Feb 19: Lock kiya jaye?

The invites have yet to go out but buzz in Bollywood is that the who's who of tinsel town has ear-marked February 19, 2007 in their black books.

According to sources who do not wish to be identified fearing social ostracisation by the Bachchans, the Aishwarya-Abhishek wedding/ reception has been fixed for February 19 and the Hyatt, Santacruz, has been booked as the venue.

While the Bachchans were not available for comment, Aishwarya's business manager Hari Singh refused to either confirm or deny the date.

The Grand Hyatt

Sources reveal that following a year of courtship, Abhishek and Aishwarya confirmed their marriage plans at a party recently thrown by Aditya Chopra to celebrate the success of Dhoom 2. "They publicly announced at the party that they were going to get married and in fact this surprise announcement called for a greater celebration and promptly cake and champagne was called for," adds the source.

The source says that the media is likely to be kept out of the February 19 affair. While long-time favourite Neeta Lulla has been asked to create Ash's outfit or the evening, Aby's baby is likely to go for a sherwani designed by Anna Singh. According to numerologist Sanjay Jumaani Abhishek completes 31 years on February 5. "His 32nd year is very auspicious for marriage," he adds.

The rumours of Ashi-Abhishek marriage gained momentum after she recently accompanied the Bachchans for a hawan at Varanasi and the two are making public appearances together alongwith the family as was recently the case at the premiere of Baabul. Abhishek also met Aishwarya in Paris recently when she was there to shoot an ad for L'Oreal. "They are very clearly ready for marriage. I have seen Ash serving food at Jalsa. She is very close to the Bachchans and they are definitely getting married," says an actor who again does not want his identity to be revealed.