Abhishek and Aishwarya fans worldwide were perplexed, even hurt, by the obsessive lengths to which the Bachchans went to keep the joyful celebrations hidden from them in the name of privacy. Despite pronouncements by Amitabh Bachchan that the event would be low key, son Abhishek's wedding with Aishwarya turned out to be more opulent than that of his daughter Shweta Bachchan with Nikhil Nanda, son of Ritu Kapoor-Nanda (daughter of the 'Showman of Bollywood' Raj Kapoor). The jewels - including priceless emeralds flaunted by Abhishek and shining diamonds worn by Aishwarya - were the stuff of legends while the clothes were regal. The whole aura of the wedding was kingly! Though termed a 'family affair', the three-day marriage attracted more publicity than any event in recent history! Now that the dust of a hundred controversies has begun to settle down, some truths about Bachchan's 'arrangements' are coming to light. First, TOI almost confirms that the reason for keeping the media out was not the need for privacy. There were professionals recording every step of the celebrations through the days. Reportedly, the rights to the photos and filming of the entire wedding were sold by the Bachchans to the international television channel Travel & Living. This channel has been telecasting a series based on Big Weddings worldwide - including the wedding last year in the Lakshmi Mittal family.

The sum involved? About Rs.5 crores says the TOI, adding that this could be far larger. There are rumors that a feature-film-like one hour production tentatively called 'How the Abhi-Ash Wedding was planned and carried out' could be sold to distribution houses worldwide - especially in the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and India - to entertain huge numbers of Bollywood fans and rake in more money. Be that as it may, TOI confirms that the Bachchans had received proposals from India-based tele-networks but they preferred the foreign channel, opting for this 'first of its kind' deal - possibly encouraged by the Liz Hurley-Arun Nayar wedding. Abhishek and Aishwarya did not even pose for one last shot for the waiting hordes of Indian media outside Prateeksha. However, leaks are a part of Indian social and political life and the Mirror has laid hands on some exclusive pix of the bridal couple for publication, apart from the images of their visit to Thirupati on Sunday 22nd April 2007.