Tirupati, April 22
Newly-wed Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai today sought blessings of Lord Venkateshwara at the famous hill shrine at Tirumala near here. The Bollywood stars, who entered wedlock on Friday, were in the sanctum sanctorum for about 10 minutes, temple sources told PTI.

Abhishek's father Amitabh Bachahan, mother Jaya Bachchan, noted industrialist Anil Ambani and his wife Tina accompanied the couple.

During their stay at the sanctum sanctorium from 9.40 am to 9.50 am, the priests chanted prayers and offered them the celestial ghee lamp 'arathi', the sources said.

Later, chief priest Sri Ramana Dikshithulu showered "divine blessings" upon the couple at the Sri Ranganayaka Mandapa in the temple.

Abhishek and Aishwarya also made some cash offerings in the Hundi (offering Box) situated at Dwarapalas Mandapam close to the sanctum sanctorium. Abhishek and Aishwarya also offered prayers at the sacred golden altar and the traditional golden flag mast at the shrine. The temple officials distributed sacred silk cloths, holy water and 'laddu prasadam' to the guests.

Tight security arrangements had been put in place in and around the shrine and Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam's three palatial guest houses in view of the visit of the celebrities. The couple and the entourage consisting of about 40 people arrived here at 9 am.

About a dozen luxury cars were pressed into service to take them to the hills from Renigunta airport, about 15 kms from here.

Ahead of the marriage, Amitabh Bachchan accompanied by Anil Ambani and Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh offered prayers at the hill temple on Sunday last and offered Rs 51 lakh each to the temple. — PTI

Mumbai, April 22
Superstar Amitabh Bachchan today apologised for a scuffle between media and security guards outside his residence here that left three photo-journalists injured, saying his friend Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh’s body guards were involved in the incident.

“I would like to apologise with folded hands for the incident that occurred yesterday. It is an occasion of happiness for us and we don’t want anyone to face problems due to this,” he said, referring to strict security arrangements in place at his bungalow Prateeksha for the marriage of his son Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai.

“The security personnel involved in the incident were not our guards but the Black Cat commandos of Amar Singh. He and his security personnel have gone but I would like to apologise,” he said shortly after returning here from a visit to the Lord Venkateshwara temple in Tirumala with the newly-weds.

There photo-journalists were injured when members of the media scuffled with security guards outside Prateeksha in Juhu while Abhishek and Aishwarya were heading for the bungalow after the ‘bidaai’ ceremony in Bandra.

Journalists later staged a protest against the incident last night.

Bachchan said the newly-wed couple was in a hurry to return home as Aishwarya had to enter the bungalow before the sunset and a doctor was waiting to attend to Amar Singh. He said the Bachchan family was not maintaining a distance from the media but had only wanted to ensure that Abhishek’s wedding was a “personal affair”. — PTI