Salman Khan to attend sister Arpita’s wedding reception at Mandi

Excited on her first visit, Arpita Khan tweeted on Friday (May 22):

Looking forward to going bk to Mandi HP as Mrs Arpita Khan Sharma @amayasuneeta @aaysharma

— Arpita Khan Sharma (@khanarpita) May 22, 2015

The town is also getting spruced up for the function and a local dham (community feast).

“Salman Khan and the entire family, except his father Salim Khan, will be reaching Mandi for the function. While Arpita-Aayush and other family members will reach Mandi a day before (May 24) taking a road trip from Chandigarh—where they will land in the morning, Salman Khan has hired a private helicopter to fly to Mandi from Chandigarh on May 10 along with brothers Arbaaz and Sohail,” says Anil Sharma, Aayush’s father,who is also a cabinet minister.

Initially, it was learnt that state government will provide a helicopter ride to Salman Khan to attend the reception but later, Anil Sharma was conveyed the inability to extend such a hospitality to the Bollywood superstar, fearing controversies.

Though Sharma is reported to have offered to meet the expenses of hiring the government chopper but was left with no option but to have alternate arrangements, which Salman Khan reportedly made on his own, say insiders.

More than 14,000 to 15,000 people, which includes all residents of Mandi town will be attending the ceremony. Anil Sharma’s assembly constituency, political figures, businessmen and prominent figures from the state will be attending the function at the local Gymkhana club.

The Sharma family also engaged local folk artists to perform for the guests next to the main stage – where Salman Khan will make his appearance with the young couple and Aayush’s family.

Mohit Chawla, SP (Mandi) said, “We have all necessary arrangements already in place as the event is going to attract a huge crowd. Since it being a private affair, the police have nothing to do except taking care of law and order or traffic mobility on Kullu-Manali National Highway due to tourists season.”

Arpita Khan got married to Aayush Sharma on November 18 last year. Both the families hosted functions for relatives and friends in Mumbai, but the reception in Mandi was postponed as the couple went on a three-week honeymoon, and later brother Salman Khan’s legal complications delayed the celebrations back home.

Earlier she and Aayush had visited Rajasthan, Gujarat and Kashmir – where Salman Khan had been shooting.

Mandi, one of the largest towns of Himachal, is 153 km from Shimla.