There’s nothing like a movieland wedding. Either it’s super-ostentatious or it’s sought to be kept under wraps, often for quirky reasons. Not exactly a new phenomenon, star shaadis set off media hysteria on the lines of — did they... or didn’t they? So here’s Lalita Iyer’s screenplay of some startling marriages made in fantasy heaven...

Sanjay Dutt - Manyata

Okay, so first they left a string of clues. Showing up for award ceremonies hand in hand. Throwing biryani parties for their friends, where Manya did all the cooking. Then there was the tell tale sindoor.

And then the very public advertisement in Saamna. So when someone reported that they had ‘officially’ got married, with witnesses and all that jazz, we said, “But we told you so moons ago.”

For the record, Sanjay and Manya hitched up secretly, then formalised it all over again.. and then again. Problem: according to our sources, Manyata is still married to a Mehraj Rehman who is not willing to give her the formal go-ahead sanction.  Moreover, the Dutt sisters Priyanka and Namrata have not approved of the new woman in his life, who everyone knows, mothers him. The plot ripens.

This is not the first newsmaking marriage for Sanjay. He earlier married Rhea Pillai at Mahalaxmi temple, after a  Valentine’s night revelry. Before that Richa Sharma (of bikini fame in Insaaf ki Jung) and he got to know each other during the shoot of a film which was never completed, and he married her in America. She succumbed to a terminal illness. Ever since, Dutt Jr seems to have taken his life, day to day.

Rhea Pillai - Leander Paes

They showed up at random parties together. Leander was still  officially ‘seeing’ Mahima Chaudhary and Rhea was still ‘officially married’ to Sanjay Dutt.

But the marriage had ended. Rhea had stood by Sanjay during his phase of incarceration.. but the equations had altered.
Rhea soon showed a bump, papa Paes announced to the world that, “She is my wife and the mother of my child.” Sanjay and Rhea gave statements to the effect that they remained friends, no hard feelings.

Saif Ali Khan - Amrita Singh

So she was nine years older and a much-in-demand star when he was striving to make his career. So may be Amrita aka Dingy wan-ted the marriage to be hush-hush, as it might have affected  their careers.

In addition, would his parents – the Pataudis – approve? So a maulvi was brought home and the marriage solemnised. First, denials were issued and as suddenly, the couple confirmed the news. Parents, on both sides bestowed their blessings.

Mahesh Bhatt - Soni Razdan

Ibrahim seems to be the preferred name on converting to Islam to marry someone whom you can’t because you’re married. Such is the Bhatt saab story when he married Soni Razdan when he was already married to Kiran Bhatt.