By The wedding of Anant Ambani, son of India’s richest man Mukesh Ambani, and Radhika Merchant, daughter of a wealthy pharmaceutical mogul, is set to be one of the most extravagant events of the year. The couple will tie the knot in a traditional Hindu ceremony at the JIO World Convention Center in Mumbai later this afternoon.
Arriving in an opulently designed jacket, believed to be called a Nehru, crisp white trousers, and trainers featuring an extravagant gold logo, the groom, Anant Ambani, posed for photos with his proud parents, Mukesh and Nita Ambani. The managing director of Reliance Industries and the chairperson of the Reliance Foundation were beaming with pride as they stood alongside their son.
The Ambani family and a host of Bollywood stars were among the first guests photographed on the lavish pink carpet, which featured lush silver panels, cream-colored walls, stunning candle arrangements, and fresh flower bouquets. Workers were seen meticulously cleaning the area in preparation for the VVIP guests.
Security for the event is tight, as highlighted by magician and Britain’s Got Talent contestant Lewis Fuller, who performed at Akash Ambani’s wedding in 2019. Fuller recounted his experience of having a security escort assigned to him 24/7, emphasizing the high level of security at Ambani family events.
The guest list for this three-day celebration includes international stars like John Cena, Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, and other industry titans such as Mark Zuckerberg, Ivanka Trump, Bill Gates, and David and Victoria Beckham. Bollywood stars, pop stars, and leading politicians are also in attendance. Justin Bieber performed at a pre-wedding party known as a ‘Sangeet,’ reportedly earning £7 million for his performance. Sources suggest that Adele, Drake, or Lana Del Rey will entertain guests at a reception on Sunday evening.
This weekend’s dazzling events are the culmination of four months of festivities, estimated to have cost a combined £250 million. Mr. Ambani, 67, listed by Forbes as the world’s ninth richest man with a net worth of £100 billion, has spared no expense for his youngest son’s wedding. The couple has been gifted a £62 million luxurious villa on Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, a £500,000 Bentley Continental GTC Speed, and a dazzling array of custom-made jewelry and clothes worth millions.
Nita Ambani, 60, gifted her daughter-in-law a stunning pearl and diamond choker worth an estimated £10 million, one of dozens of bespoke multi-million-pound pieces made for her. Anant received a £2 million Cartier brooch. Specialist weavers in India have spent months creating rare silk sarees using gold and silver thread, each valued at over £100,000.
The Ambanis have reportedly booked 100 private jets to fly their illustrious guests to India and reserved all five-star hotels in Mumbai for their stay, which is being paid for by the family. Insiders estimate that the total cost of the wedding, including travel arrangements, hotels, gifts, clothing, food, and entertainment, could approach a stunning £500 million.
The traditional marriage ceremony will commence at 3 PM India time with a ‘baraat,’ a procession featuring the groom and his family and friends, dancing and accompanied by live musicians. The couple will be wed at the JIO World Convention Center, a sprawling cultural and business hub built by the Ambani family. The ceremony will be conducted by Hindu priests chanting ancient Sanskrit verses, and the couple will take seven vows around a sacred fire to solemnize their marriage.
An estimated 5,000 people are expected to attend, with all roads around the venue closed to non-wedding traffic. Office workers in Mumbai have been instructed to work from home due to the large number of VIP convoys. The weekend also includes a traditional ‘divine blessings ceremony’ and a glitzy reception on Sunday.
Invitations were sent out in an ornate red box containing a model silver temple, gifts, and a handcrafted pashmina shawl, each costing around £7,000. Guests will receive gift boxes containing opulent items, including Louis Vuitton bags, gold necklaces, and luxurious nightwear.
In the lead-up to the wedding, numerous events were held at Antilia, the Ambani’s 27-storey family home in Mumbai, which cost £800 million to build. This property, listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s largest and costliest private residence, features a health club, ballroom, swimming pool, 50-seater cinema, three helipads, and parking for 168 cars.
Anant and Radhika will reside at Antilia, following the Indian tradition of newlyweds living with the groom’s family. Radhika works for her father’s pharmaceutical company, while Anant is a director on the boards of several Reliance Industries companies. Both studied in the US and began dating in 2017.
Mr. Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries, threw a similarly extravagant wedding for his daughter Isha in 2018, which cost a reported £80 million and featured performances by Beyoncé and receptions in Italy’s Lake Como, Mumbai, and Rajasthan.
