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INSIDE INDIA'S 'BIGGEST ROYAL WEDDING'

Gulf News

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November 27, 2025

'Dubai Bling' star Farhana Bodi gets VIP access to Udaipur's lavish celebration

- By Manjusha Radhakrishnan Entertainment, Lifestyle and Sport Editor

There are crazy rich Indian weddings — and then there is the Mantena wedding that took place in the palatial royal palaces in Udaipur, Rajasthan, over the last weekend.

Guests moved through palaces like they were walking through dream sets. Jennifer Lopez performed her first-ever concert in India. Madhuri Dixit danced like she was reclaiming cinema. Ranveer Singh didn't just show up - he entered the crowd like he legally owned their serotonin levels.

And what follows is Dubai Bling star Farhana Bodi's personal diary of it all. She was a part of their VIP guest list and describes it as 'India's biggest royal wedding'. Excerpts from her diary ...

A GLOBAL SPECTACLE

The moment I stepped into the venue and saw the scale of the production - the décor, the energy, the international artists - I knew this wasn't just a wedding, it was a global spectacle. And then when Cirque du Soleil performed at the mehendi and JLo took the stage in Udaipur ... that's when it truly felt like a once-in-a-lifetime moment.

My get-ready moment felt like stepping into a royal fantasy. I wore a look that was elegant, modern, and true to my signature style, something that blended luxury with a little drama.

LUXE INVITES

The invitation itself already told the whole story. It arrived as a set of beautifully crafted, palace-inspired boxes layered, intricate, and designed like miniature architectural pieces. The detailing felt luxurious: soft ivory and gold, engraved patterns, and illustrations that looked like the windows of a royal haveli.

Even the booklet inside was elegant and understated, with gemstones on the cover, hinting at the richness of the celebrations that lay ahead. And the best part? They'd even tucked in little treats.

A ROYAL DREAM

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