The Ambani’s, an Indian family with Asia’s richest man, has captured the attention of the world with the lavish wedding celebrations of their youngest son, Anant Ambani, to his childhood sweetheart, Radhika Merchant.
As the heir to the Reliance Industries business conglomerate, Anant’s union with his longtime partner has been an event of speculation, drawing global media coverage and the participation of some of the most influential figures in politics, business, and entertainment.
The Ambani family, led by businessman Mukesh Ambani, the chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries, controls a business empire with sectors in oil and gas, telecommunications, retail, textiles, mass media, and more. With a net worth estimated at over $ 123.7 billion, the Ambanis are undisputedly one of the wealthiest families not only in India but also globally.
Who is Radhika Merchant?
Anant Ambani’s bride-to-be is Radhika Merchant, the daughter of Encore Healthcare’s CEO, Vinod Merchant. Radhika is a trained classical dancer and a part of the board of directors of her parent’s healthcare company. She has been involved in various environmental charitable activities, especially catering to the welfare of animals.
Pre-wedding ceremonies
The Ambani wedding celebrations have been a grand affair, spanning over seven months and encompassing a series of pre-wedding ceremonies. After the proposal on December 29, 2023, the pre-wedding ceremonies kicked off in January 2024 with an engagement party. It was a traditional “mendhi” ceremony with Bollywood stars in attendance. Some were Ranveer Singh and his wife, Deepika Padukone, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and others. In March, there was a pre-wedding party which was a festival with dancing, feasts, and fireworks.
Additionally, technology billionaires, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg were in attendance dressed in traditional Indian attire. Rihanna graced the event with her second performance in six years for $6 million according to Daily Mail.
One of the most notable events was the “Samuhik Vivah.” The family provided basic amenities, jewelry, gifts, and cash to over 50 underprivileged individuals. This is a demonstration of the Ambanis’ dedication to social welfare.
A few days later, the Ambanis hosted a “sangeet,” a night of music and dance. They had pop star Justin Bieber perform at the traditional ceremony for a rumoured $10 million.
Furthermore, another one of the other pre-wedding ceremonies is the European cruise party. The Ambanis jetted off on a four-day cruise from Palermo to Rome. They had performances from Pitbull, David Guetta, and the Backstreet Boys.
Final wedding ceremony
During the final wedding ceremony, Anant Ambani personally gifted 10 of his close friends the exclusive Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar, a limited-edition watch worth $200,000 each.
On July 12, the family had a performance from Nigerian superstar Rema, who reportedly charged around $3 million.
Ambani family’s reputation for luxury
It is obvious that the Ambani family has a reputation for hosting extraordinary events, and this wedding has been no exception. Additionally, in 2018, during the pre-wedding ceremonies for Isha Ambani, Mukesh Ambani’s daughter, the family had Beyoncé perform at a private for payment of around $3 million to $4 million.
Finally, as the Ambani wedding festivities draw to a close, the world can’t help but marvel at the grandeur and opulence on display. The sheer scale of the celebrations, the charity initiatives, and the A-list guests show the wealth and influence of the Ambani family. (Guardian)
