A high-profile celebrity guest list, a lavish farmhouse lit up with candles and exquisite floral bouquets, baroque-inspired chandeliers and a venue oozing glamour and high fashion –
The couple, Kunal Kapoor and Naina Bachchan, smile for the shutterbugs alongside the bride’s parents Ajitabh and Ramola
Bachchan
there is nothing quite like an A-list Bollywood bash, which takes up to months of planning, preparation and attention to detail. And when it involves the first family of Bollywood – the Bachchans – the stakes are even higher because theirs is the one that has to be the party of dreams. To ensure the obvious, Ajitabh Bachchan (Big B’s brother) entrusted Rohit Bal to give his daughter Naina Bachchan and son-in-law, actor Kunal Kapoor, the wedding reception of their lives. “Our families have been friends since the ‘60s,” Rohit told Vogue India. “My sister, brother-in-law, Amitabh and Ajitabh all grew up together. It’s an old friendship.”
Rohit Bal was the man behind this big ticket Bollywood event but what many here may not know is that this elaborate, blissful affair was done in partnership with none other than our very own event planning duo, Jalal Salahuddin and Omar Satti of J&S events.
The Bachchan clan: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Amitabh Bachchan and Ramola Bachchan.
“We launched our company in India in December 2013 but we started most of our work only last year,” Jalal spoke to Instep. “Our partner in India is Rohit Bal Luxury Weddings and Events who are famous for their creative aesthetic both in India and internationally. So this opportunity came through Rohit only who knows the Bachchan family very well.”
J&S Events came to life around 14 years ago in Lahore, when event management was not really a lucrative profession. We all know the story of how the desperate need for a New Year’s Eve party ended up breathing life into Jalal and Satti’s entrepreneurial dreams. But those days have long gone when the boys were only testing waters; they are a well-established firm that has crafted some of the biggest events in the local sho
wbiz industry including PFDC’s fashion weeks, the enthralling and historic Bryan Adams’ concert in Karachi and the four-day Lifestyle Pakistan exhibit in India.
“We have been working in Pakistan for a long time now and it was natural progression
Jalal Salahuddin having a good time with the groom Kunal Kapoor.
for us to branch out and expand our business,” Jalal told Instep of the reason behind crossing borders. “We wanted to start with a place that is similar in culture but has a completely different market and India seemed to be an exciting choice. The industry is far more developed here (India) simply because there is a lot of choice – be it hotels or suppliers. And Rohit was the perfect partner to have on board. He has a great aesthetic and it’s always good to have two creative people than only one.”
Together with Rohit, J&S have been working hard in establishing base in India and hosting events like the Royal Rajasthani wedding of one of India’s leading industrialist and corporate events for Jabong and Corporate Constructions. However, coping with the demands of a Bollywood celebrity event would have been quite a challenge especially when parents are involved in the planning process. There is no room for near misses, is there?
“The parents left much to Rohit’s discretion because of the familial ties they share and Rohit knew exactly what he wanted,” shared Jalal. “He wanted a very desi wedding that resonated understated elegance. So we got hold of all the flowers that came from within the Sub continent – roses, motiya,
Omar Satti with the mother od the bride, Ramola Bachchan.
lotus, etc. There were about 8000 candles decorating the walkway of the entrance and we had this glorious 200 feet chaddar made in Rohit’s couture factory that made the canopy for the venue that later automatically opened into a roof.”
While the duo has by now planned a gazillion weddings that they would care to remember, this one is bound to have had its moments that will forever remain etched in their minds. “Perhaps the most memorable moment was when the whole family came to us at the end saying how much the loved it. It was truly gratifying. Also we hired this lovely Rajasthani band Manganiar Productions sitting right at the entrance, serenading the guests as they walked in so it was probably the most romantic entrances that I’ve done in my life,” Jalal recalled.
With the event management industry evolving at a pace that may be hard to keep up with, Jalal and Satti have maintained an edge with their signature and have tried to adapt with changing times. Now moving over to Indi
Kunal Kapoor and Naina Bachchan take a selfie with actor Anupam Kher.