Asia’s richest man Mukesh Ambani plans a grand wedding for his son: details

NEW DELHI (AP) — In March, Asia’s richest man Mukesh Ambani hosted an opulent three-day prenuptial bash for his son, Anant Ambani. The event boasted a guest list of 1,200 people, including former world leaders, tech tycoons, Bollywood megastars, and even a performance by pop legend Rihanna.

This was merely the beginning of a series of lavish pre-wedding celebrations that have captivated the media and ignited social media discussions.

In May, the Ambani family took their celebrations to another level with a three-day pre-wedding cruise from Italy to France. The cruise featured DJ sets by David Guetta, live performances by Katy Perry singing her hit song “Firework,” and a grand finale performance by Pitbull, as reported in various media outlets.

The grand wedding is scheduled for next week, with 29-year-old Anant Ambani set to marry his long-term partner, Radhika Merchant. The wedding is already being hailed as the “wedding of the year.”

Mukesh Ambani, the father of the groom, is currently the world’s 9th richest man with a net worth of $116 billion, according to Forbes. He is also the wealthiest individual in Asia. His company, Reliance Industries, is a sprawling conglomerate involved in petrochemicals, oil and gas, telecommunications, and retail. The company reports over $100 billion in annual revenue.

Among the family’s numerous assets, they own a 27-story private apartment building named Antila in Mumbai. Valued at $1 billion, it features three helipads, a 160-car garage, a private movie theater, a swimming pool, and a fitness center.

Detractors of Mukesh Ambani argue that Reliance Industries has thrived largely due to political connections. They attribute the company’s success to “crony capitalism,” benefiting particularly during the Congress governments in the 1970s and 1980s and under Prime Minister Narendra Modi since 2014.

Beginning to transition leadership, Ambani has delegated key roles to his three children. His eldest son, Akash Ambani, now chairs Reliance Jio, the telecom division. His daughter, Isha, oversees the retail segment, while groom-to-be Anant has been initiated into the new energy business sector.

Anant Ambani holds a degree from Brown University and is committed to expanding Reliance Industries’ renewable and green energy initiatives. He also manages a 3,000-acre animal rescue center called Vantara in Gujarat’s Jamnagar, where many of the pre-wedding festivities have taken place.

Radhika Merchant, also 29, is the daughter of Viren Merchant, a prominent pharmaceutical magnate. She serves as marketing director for her father’s company, Encore Healthcare. The couple was introduced in 2017 by mutual friends, and their relationship blossomed shortly thereafter, Radhika told Vogue.

The main wedding ceremony is slated for July 12, followed by an elaborate reception on July 14, according to local media. The festivities are expected to take place at the Ambani’s Jio World Convention Center in Mumbai and their luxurious family home.

The wedding dates were chosen based on the couple’s birth charts, following Hindu customs to ensure auspiciousness. Traditional wedding rituals and events will precede the main ceremony, staying true to cultural norms.

Indian social media buzzed on Friday with videos from the couple’s sangeet, a ceremony featuring dance performances by both families. Bollywood stars like Alia Bhatt, Ranveer Singh, and Salman Khan, as well as pop icon Justin Bieber, performed at the event, according to local media.

In a generous gesture, the Ambani family also organized a mass wedding for over 50 underprivileged couples as part of their pre-wedding celebrations.

Known for their extravagant parties, the Ambanis’ events next week are set to attract more celebrities, billionaires, and world leaders. The guest list for the pre-wedding bash in March included big names like Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, and former leaders of Canada and Qatar. Bollywood icons such as Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone were also in attendance. Performers included Rihanna, Akon, and Diljit Dosanjh, a Punjabi singer who gained international fame at Coachella.

In 2018, when Mukesh Ambani’s daughter married, the family made headlines with spectacular celebrations. Beyoncé performed at the pre-wedding functions, and former U.S. Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and John Kerry mingled with Indian and Bollywood celebrities in Udaipur.

Source: Associated Press