A to Z of Saifeena wedding

We bring you an all-you-wanted-to-know guide about the most talked about Bollywood wedding of the year — that of actors Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan.

We bring you an all-you-wanted-to-know guide about the most talked about bollywood wedding of the year — that of actors Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan

A private family affair was what it was touted to be, but now it appears to be a lavish ceremony with numerous functions including sangeet, mehendi, wedding and reception, between October 13 and 18.

B ebo will become Begum of Bhopal, and has received wishes from none other than Brad Pitt. “Saif and Kareena can be called Bollywood’s sexiest couple ... I wish them a happy married life,” he reportedly said.

C hildren of Saif — Ibrahim, 10, and Sara, 16, share a great rapport with Kareena. “I love them a lot and get the same love and respect from them. They are growing up fast. Sarah looks so lovely,” she had said.

D iet that Kareena has specially adopted to look the best on her D-day. To shed some extra kilos, she is following a high protein, low carb diet with lots of fruit juices. She is also learning Ashtanga Yoga.

E x flames. Saif married Amrita Singh in 1991, who was 12 years elder to him, and had two kids. He then dated Rosa Catalano, a Swiss model born in Italy. Kareena dated Shahid Kapoor for about three years and parted ways in 2007. She started dating Saif after that.

Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor

F amily and friends are practising for Saifeena’s grand sangeet on October 15. Karan Johar will be choreographing the act. Sanjay and Maheep Kapoor, Karisma Kapoor, Malaika Arora Khan, Amrita Arora Ladak and Tusshar Kapoor are some members of the group who will be performing.

G uest list: Reportedly the wedding invitations for the marriage and other functions have been sent, and only 60 guests are invited for the main ceremony. Director Karan Johar will choreograph the sangeet function. It’s a medley which will be performed by Bebo’s friends. Malini Awasti — a folk songstress — will also be part of the Delhi reception. Kareena was quoted as saying, “We want the wedding to be really small. Just our close friends and family.” Sanjay and Maheep Kapoor, Karisma Kapur, Malika Arora Khan and Amrita Arora, Shakeel Ladak and Tusshar Kapoor and some others will shake a leg at Bebo’s sangeet.

H elipad: According to sources, a Gurgaon hotel has already been booked by the couple and they have also arranged to land on a helipad nearby.

I slam: Though rumours were strong that post her wedding, Kareena will convert to Islam like mom-in-law Sharmila, Saif denied it, saying, “I would never want her (Kareena) to change her religion. That is the trouble with religion really... it expects conversion. If and when we do get married, no one has to change his or her religion.”

Kareena Kapoor walks at Lakme Fashion Week

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ewellery: According to sources, Kareena Kapoor is expected to don a Rs 40 lakh necklace designed by traditional wedding jewellery designers, Kruti Jewellers, from Rajkot. The piece is supposed to be a full-dress necklace and its length is from neck to waist. According to Pradeep Kansara, owner, it has been crafted from about 400 grams of gold, is embellished with diamonds and other precious stones, and took over two months to craft. The jewellery designer emphasised that such jewellery sets were only made for royal weddings.

K han title: Kareena will change her name to Kareena Kapoor Khan post marriage. Aamir Khan-starrer Talaash, which stars Kareena, will be the first film to have her new name in the opening credits.

L ondon: Saif has reportedly got his wedding suits tailored from London, his favourite shopping destination. Insiders reveal that Saif would always get his suits only from UK for all special occasions.

M anish Malhotra: Celebrity fashion designer Manish Malhotra, who is designing Kareena’s wedding trousseau, says the marriage ceremony is like a family affair to him. “It’s a wedding which is very close to my heart. It’s almost like a family wedding,” he said.

N eetu Kapoor. Kareena’s mom Babita ended years of cold war with her sister-in-law, Rishi Kapoor’s wife Neetu Kapoor, by inviting her for the shaadi.

O ctober: This is the month of the festivities. From tinsel town biggies to politicians, everyone’s blocked their calendars for the functions.

P aan: Twelve varieties of paan from Jaipur have been ordered for guests. Annu Mobile Paan Bhandar in Jaipur has been asked to supply 500 paans in flavours such as chocolate and laddoo.

Q awwali: While a rock band is expected to perform at one of the functions, there’s buzz that Qawwali singers will also be called in to entertain the guests.

R eception: After the registered marriage in Mumbai, the couple will host a reception at Aurangzeb Road in Delhi on October 18, where politicos and Tiger Pataudi’s friends have been invited.

Sharmila and Soha

S harmila Tagore: The groom’s mother has perhaps been the most involved in the wedding preparations. She was the first to announce the big day, send out invites and is even deciding what her daughters Soha and Saba will wear.

T rousseau: Kareena will be wearing mother-in-law Sharmila Tagore’s antique ‘joda’ that once belonged to the Begum of Bhopal. It was earlier worn in 1969 by Sharmila during her wedding with Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi. She got it from her mother-in-law, Begum Sajida Sultan of Bhopal. The traditional bridal attire consists of a kurta, farshi paijama and dupatta made of rust and gold tissue with a green satin gota at the hem.

U shers: They are your best friends, cousins and close relatives, who stand by you on your big day and are only a shout away. While in Kareena’s case, they would presumably be her sister Karisma and best friend Amrita Arora, Saif, the 10th Nawab of Pataudi, will have friends Dinesh Vijan, Shakeel Ladak, sisters Saba and Soha and his entire riyasaat standing guard for him.

V enue: The couple is going to get hitched at Saif’s ancestral Pataudi Palace on October 16. Renovation is reportedly on in double shifts, and the place, being run as a hotel now, has stopped public bookings until October 25.

W edding card: The formal card for the wedding has already been sent out to close ones by Saif’s mother, actor Sharmila Tagore, signed in her pet name, Rinku.

X -Mas time: Bebo is known to celebrate Christmas every year with fervour, and this time she will be on honeymoon with Saifu during the festival.

Y es minister: Apparently, some of the highest government office holders including the Prime Minister have been invited for the wedding. His office, however, has not hinted at his wish to attend so far.

Z ip it: Rumours about their shaadi started since they began dating in Oct 2007, and Saif publicly spoke about ‘prospects of marriage’ with Bebo back in 2009. Ironically, both actors have been mum about the wedding now even as the date nears.