Shahid-Mira 'Vivah': Guests arrive, preparations in full swing

The ensembles are ready, family members have arrived, guests are pouring in, the venue is set with 50 rooms blocked at a Gurgaon hotel, and its grand Presidential Suite is occupied -- preparations for Bollywood star Shahid Kapoor's wedding here on Tuesday are on in full swing. Shahid, son of Pankaj Kapur and his now estranged wife Neelima Azim, is tying the knot with Mira Rajput, said to be a graduate from the University of Delhi's Lady Shri Ram College. They reportedly met due to their connect with the religious group Radha Soami Satsang Beas, and managed to develop a bond despite their 12-year age gap. Shahid's family members started arriving at the Trident Hotel in Gurgaon from Sunday night and the arrivals are continuing. The "Haider" actor, meanwhile, has wrapped his initial shoot for reality show "Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa", on which he is coming in as a judge for the forthcoming season. He will return to the shoot only after his wedding reception, according to a source. From Gurgaon on Monday, photographs surfaced online of the celebrity groom's father, veteran actor Pankaj Kapur - looking cool and casual in a pair of jeans and white shirt with a blue cap - and Shahid's step-mother Supriya Pathak in a simple suit with a gajra in her hand, entering the hotel. A source told IANS: "As many as 50 rooms are blocked in Trident, Gurgaon, for the family and guests, and the Presidential Suite of The Oberoi, Gurgaon, is occupied by Shahid himself." The Presidential Suite, a luxury two-bedroom residence, spread across a vast 5,300 sq ft, is adorned with original modern art, features an Italian marble fireplace and includes a dining room, study, pantry, gym-cum-yoga room and an outdoor pool, according to the official website of The Oberoi. According to a source, it costs as much as over Rs.600,000 plus taxes per night. For a function, the Grand Ballroom of The Oberoi has been booked. Reports indicate that the nuptials will take place at a Chhatarpur farm, followed by an after-party at the hotel's ballroom, which can accomodate around 500 people. According to a source close to the "Jab We Met" and "Vivah" actor, the function is planned as a "small gathering with no big celebrities". "Only very close family and friends of the couple will be attending the wedding. A wedding reception in Mumbai on July 12 will be a big grand affair with Bollywood celebrities in attendance," the source told IANS. A few days ago, a wedding card of the duo was leaked online. It seems subtle and features motifs of a peacock, and reads that the celebrations in The Oberoi will begin at 7 p.m. The card also reads: "No gifts please. Blessings only." For the ensembles, designer Kunal Rawal, a close friend of Shahid, has been roped in to design the outfit for the groom, while ace designer Anamika Khanna is said to have created the wedding dress for Mira. Buzz is also that the couple will be unable to head out for a honeymoon immediately as Shahid has work commitments to look after.