Behind Anant Ambani’s Showstopping Indian Wedding

Move over “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”! There is a new contender in town. Have you ever wondered what goes into planning a lavish, showstopping Indian wedding like that of Anant Ambani? From the guest list to the decor and everything in between, countless details make these events truly unforgettable. Anant Ambani, son of Indian business magnate Mukesh Ambani, recently tied the knot in a grand ceremony that did more than just break the internet. It broke pockets too! Here is everything that went down during the ceremony.

Anant Ambani’s Lavish Indian Wedding

Asia’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani, hosted extravagant pre-wedding festivities for his son, Anant Ambani, and his fiancée, Radhika Merchant. The event, set in Jamnagar, Gujarat, was a lavish affair attended by prominent figures from Wall Street, Silicon Valley, and the entertainment industry. Anant, 28, married Radhika, 29, daughter of another Indian billionaire, Viren Merchant. Though the wedding itself was scheduled for July, the celebrations kicked off with a three-day extravaganza.

Who Attended the Pre-wedding?

Global superstar Rihanna performed at the lavish pre-wedding festivities, causing a stir with her colossal luggage upon arriving in India on Feb. 29. The star-studded guest list of 1,200 included notable figures such as Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Fink, Sundar Pichai, Stephen Harper, Kevin Rudd, and Ivanka Trump. Indian billionaires Gautam Adani and Kumar Mangalam Birla were also in attendance. They were alongside Indian cricketers and Bollywood stars like Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone. Additionally, Disney CEO Bob Iger was expected to attend following an $8.5 billion merger announcement with Reliance Industries. Additionally, this was chaired by Mukesh Ambani, promising a significant impact on India’s entertainment market.

Indians are mesmerized by the opulent pre-wedding celebrations, unfolding in a 3,000-acre garden with a mango orchard on the Ambanis’ estate. Alongside Rihanna, the event features a performance by American illusionist David Blaine. According to Reuters, guests are instructed to wear “jungle fever” outfits for a glitzy cocktail party. The festivities include visits to the Ambanis’ animal rescue center and a lavish gala boasting over 2,500 dishes prepared by a team of 65 chefs. Moreover, guests were pampered with hair styling, make-up, and saree draping services, as well as offered return charter jet flights from New Delhi and Mumbai.

But, How Is This Lavish Ceremony Possible?

Mukesh Ambani, presently Asia’s wealthiest individual and the 11th richest globally with a net worth of $111 billion according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, leads the Reliance conglomerate established by his father, Dhirubhai Ambani. The conglomerate spans various industries, including petroleum refining, retail, telecommunications, food, and digital streaming services. Ambani, aged 66, is married to Nita, and they have three children set to inherit his $243 billion empire. Additionally, he has been engaged in a succession plan involving his 31-year-old twins, Isha and Akash, as well as his son Anant, who joined the Reliance board in August.

Anant is currently a director at Reliance’s new energy business and the Reliance Foundation. His engagement to Radhika Merchant was celebrated in a traditional ceremony at the opulent Ambani residence, Antilia, in Mumbai, a property that gained global attention for being the most expensive at the time of its construction, rising 27 stories high.

Other Indian Luxury Weddings

India’s luxury wedding market witnesses expenditures exceeding $75 billion annually, drawing celebrities, fashion icons, and entertainment influencers. Among the elite, the Ambanis stand out for their opulent celebrations, notably the 2018 wedding of Mukesh Ambani’s daughter, Isha. The event, estimated at nearly $100 million, captivated attention as it unfolded across Lake Como, Mumbai, and Udaipur. Moreover, Beyoncé headlined the sangeet, with prominent figures like former U.S. Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and John Kerry gracing the occasion.

Are you excited about what the family has planned for Anant Ambani’s Indian wedding in July?

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