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DELHI - Even the most extravagant of celebrity weddings do not always go to plan, as Liz Hurley has discovered on the second-leg of her six-day nuptials in India.
What was supposed to be a romantic beach party to celebrate their union turned sour, after the city of Bombay told the newly-weds in no uncertain terms to stay off the beach.
After a ceremony and party fit for a queen - at Sudeley Castle in Gloucestershire, one time residence of Henry VIII's sixth wife Katherine Parr - Ms Hurley and her new husband Arun Nayar - set off to continue the celebrations in India.
But just hours before a beachfront party to toast the marriage, the Bombay authorities sent in a demolition team to smash the wooden deck that had been purpose built for the celebrations to pieces.
It was supposed to be the party that marked Ms Hurley's acceptance by the glitterati in the city where her husband grew up.
The guest list included Imran Khan, the Pakistani former cricketer, and Vijay Mallya, the owner of Kingfisher beer. Bollywood's Shah Rukh Khan couldn't make it, but his wife showed up instead.
And of course India's newest export to Britain, Shilpa Shetty, was there.
But local residents were not impressed by tales of the champagne and buckets of caviar that were to be served.
Instead they were incensed to find a huge portion of the city's most popular public beach had been swallowed up by a wooden deck specially built in front of the beachfront house where the party was to be held.
And they were even less amused to find private security guards stationed on the public footpath to prevent them entering the beach.
"Let your guests sit on the sand, we have no problem," T. Sonpath of the local residents association said yesterday.
"But don't restrict our access."
The furious residents were not about to take it lying down. They demanded the city authorities take action.
Enter the unfortunately named Adolf D'Souza, the local councillor, who, spotting a good vote-winning cause, leapt into action.
"No one is above the law," he thundered.
Hours before the party was set to start, a demolition team arrived and unceremoniously tore up the wooden deck. Local residents 1 Ms Hurley 0.
Except that, according to Indian press reports, the hosts of the party began rebuilding the deck as soon as officials left the scene.
Juhu Beach is one of Bombay's most famous spots - a huge expanse of palm-fringed sand that is one of the few places Bombayites can escape their desperately crowded city for a few hours.
Every day thousands of people flock there to watch the sun slowly sink into the Arabian Sea, and drink from fresh coconuts.
Young lovers stray from the crowds into the shadows as night falls.
Juhu's less salubrious side is the hustlers who try to get you to part with a few rupees to watch trained monkeys dance.
If the beach is a getaway for all Bombay, it has also become home to the super-rich.
Long regarded as one of Bombay's most glamourous addresses, its villas are home to many of Bollywood's biggest stars.
It is also the home of the doyenne of Bombay society, Parmeshwar Godrej.
The wife of a prominent industrialist, Ms Godrej is known for throwing the most exclusive parties in town. She has hosted similar bashes for Richard Gere and Goldie Hawn.
The party was supposed to be a triumph for Ms Hurley.
But it seems the row with local residents had been boiling up since last Saturday, when Mr Sonpar and another local resident, Vishwanath Mada, lodged an official complaint about the wooden deck that was being put up for the party.
Mr Mada told Bombay's Daily News & Analysis there was already a history of bad blood between the Godrejs and local residents, dating back to the party for Mr Gere last year.
"They can amuse foreigners but not at the expense of the law and citizens," he said.
The local authorities agreed and demolished the deck on Saturday. But, according to local press reports, it was promptly rebuilt.
So the authorities moved in again and demolished the deck with hours to go before the party - only for it to be repaired again.
In the end, it appears a compromise was worked out, with the Godrejs promising not to use the deck - and the party went ahead inside the house.
But a furious Mr Sonpar is accusing police of giving in to celebrities and demanding that action be taken against the Godrejs.
"Will they allow ordinary people like you and me to get away with such behaviour?" he said.
Ms Hurley and Mr Nayar, meanwhile, have left the row behind them and already left for Jodhpur, in Rajasthan, where they are holding a series of Hindu wedding ceremonies.
But even there it appears La Hurley is causing controversy.
According to the Hindustan Times she and Mr Nayar have ordered the Maharaja of Jodhpur not to use his mobile phone inside his own palace.
The palace, part of which has been converted into a five-star hotel, is the main venue for the wedding.
The couple have sold exclusive rights to Hello! magazine and according to the paper they are demanding a complete ban on mobile phones, even inside the Maharaja's private wing.
- INDEPENDENT
