"I don’t want my engagement to be a tamasha," says actor and HT City columnist Imran Khan as he gets set to swap rings with girlfriend Avantika Malik at her family farmhouse in Karjat tonight. The couple is keeping the ceremony close-knit.
Khan told HT City, “We have invited 300 guests, mostly family and close friends. We wanted to keep it personal. Aamir Khan will be there with wife Kiran, so will Mansoor (Imran’s uncle and director of Qayamat se Qayamat Tak) and family.”
Prodded about whether ‘buddy’ Ranbir Kapoor will attend, Imran said, “I’ve been bombarded with queries about whether Sonam Kapoor, Deepika (Padukone) and others are coming. I have invited Karan (Johar), but no matter what media reports, I have not invited actors to the engagement. So Ranbir is not on the guestlist.”
Simple and elegant
Imran will wear an outfit designed by Karan Johar and Varun Bahl. “I’m wearing a black bandgala sherwani. It is simple and elegant, no embroidery.” Avantika will don a Varun Bahl creation. The dinner will be a spread of Mughlai cuisine, prepared by chefs flown in from Lucknow. The couple will forego the trend towards a theme for the party. “There’s no dress code. In fact, two friends have borrowed my suits,” laughs the actor, adding that he and Avantika were amused when event managers showed them “funny décor themes”. “We don’t have to go over the top just because I’m an actor? There’ll be a DJ and people will dance, like any other party. Everyone present will have a good time.”
Imran has designed the engagement ring himself. “I didn’t want to take Avantika to a shop and buy her a ring because that would’ve meant that anyone who has money could get the same ring as my fiancée. I wanted it to be unique... and special. The ring has a single big diamond in the middle and a few small ones around it.” He has specially imported a red Beetle car from Europe as a surprise present for her.
{{/usCountry}}Imran has designed the engagement ring himself. “I didn’t want to take Avantika to a shop and buy her a ring because that would’ve meant that anyone who has money could get the same ring as my fiancée. I wanted it to be unique... and special. The ring has a single big diamond in the middle and a few small ones around it.” He has specially imported a red Beetle car from Europe as a surprise present for her.
{{/usCountry}}The couple met at a common friend’s party eight years ago and hit it off.