King of parties goes for gold!Lionel Rich

King of parties goes for gold!

Preparations are in full swing for Vijay Mallya's 50th birthday bash in Goa which will be an 'All Night Long' affair five times over — yup,

Jamal Shaikh

Come Sunday, December 18, and Vijay 'King of Good Times' Mallya will turn 50 — and like everything else he does, his birthday will be celebrated in super duper style.
A five day extravaganza has been planned on the beaches of Goa from December 16 to 21, personalised invites for which have already been sent out. Two Kingfisher Airlines Airbus aircraft have been taken off service to ferry guests to and fro, sources from the airline confirmed.
Since most of the evenings are being planned around the Kingfisher Villa in Sinquerim, it is assumed that Taj Holiday Village and Aguada would be the properties that would provide accommodation to the 500-strong invitees.
The buzz is that several high-profile international acts have been planned as well, and the most looked forward act is Lionel Richie.
The guest-list will include the who's who of high society, politics, Bollywood and fashion — though several film people will go only on December 17 after attending the wedding of Fardeen Khan and Natasha Madhvani.
The most heart-warming aspect of the plans, however, is the personalised letter that Dr Mallya has sent out to his friends. "When I turned 40 a decade ago, I was fortunate to have been joined by my closest friends over a three-day celebration that included themed events," he says.
"While I cross yet another milestone, I am planning an exciting but somewhat 'chilled out' series of rendezvous with sun, sand and sea in Goa." Then he adds: "Some say that as years advance birthday celebrations fade away. I believe each year is a blessing and a continuing thanksgiving to God, my family and to all those who make my life worth living."