"Aishwarya never had any ceremony to get rid of her manglik curse. Nothing like this ever took place," Abhsthek told this week's edition of the "The Week" magazine,calling the widespread media accounts of the ceremonies "intrusive and insensitive."

Abhishek and Aishwarya's marriage is expected to be Bollywood's biggest wedding in years.

Last November the family travelled with Rai to a temple in for what the Indian media reported were prayers to clear up mismatches in their stars.

The Bachchans -- known as the first family of Bollywood for their dominance of the entertainment industry -- held the ceremonies to offset the curse of being a "manglik" hanging over the green-eyed Rai, according to media reports.

Pictures of Rai and the Bachchans emerging from the temple were splashed in Indian newspapers and one well-known astrologer, Chandrasghekar Swami, said he had "advised both the families to perform this corrective puja (prayer)."

Astrologers also said Rai might have to marry a tree before her actual wedding to rid herself of her supposedly unlucky status. This would mean any bad luck would befall the tree, not Abhishek, one of Bollywood's leading men.

Asked why he had not come out earlier with a denial, Bachchan, replied his job was "to act and I guess I am doing fine."

Meanwhile the duo is supposed to tie the knot on April 19. The festivities associated with Abhishek's wedding with Aishwarya are expected to spread over three days. There will be a Sangeet ceremony on the April 18 and a Mehendi ceremony the next day, both at the Bachchan residence - Jalsa.

The Bachchan boy will walk the aisle with Aishawarya in the early morning hours of April 20 at Bachchan's bungalow - Prateeksha. The baaraat will leave Jalsa for Prateeksha on the night of Apr 19.

Though Hindu marriages are traditionally solemnized at the bride's house, these days, it is not uncommon for the bride's side to arrange the wedding at a venue outside their house to accommodate larger number of guests.

But the bride's parents arranging a wedding at the house belonging to the groom's family is unprecedented. If the wedding has to take place in a house, it has to be the bride's house.

Amitabh Bachchan has gone on record saying the wedding will be a low key affair in view of his mother's indifferent health. An inner circle of family and friends are expected to attend.

The Bachchans are known to be staunch and unabashed traditionalists. They believe in their faith, they visit temples and they consult priests and even astrologers.

What happened to their respect for Hindu traditions when it came to choosing a venue for the wedding?

Just wondering!