In true band baaja baarat style, Bollywood couple Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia D'Souza tied the knot on Friday (February 4) according to Marathi traditions in the presence of Bollywood and political biggies.
The marriage came at the end of an eight-year-long courtship with Riteish (32) and Genelia (24) taking their vows around a sacred fire at the suburban Grand Hyatt hotel. The groom, wearing a white sherwani and red 'feta' (turban), entered the hotel riding a white 'ghodi'.

Genelia wore a red and gold lehenga designed by Ritu Kumar. The 'baaraat' started from the grounds near Grand Hyatt. Amidst the singing and dancing, Riteish, with his face covered with a 'sehra' (flower veil), waved excitedly while sitting on the horse. The actor's Congress minister father Vilasrao Deshmukh was dressed in a brown sherwani. Sharad Pawar, Praful Patel, Subodh Kant Sahay, Sunil Tatkare and Johny Joseph were among the political figures present at the wedding.

B-town guests present included Shah Rukh Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Kajol and Ajay Devgan, Akshay Kumar, Sajid Khan, Karan Johar, Shahid Kapoor, Ashutosh Gowariker, Sajid Nadiadwala, Satish Shah, Asin, Jacky Bhagnani, Vashu Bhagnani, Ramesh Taurani, Nishka and Neeta Lulla. Riteish took to Twitter last night, saying, "Saw the Last sunset as a Bachelor." And soon after the wedding, the actor took to Twitter to post a photo of him and Genelia, with the caption, “MR & MRS DESHMUKH”.

The wedding capped three days of festivities that included sangeet, haldi, mehndi ceremonies and a traditional bachelorette party for Genelia. The reception will take place tomorrow at the same hotel. Riteish and Genelia have been seeing each other since their Bollywood debut, 'Tujhe Meri Kasam' in 2003 but they chose to be secretive about it. They finally opened up about their relationship last year. The couple will be seen romancing in their forthcoming film 'Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya' that will hit the theatres on February 24.

Several friends of the couple took to Twitter to wish them. Karan Johar tweeted, "MR AND MRS DESHMUKH!!!! Badhai ho!!!!!" Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar said, "My heartfelt wishes to @Riteishd & @geneliad for the new journey of life they are going to start together. God bless you both." "Congratulations to @Riteishd & @geneliad for their life together hereafter. May you fall in love with each other everyday of your life," veteran actor Anupam Kher posted.

Actor Shahid Kapoor said, "And G is married!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Unbelievable." Minissha Lamba posted, "Here's wishing @Riteishd and @geneliad a blissful life of joy! You make love look so beautiful..." Tusshar Kapoor said, "Heartiest congratulations to @Riteishd and @geneliad, my 2 most fun co stars on their wedding today!!Another couple bites the dust!! Neha Dhupia tweeted, "Congrats to @Riteishd and @geneliad for their wedding today. Flower petals filled tweets coming your way!" Vivek Oberoi said, "Here's wishing one of the most adorable couple's I know, @riteishd and @geneliad a very happy married life! God bless u both with love & togetherness always!”


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