GECs
Lucknow witnesses second Sahara wedding
LUCKNOW: All roads Saturday led to Sahara Shahar, the glittering private estate of Sahara group owner Subrata Roy, whose younger son Seemanto tied the nuptial with knot with Chandni on Valentine’s Day.
“It is like a festival in fairyland,” summed up one of the guests who had flown in from New Delhi for what was described as the mother of all weddings.
If 5,000 guests, including 1,500 VIPs had attended elder son Sushanto’s marriage on February 10, the number was even larger Saturday night.
Other than deputy prime minister LK Advani, former prime minister PV Narasimha Rao, a number of governors, Central ministers, chief ministers and other politicians from across the country, Saturday’s guest list included the members of the Indian cricket team, the hockey team, leading media personalities, industrial barons and nearly every star from not only Mumbai but also from Kolkata and the southern states.
A disappointment was the absence of former US president Bill Clinton who was earlier expected to join the celebrations.
While Aishwarya Rai, who has been camping in Sahara Shahar for the past five days, continued to play hostess, Big ‘B’ Amitabh Bachchan amazed all and sundry with his welcome note on the public address system. He greeted the guests in Hindi and in English.
Seventeen chartered flights ferried VIP guests on the Delhi-Lucknow and Mumbai-Lucknow routes. Choppers then took them from the airport to the Sahara Shahar complex’s private helipad.
An entire terminal of Lucknow airport was taken over for this operation.
As with the first wedding, some 45,000 designer candles from Twinkle Khanna’s stable adorned an artificial lake in the sprawling 200-acre Sahara Shahar.
Some 500 florists bedecked the entire complex in orchids, carnations and roses. According to an insider, 110 varieties of cuisine together with Swiss and Belgian chocolates and the choicest of French wines were included in the spread.
Spanish and Mexican music added to the flavour of the evening.
GECs
Pocket FM partners with Indian Open Pickleball 2026
Audio platform joins forces with major tournament to engage young fans.
MUMBAI: Pocket FM just served up a perfect partnership because when audio storytelling meets pickleball’s fast-paced rallies, even the sidelines start listening. Pocket FM, the world’s largest audio series platform, has announced a strategic partnership with Indian Open 2026, one of India’s biggest pickleball tournaments organised by Global Sports in Hyderabad in association with Pickl’Out and Crosscourts Sports Club.
The collaboration brings Pocket FM’s immersive storytelling to one of the fastest-growing emerging sports in India. Pickleball, known for its accessibility, energy and strong community appeal, is rapidly attracting younger, digitally savvy audiences making it an ideal platform for Pocket FM to deepen its cultural relevance.
Under the partnership, Pocket FM will enjoy extensive on-ground and digital visibility throughout the tournament, which begins on 1 April 2026. This includes centre court branding, venue-wide presence, presenting rights for select matches, player lounge branding, team jersey integration, and strong integration across live streaming and social media.
Pocket FM, SVP and global head for brand marketing and partnerships Vineet Singh said, “Pickleball is building a strong connection with young and engaged audiences in India. This partnership allows us to connect with people in a meaningful way through strong on-ground presence and digital visibility.”
Global Sports and Indian Open 2026, founder Hemal Jain added, “Partnering with Pocket FM adds an exciting new dimension to the experience. As a brand that has built deep resonance with young audiences, Pocket FM is a strong fit for the energy and ambition of this tournament.”
The move reflects Pocket FM’s continued strategy of aligning with emerging passion points and building deeper engagement with communities driven by competition and shared experiences.
In a country where sports and stories often collide, Pocket FM isn’t just sponsoring a tournament, it’s turning every rally into a narrative, proving that the best audio moments sometimes happen when the paddle meets the ball.
