Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Asia’s richest man Mukesh Ambani, tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend Radhika Merchant early Saturday in what is being hailed as the wedding of the year. The ceremony, attended by global celebrities, business magnates, and politicians, was a testament to the immense wealth and influence of the Ambani family.
The wedding rituals, which started on Friday, included traditional practices such as exchanging garlands and walking around a sacred fire, continuing past midnight. The nuptials took place at the Ambani-owned Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai and the family residence, capping off months of wedding festivities featuring performances by stars like Rihanna and Justin Bieber.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended a reception hosted by the Ambanis on Saturday evening, where he gave his blessings to the newlyweds. The couple also sought Modi’s blessings by touching his feet, as reported by India Today.
The four-day celebrations, which began with the traditional Hindu wedding ceremony, will culminate with a grand reception over the weekend. The guest list reportedly included former British Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Boris Johnson, former U.S. special envoy for climate John Kerry, and celebrities like Adele, Lana Del Rey, Drake, and David Beckham. Notably, stars like Kim Kardashian and John Cena were seen arriving at the event.
Bollywood icons Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, and Ranbir Kapoor were in attendance, joining Indian cricket legends such as Sachin Tendulkar, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and Jasprit Bumrah.
The Ambanis also hosted a “blessing ceremony” for friends and family to meet the couple and offer their good wishes. International guests donned traditional Indian attire designed by major Indian fashion designers, with John Cena in a sky-blue sherwani and Nick Jonas in a pink one.
Traffic diversions were imposed around the wedding venue to manage the influx of guests, amidst ongoing monsoon rains that have caused flooding and flight disruptions in Mumbai.
While the wedding’s extravagance has cemented the Ambanis’ status, it has also highlighted the stark inequalities in India. Some local residents expressed frustration over traffic issues caused by the event.
Mukesh Ambani, whose net worth stands at $116 billion, is the world’s ninth-richest individual and the wealthiest person in Asia. His conglomerate, Reliance Industries, spans several sectors including petrochemicals, oil and gas, telecoms, and retail.
Anant Ambani, 29, is in charge of the company’s renewable and green energy initiatives and also oversees a 3,000-acre animal rescue center in Gujarat. His bride, Radhika Merchant, is also 29 and serves as the marketing director for her father’s pharmaceutical company, Encore Healthcare.
The pre-wedding celebrations for the couple have been nothing short of lavish, including a three-day prenuptial bash with 1,200 guests in March, featuring performances by Rihanna, Akon, and Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh. In May, the family organized a three-day cruise from Italy to France, which featured performances by Katy Perry and Pitbull. They also hosted a mass wedding for over 50 underprivileged couples as part of the festivities.
The event has drawn comparisons to the 2018 pre-wedding celebrations for Mukesh Ambani’s daughter, which saw performances by Beyoncé and attendance by high-profile guests like Hillary Clinton and John Kerry.