Rukmini Sahay and Neil Nitin Mukesh

Actor Neil Nitin Mukesh was introduced to Rukmini Sahay through his parents. After one month of courtship, the couple hosted a hush-hush roka ceremony on the auspicious day of Dussehra last year and with the blessings of their parents, decided to get married amidst star-studded grandeur in the royal locales of Udaipur.

Engagement and Cocktail Night
The three-day extravaganza started with a grand engagement and cocktail event held at the Radisson Blu Palace Resort and Spa in Udaipur. Situated amidst the spectacular backdrop of the Sajjangarh Fort and surrounded by the beautiful Aravalli mountains, the venue gave the event a royal significance. Since Neil wanted a very contemporary feel to his engagement and cocktail party and therefore, the entire décor was done in a royal English vintage garden theme and was decorated with open air tents, flowers and silk drapes. The dress code for the evening was kept formal- with a Tuxedo for men and a gown for women. While Neil looked dapper in a black tuxedo designed by Aditya Kilachand, his ladylove glimmered in a shimmery, diamond encrusted gown designed by Sarath Krishnan. Music reflected the ambiance of the event with Grandfather Mukesh’s legacy immortalized in some of his greatest songs. DJ Suketu also entertained the audience with some foot-tapping numbers to keep the guests entertained throughout the evening.

Mehndi
The Mehndi function followed a ‘Mewari Mela’ theme which had a color contrasting décor. The entrance, especially, was the highlight as it was decorated with fragrant marigold and rose flowers flown in from Kolkata. For entertainment, the couple had organized a wide array of turban makers, tarot card readers, nail artists, Bhiwai folk artists and even professional ‘champi’ massagers to help their guests relax while they enjoyed this auspicious event. To match with the traditional mela theme, Neil donned a yellow silk kurta pajama designed by Krishna Mehta, while Rukmini was dolled in a stunning pastel green lehenga with delicate floral jewellery.

Sangeet
It was the Sangeet ceremony that set the mood for the evening. It started with special dance performances by some of Bollywood’s veteran actors and close family friends such as Rishi Kapoor and Pamela Chopra. The bride and the groom couldn’t contain themselves and immediately broke into an impromptu dance performance on popular Bollywood songs such as Tu Mera Hero, Kala Chasma and Nashe Si Chad Gayi among others. The highlight of the night was the groom’s parents- Nitin and Nishi’s dance on Yahi Kahi Jiyaara which took everyone by surprise. To keep comfortable and also to enjoy the festivities, Neil wore a bright pink Narendra Kumar creation while Rukmini chose to wear a traditional green lehenga from designer Krishna Mehta, with intricate gotta patti and zardozi embroidery.

Wedding
Neil and Rukmini’s wedding was a commemoration of their wedding celebrations. The wedding started with some fun-filled activities such as a rain dance, football and volleyball match held for both the families. The Sehrabandhi and Baraat were done traditionally and commenced in the evening. Neil sported a Rajwada look and looked every bit of a Maharaja in Sarath Krishnan’s flared chudidaar and sherwani designed with pure aari, kardana and resham fabrics. The bride looked resplendent in a red pure silk embellished lehenga designed by the same designer.

Reception
The reception was a star-studded affair with the Bollywood A-listers such as Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Rekha Sanjay Khan and wife Zarine, Kabir Bedi and wife Parveen Dusanj, Jackie Shroff, filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya, veteran singer Anuradha Padwal, Zayed Khan and his wife Malaika, Abbas-Mustan, veteran actor Randhir Kapoor, Dino Morea, among others who graced their presence at the JW Marriott Hotel in Mumbai. The décor of the reception had a European theme with white and pink colors dominating the banquet where the couple held their meet and greet ritual. For the reception ensemble, designer Manav Gangwani dressed the lovely couple in beautiful shades of emerald that was handpicked from his latest Begum-e Jannat collection. While Neil wore an emerald encrusted bandhgala, his pretty wife wore a stunning lehenga with heavy crystal work.

The Wedding Makers
Wedding Location- Radisson Blu Palace Resort and Spa, Udaipur
Reception Location- JW Marriott, Juhu

Outfits
Engagement and Cocktail- Aditya Kilachand and Sarath Krishnan
Mehndi- Krishna Mehta
Sangeet- Narendra Kumar Ahmed
Wedding- Sarath Krishnan
Reception- Manav Gangwani

Photography- The Wedding Story

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