot of ''Jodha Abkbar'' from April 20 to May 20. We don't know where they are going for their honeymoon.'' We hear that Big B was so impressed by the ND Studio at Karjat that he has asked Nitin Desai to erect the mandal for the wedding.

The two Bachchan bungalows have been covered so that neighbours in the adjoining buildings cannot see the preparations. Allegedly, Amitabh Bachchan has personally requested his neighbours to disallow media people into their house to shoot the upcoming nuptials. As far as the loadshedding in Mumbai is concerned, Bachchan friend Anil Ambani has told the Reliance Energy people not to cut the supply from two bungalows. The Bachchan family is ready with generators in case of black out.

Security has been beefed up and Abhishek and Aishwarya will be given personal bodyguards. Security is iron clad to keep out the gate crashers and have been asked remain tight lipped about details.

The lucky few invited include sister Shweta Nanda, husband Nikhil Nanda, the Nanda family, the Kapoor family but no invites have gone out to Babita and her daughters, Karishma and Kareena.

Others invited are Amar Singh and his wife, Anil Ambani and wife Tina, Kirron Kher and son Sikendar, Dharamendra and daughter Esha, brother Ajitabh Bachchan, wife Ramola,their kids Naina, Nilima, Namita and Bhim, Kajol, Ajay Devgan, Karan Johar to name a few.

Interestingly, the Bachchan's have not yet invited their close friends, Rani Mukerjee and chat show host Simi Garewal.

Shweta Nanda's mother-in-law, Ritu Nanda, told a prominent daily,''Abhishek has made the right choice. Ash is perfect.'' The media has been gung-ho about the wedding and speculations are flying thick and fast from pandits and numerologists. Well known numerologist Sanjay Jumani told a prominent channel, ''Numerlogically, Ash is number one and Abhishek is number five.

According to this, they will have a blissful marriage.'' Would-be mother-in-law Jaya Bachchan said,''Even though Ash is such a huge star, she stands in the background and is quiet.

She fits very well into the family.''

UNI