Salman to visit Mandi for sister’s reception

Tribune News Service

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Mandi, May 24

Residents of the town are eagerly awaiting the arrival of their favourite Bollywood actor Salman Khan to Mandi.

Salman and his family members will be here tomorrow to attend the wedding reception of his younger sister Arpita Khan and Aayush Sharma, son of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anil Sharma and grandson of former Telecommunications Minister Sukh Ram. Salman Khan will reach the Bhuntar airport in Kullu district or Sundernagar helipad near here by a helicopter from Chandigarh tomorrow. He will reach Mandi around 1 pm and greet the public at the historic Paddal Ground. A cultural programme would be organised in his honour where local artistes will present ‘Nati’ and other local folk programmes.

After staying at the Paddal Ground for nearly an hour, the actor will proceed for lunch at the Jogindernagar Gymkhana Club.

Other members of his family, including father Salim Khan, mother Salma Khan, brother Sohail Khan, sister Alvira and brother-in-law Atul Agnihotri, along with Arpita and Aayush will reach the town by this evening. However, Helen and Salman’s sister-in-law Malaika Arora, who were supposed to visit the town today, will not come. It will be the first visit of Arpita to the town after her marriage.

However, the entire family will leave for Mumbai the next day. More than 15,000 people are expected to attend the reception among a host of political, business and other prominent personalities. However, the programme of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh was cancelled at the last moment, but leader of the Opposition in the Vidhan Sabha and former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal was expected to attend the ceremony.

The Sharma family today performed a havan in their under-construction house in the town. The police said all necessary arrangements had already been in place as a large number of people was expected to the attend the function. Arpita tied the knot with Aayush Sharma on November 18 last year in Hyderabad. Aayush is also eyeing a career in Bollywood.

Star on the hills

Salman Khan will reach the Bhuntar airport in Kullu district or Sundernagar helipad near here by a helicopter from Chandigarh tomorrow. He will reach Mandi around 1 pm and greet the public at the historic Paddal Ground. A cultural programme be organised in his honour where local artistes will present folk programmes. Other members of his family, including father Salim Khan, mother Salma Khan, brother Sohail Khan, sister Alvira and brother-in-law Atul Agnihotri, along with Arpita and Aayush will reach the town by this evening.