The wedding of Anant Ambani, the youngest son of India’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani, and Radhika Merchant has become a global sensation, combining sheer luxury with heartfelt moments and star-studded appearances. From the high-profile guest list to the series of events, here’s everything we know about the talk-of-the-town wedding.
The Couple and Their Journey
Anant Ambani, 28, is actively involved in Reliance Industries, while Radhika Merchant, 29, is the daughter of Encore Healthcare CEO Viren Merchant. The couple, introduced through mutual friends in 2017, got engaged in a traditional “roka” ceremony in 2022 and have been the subject of much media attention ever since.
Pre-Wedding Festivities
The wedding celebrations kicked off with a communal feast for thousands of people from neighbouring villages. The pre-wedding festivities continued with themed parties, including a luxurious cruise from Italy to the South of France, a Moulin Rouge-themed ball, and a magic show by David Blaine. The celebrations were as extravagant as they were diverse.
The Main Events
The main wedding ceremony took place on July 12, 2024, at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, followed by “Shubh Aashirwad” on July 13, and a grand reception, “Mangal Utsav,” on July 14. The events featured a mix of traditional Hindu rituals and contemporary celebrations, with guests adhering to dress codes such as Indian Traditional, Indian Formal, and Indian Chic.
Star-Studded Guest List
The guest list included global elites and Bollywood stars. Notable attendees were Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Disney CEO Bob Iger, Indian billionaires Gautam Adani and Kumar Mangalam Birla, and members of Bhutan’s royal family. Bollywood icons like Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, and Ranveer Singh also graced the event. Additionally, world-renowned celebrities like the Kardashians and Middle-Eastern beauty mogul Mona Kattan were also spotted at the wedding.
Justin Bieber’s Performance
Pop sensation Justin Bieber performed at the couple’s sangeet on July 5, thrilling guests with hits like “Love Yourself,” “Where Are You Now,” “Peaches,” and “Sorry.” Bieber’s engagement with the audience, including duets with attendees, added an interactive element to his performance, making it a highlight of the celebrations. Bieber’s presence and performance fee, rumored to be around $10 million, underscored the wedding’s lavish scale.
Rihanna’s performance at the pre-wedding party in March set a high bar for the celebrations, earning a reported $9 million fee. The festivities also included a Roman toga party and a masquerade ball with performances by stars like Katy Perry, David Guetta, the Backstreet Boys, and Pitbull.
Anant Ambani’s speech about his childhood health struggles brought his father, Mukesh Ambani, to tears, highlighting the close family bond.
The wedding invitation, an artistic masterpiece, featured intricate designs, devotional music, and handcrafted gifts, adding a personal and spiritual touch to the grand celebrations.
As the most extravagant wedding of the year, the Ambani-Merchant wedding has set new standards for grandeur and elegance, blending age-old traditions with modern opulence. As the celebrations continue, the world watches in awe, eager for more glimpses into this monumental event.
