Neil Nitin Mukesh and Rukmini Sahay to tie the knot on day 3; see their mehendi, sangeet pictures

Neil Nitin Mukesh’s engagement ceremony was a gala affair in Udaipur. The next day, 8 February saw a grand mehendi function followed by a musical night in the evening.

The mehendi function was kept completely traditional with the bride and groom donning Indian attires.

Hindustan Times reports that Krishna Mehta designed Neil’s attire, a classic pink silk kurta with orange gold zardozi embroidery. Neil’s mother Nishi Nitin Mukesh designed the bride Rukmini Sahay’s outfit, an offbeat anarkali-style lehenga with ornate detailing. Kalbelia dancers and fire stuntmen left the guests in awe with their impressive performances.

The same report states that Narendra Kumar designed Neil’s outfit for the evening sangeet ceremony. Rukmini’s attire was designed by Mehta - a Pista green lehenga, dupatta and blouse with gota patti embroidery and striking multicoloured threads in zardozi. The sangeet ceremony saw the couple take to the stage for an impromptu dance. Rukmini danced on ‘Laung Gavacha’ by Nucleya and ‘Piya Tose’ from Vijay Anand’s 1965 classic Guide.

Since the wedding functions in Udaipur are reserved only for close friends and family, there were no Hindi film celebrities present there except Pamela Chopra, Rishi Kapoor and Rajiv Kapoor.

Neil has starred in two films under the production of Pamela’s late husband Yash Chopra’s Yash Raj Films - Kabir Khan’s 2009 thriller New York and Pradeep Sakar’s 2010 romantic drama Lafangey Parindey. Pamela paid a tribute to not only the couple but also her late husband when she crooned ‘Tujhe Dekha Toh Ye Jaana Sanam’ from her son Aditya Chopra’s directorial debut, the 1995 romantic classic, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge.

The Kapoor brothers were also in attendance as they share a close bond with Neil’s father and singer Nitin Mukesh. Rishi also took to the stage and sang his immensely popular song, ‘Main Shayar Toh Nahi’ from his late father Raj Kapoor’s 1973 romantic drama Bobby. Interestingly, the song was originally sung by Neil’s late grandfather and veteran singer Mukesh.

The bride and the groom will tie the knot today, i.e. 9 February. The day will begin with a haldi ceremony in the morning. The report by Hindustan Times states that Sarath Krishnan has designed the wedding dresses of the couple. While Neil will sport a traditional rajwada look, Rukmini’s dress is made using pure silk fabric combined with traditional hand thread work and elements like stones, resham and sadhi.

The pheras will be followed by a family dinner and cocktails. The newly weds will wear heirloom pieces at the dinner. Krishnan has also designed their cocktail dresses. Neil will wear a classic grey two-button suit and Rukmini will don a lilac-coloured Victorian inspired gown with soft silhouettes accompanied by swaroski crystals generously embellished on the flowing trail of the gown.

They will host a grand reception party at an upscale Mumbai hotel on 17 February which will be attended by a galaxy of stars from the Hindi film industry.