After seven months of extravagant pre-wedding celebrations, Anant Ambani, the son of India’s richest man, completed his long-awaited wedding to pharmaceutical heiress Radhika Merchant in front of thousands of guests on Friday.
Kim, Khloe Kardashian, Nick Jonas, Priyanka Chopra and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair were just some of the famous faces who descended on Mumbai for the star-studded event. The wedding was attended by many big names from Indian entertainment, sports, business and politics, from Bollywood stars like Rajinikanth and Sanjay Dutt to former President Ram Nath Kovind, chief ministers of various states and several members of the country’s prestigious national cricket team.
No expense has been spared by the Ambani family, the family behind India’s largest private sector company, Reliance Industries. The group was founded by Anant’s grandfather, and is now run by his father, Mukesh, who has a net worth of more than $122 billion, according to Forbes.
In rain-soaked Mumbai, police closed roads in the area around Ambani’s 16,000-seat Jio World Convention Centre, ahead of the red-carpet-style event. Befitting the occasion, attendees posed for photographers wearing saris, lehengas and kurtas at an event that could set the next trend in Indian wedding fashion.
International guests also respected the traditional dress code, many of them seen wearing outfits designed by top Indian fashion designers. John Cena walked the red carpet wearing an embroidered sky blue sherwani and white pants, while Nick Jonas stunned in a pink version – made from a sequin bouclé-style woven fabric – and matching satin trousers. Jonas arrived with his wife, actress Priyanka Chopra, who chose to wear an intricately embellished yellow sari.
The fashion crowd also came out in full force. Longtime stylist Zendaya Le Roch arrived wearing a purple velvet jacket, purple blazer and gold-tipped Schiaparelli pumps, while designer and New York Fashion Week model Prabal Gurung wore a pink sherwani and aviator sunglasses. Kim and Khloe Kardashian were spotted on social media wearing gold and red saris, respectively. Kim’s outfit featured an off-the-shoulder, tasseled choli, while Khloe opted for embellished long sleeves, stacked necklaces and a sparkling maang tika top.
In a video posted on social media Friday morning, Anant’s mother Nita Ambani recounted her recent trip to Varanasi in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, where she sought blessings for the couple. She said she hoped the “wedding will reimagine and bring to life the sanctity, positivity and beauty of Varanasi,” adding that the event will “pay tribute to India’s glorious culture and heritage, brought to life by thousands of artisans…weavers.” and artisans”. ”
It was also revealed that the dress Nita Ambani wore on the event’s red carpet took more than 40 days to be made. The custom peach silk ghagra was designed by couture house Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla and artisans Vijay Kumar and Monica Morea.
A luxurious affair
The Ambani family has remained tight-lipped on proceedings leading up to Friday’s wedding, although rumors have swirled in recent weeks about the guest list and the identity of the star cast. Local press and Indian social media users also engaged in speculation about everything from the dinner menu to what jewelry items from the extended family collection might be displayed.
Manish Malhotra, one of India’s most renowned fashion designers, served as the event’s creative director. The renowned fashion designer created custom outfits for various members of the Ambani family throughout the month-long wedding festivities.
“Every detail, from the decor and kitchen to the clothing and ambiance; every event…is designed to immerse guests in an atmosphere of joy, love and celebration,” he told CNN via email ahead of the wedding.
In the days leading up to Friday’s ceremony, the couple participated in several traditional pre-wedding rituals. Justin Bieber performed at the duo’s “Sangeet” concert, a night of music and dance, last Friday. After that, the couple attended a special ‘haldi’ ceremony, where friends and family traditionally bless the bride and groom by applying turmeric paste to their heads, faces or bodies.
According to Hindu tradition, wedding dates are chosen according to auspicious days in the bride and groom’s birth charts.
Anant Ambani, 29, a Brown University graduate, is Mukesh’s youngest child and works as a director at an energy company run by Reliance. His 29-year-old bride, Radhika Merchant, is the daughter of Viren and Sheela Merchant, founders of pharmaceutical company Encore Healthcare.
It is not known exactly how much money the Ambani family spent on their wedding celebrations. Industry estimates put the total amount in the hundreds of millions of dollars, with music artists reportedly receiving seven- or eight-figure sums.
On the streets of Mumbai, residents CNN spoke to had mixed feelings about the extravagant event and the wealth on display. “It is their wealth, but what they are doing is ridiculous,” said pre-school teacher Devanshi Zaveri, adding, “There is no need to brag so much.”
Meanwhile, banker Jenika Kothari welcomed the boost to local businesses, saying: “It helps the economy, it helps everybody… So, I think if they have the money, they should spend it.” Local hotel prices have reportedly shot up as thousands of guests prepare to travel to Mumbai, the financial hub that serves as India’s commercial capital.
Months of celebration
The celebrations will continue over the weekend at Antilia, the Ambani family’s 27-storey multi-storey home in Mumbai. Saturday is expected to see a ‘shubh ashirwad’ or divine blessing ceremony, while Sunday’s reception (with an ‘Indian chic’ dress code) will give guests a last chance to celebrate with the couple.
The weekend event marks the culmination of seven months of preparation for what is billed as India’s wedding of the year. The festivities began with a celebrity-filled engagement party in January. Two months later, the Ambani family hosted a mass dinner for more than 50,000 villagers and a pre-wedding party for 1,200 guests – attended by the likes of Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates and Ivanka Trump – and included a rare live performance by Rihanna.
Anant’s elder sister, Isha, also had a lavish wedding in 2018. Her wedding to businessman Anand Piramal was watched by celebrities, politicians and business tycoons, while her pre-wedding party featured a special concert by Beyonce.
