The curtain has closed on a spectacular series of celebrations, as the youngest son of Mukesh Ambani, Anant Ambani, wedded his longtime girlfriend, Radhika Merchant, through a string of high-profile events costing millions. These concluded with a grand reception held on Sunday, marking the zenith of what many are calling the wedding of the year.
The finale took place at Mumbai’s Jio World Drive, a state-of-the-art convention center crafted by the Ambani family. As part of the “Mangal Utsav” or “Festival of Bliss,” the gala saw an assembly of friends, relatives, and celebrities around the couple, cheering them during this spectacular event.
Anant Ambani, the 29-year-old son of Mukesh Ambani, Asia’s wealthiest man, and the chairman of Reliance Industries, exchanged vows with Radhika Merchant, the daughter of pharmaceutical magnates Viren and Shaila Merchant. Their sacred wedding rituals, which included the exchanging of garlands and traditional circumambulation around the holy fire, occurred from Friday night and concluded early Saturday morning.
The affair was graced by an illustrious guest list, featuring global and local luminaries. Among them were former British Prime Ministers Boris Johnson and Tony Blair, entertainment moguls Kim and Khloe Kardashian, and Bollywood heavyweights Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan, and Salman Khan. The ceremony also saw the attendance of international stars like Priyanka Chopra, Nick Jonas, and John Cena.
Mumbai glittered further as Bollywood actress Aditi Rao Hydari, among others, made their entrance at the grand reception. Attendees included American stylist Law Roach, Chairperson of Imagination Technologies Bert Nordberg, and a slew of Bollywood’s who’s who, such as Tamannaah Bhatia, Bobby Deol, Sunny Deol, Rajkummar Rao, and his wife Patralekha, Arjun Kapoor, Diana Penty, and many more. Their red-carpet appearances added an extra layer of glamour to the event.
In a gesture underscoring his growing influence, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi also blessed the newlyweds at a special reception on Saturday. Speaking to The Times of India, Mukesh Ambani remarked, “This is the final and the most auspicious ceremony and the last wedding in our family,” while remaining discreet about the extravagance and financial outlay of the ongoing celebrations.
These festivities have been nothing short of a fairy tale.
. The opulence was visible in a series of pre-wedding events that commenced as early as March. Rihanna and Akon had electrified a star-studded gathering of 1,200 guests during a three-day event. The celebration continued in May with an extravagant four-day European cruise, featuring on-deck performances by the Backstreet Boys and Pitbull, followed by a masquerade ball headlined by Katy Perry. Last week’s traditional music night in Mumbai saw none other than Justin Bieber serenading the crowd with his hits.
Mukesh Ambani’s considerable wealth does make such grandeur feasible. Forbes values him as the ninth-richest person globally, with an estimated net worth of $116 billion. His conglomerate, Reliance Industries, spans diverse sectors such as petrochemicals, oil, gas, telecom, and retail, boasting over $100 billion in annual revenue. Among their numerous assets lies the family’s 27-story home in Mumbai, valued at around $1 billion, complete with three helipads, a 160-car garage, and a private movie theater.
Anant Ambani has taken upon himself to spearhead the conglomerate’s renewable and green energy ventures. Additionally, he manages a vast 3,000-acre animal rescue center in Jamnagar, Gujarat, aligning with the family’s philanthropic interests.
Radhika Merchant, also 29, is the Marketing Director at Encore Healthcare, her family’s pharmaceutical firm. According to Vogue, she plays an instrumental role in shaping the company’s strategic marketing initiatives.
Beyond the glamour, the wedding stands as a testament to the intersection of wealth, tradition, and global influence. With each event meticulously curated and attended by the crème de la crème, Anant and Radhika’s nuptials have indeed set a high bar, forever etching their celebration in the annals of India’s grand wedding histories.
As the newlyweds embark on their journey together, the echoes of their extraordinary celebration linger, epitomizing a blend of opulent celebrations and deep-seated traditions that symbolize the very essence of modern-day Indian aristocracy.
