Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant Finally Tie The Knot After 7 Months of Celebrations

News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/13th July 2024

After seven months of grand pre-wedding festivities, Anant Ambani, son of India’s wealthiest man, Mukesh Ambani, has tied the knot with pharmaceutical heiress Radhika Merchant. The wedding, which took place on Friday, drew thousands of guests, including high-profile celebrities and political figures, to Mumbai for the opulent event.

The guest list was a who’s who of global and Indian fame. International stars like Kim and Khloé Kardashian, Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra, and former British prime ministers Tony Blair and Boris Johnson graced the occasion. They were joined by Bollywood icons such as Rajinikanth and Sanjay Dutt, former president Ram Nath Kovind, state chief ministers, and several members of India’s esteemed cricket team.

The Ambani family, known for their extravagant spending, went all out for this wedding. Mukesh Ambani, who helms Reliance Industries and boasts a net worth exceeding $122 billion, ensured no expense was spared. The Jio World Convention Center, owned by the Ambanis, was transformed into a splendid venue for the celebrations, despite the rain-soaked Mumbai weather.

The event was marked by a red-carpet-style arrival, with guests dressed in custom sarees, lehengas, and kurtas. International attendees also embraced the traditional Indian dress code, sporting designs by top Indian fashion designers. John Cena stood out in an embroidered sky blue sherwani, while Nick Jonas donned a baby pink bouclé-style ensemble. Priyanka Chopra dazzled in a sunshine yellow sari, and stylist Law Roach and designer Prabal Gurung showcased their style in velvet and sherwani outfits, respectively.

Inside the venue, which resembled the holy city of Varanasi, the celebration continued with performances and dancing. Celebrities like Chopra and Cena were seen enjoying the festivities, while the Ambani family danced on stage with Indian singer Daler Mehndi. The night featured performances by Afrobeats star Rema, among others.

Anant Ambani, dressed in a golden sherwani paired with sneakers, later changed for the ceremony. His bride, Radhika Merchant, stunned in hand-embroidered bridal couture by Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla. She followed Gujarati tradition by wearing red and white, featuring a red-trimmed ivory ensemble with a 16-foot-long veil adorned with stones and sequins. For the “vidai” ceremony, she changed into a red and gold outfit with intricate embroidery.

The Ambani family has been discreet about the wedding preparations, but rumors about the guest list and performances had been circulating for weeks. Renowned fashion designer Manish Malhotra served as the event’s creative director, designing bespoke outfits for the Ambani family throughout the celebrations.

The pre-wedding rituals included a sangeet night with a performance by Justin Bieber and a private haldi ceremony. The wedding dates were chosen based on auspicious days according to Hindu tradition.

Anant Ambani, a Brown University graduate and director at Reliance’s energy business, and Radhika Merchant, daughter of the founders of Encore Healthcare, have been celebrated across social media for their grand wedding.

The Ambani family’s estimated expenditure on the wedding runs into hundreds of millions of dollars, with performers reportedly receiving seven- or eight-figure sums. The wedding has sparked mixed reactions among Mumbai residents. Some criticized the extravagance, while others praised the economic boost to local businesses.

The celebrations are set to continue through the weekend at the Ambani’s 27-story Mumbai residence, Antilia. Events include a Shubh Ashirwad ceremony on Saturday and a Sunday reception with an Indian chic dress code, concluding the months-long festivities that began with an engagement party in January and a Mediterranean cruise in May.