In Pictures: Ash-Abhi Asihwarya-Ahbishek Wedding Unleashed - 2

Mumbai: Actors Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai on Friday exchanged vows at a colourful but extremely private ceremony. One of Bollywood's best-known screen couples, Ash-Abhi married on Friday in a traditional Arya Samaji wedding with 11 priests presiding over the ceremonies.

Action at the two Bachchan households in Juhu, Jalsa and Prateeksha, began at 1700 hours IST in the evening even as fans and media persons gathered at both venues just before the scheduled time for the baraat.

As buses arrived to take guests from Bachchans’ residence Jalsa to Prateeksha, Abhishek Bachchan was spotted atop a decorated horse accompanied by his nephew as part of the baraat. Guests at the baraat from Jalsa included industrialist Anil Ambani, actors Sanjay Dutt, Ajay Devgan, Kirron Kher and cricketer Sachin Tendulkar. Seven buses carrying the baraatis and Bachchan Jr arrived at Prateeksha where the groom once again got on top of the horse before riding in. Bride Aishwarya had arrived at the venue earlier on Friday evening.

The ceremony held on the auspicious day of Akshay Tritiya climaxed three days of festivities starting from a sangeet function and the traditional mehendi ceremony. The wedding sent the media into frenzy even though the Bachchans tried to keep the event strictly private and low-key because Amitabha mother Teji Bachchan is ill. But fans did not leave the couple alone as hundreds of them lined the roads leading to the marriage venue. The police also had to briefly use batons to push back over-enthusiastic fans. Tight security has been put in place for the function, which is expected to go on till late in the nigh .