Punjabi actor and former cricketer Yograj Singh will not be attending the wedding of his eldest son, cricketer Yuvraj Singh, who is tying the knot with model-turned-actress Hazel Keech at a Fatehgarh Sahib gurdwara, about 40km from Chandigarh, on November 30.
Yograj, who remarried and is settled in Chandigarh after divorcing Yuvraj’s mother Shabnam, said: “It is my misfortune that I will not be attending the traditional wedding of my son being organised at a dera in Punjab. I had told Yuvraj’s mother that I will not attend the wedding if it is solemnised at any dera or involves any religious guru. It’s destiny, I will not go (to the wedding). I only believe in god, and not religious gurus.”
Sources said while the ‘anand karaj’ (wedding ceremony) will take place at the Dufera Sahib gurdwara in Fatehgarh Sahib amid a gathering of about 60 close relatives and friends, the newyweds will be visiting the deras of Baba Ram Singh Ghanduan Wala, attached to the gurdwara, and Sant Ajit Singh Hansali Wale, also in Fatehgarh Sahib. Both Yuvraj and his mother Shabnam are followers of the two deras. Yuvraj and Hazel had visited the deras after their engagement as well.
Yograj clarified that he will attend the ‘mehandi’ function at Hotel Lalit in Chandigarh on November 29. “I was invited with respect by my son and my name is printed on the invitation cards. I asked him if his mother will be comfortable with my presence, but he humbly requested me to be part of the function. I will go there as my son wants me to be there,” he said, adding that he will not attend other functions, including those planned in Delhi and Goa early in December.
On arrangements being made for the much-awaited wedding, Yograj said: “Shabnam has a lot of money and it is her choice how she organises the wedding, but I advised them to spend carefully.” All praise for Hazel, he said, “She is an angel. Even though she has been brought up in the West, she is rooted and gives a lot of importance to values and traditions. I know she will bring a positive change in the family and bring all brothers and sisters (of Yuvraj Singh) closer together.”
Appreciating his son for making the “wise decision” of getting married at the age of 34, Yograj said Yuvraj is now “sensible enough to handle marriage that requires a lot of understanding and maturity”. Yograj, father of four, also advised Yuvraj to go for just one child. Yograj and Shabnam got divorced when Yuvraj and his brother Zorawar were very young. Yograj has two children from his second marriage: son Victor and daughter Amarjit Kaur.
(with inputs from Shailee Dogra)
