Asia’s Richest Man’s Son to Marry in One of India’s Most Extravagant Weddings

MUMBAI, India (AP) — The financial capital of India, Mumbai, is buzzing with the arrival of global celebrities, business magnates, and politicians. They are all here to attend the wedding of Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Asia’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani. This event underscores the immense wealth and growing influence of the Ambani family.

Anant Ambani, 29, is set to marry his longtime girlfriend, Radhika Merchant. This union is being celebrated as the wedding of the year. The festivities are happening at the opulent Jio World Convention Centre and the Ambani residence in Mumbai. These celebrations mark the culmination of months-long events that have seen performances by global pop icons including Rihanna and Justin Bieber.

The four-day festivities begin with a traditional Hindu wedding ceremony on Friday and will continue with a grand reception over the weekend. The guest list reads like a who’s who of global elites, featuring names such as former British Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Boris Johnson, Saudi Aramco CEO Amin H. Nasser, the Kardashians, Adele, Lana Del Rey, Drake, and David Beckham, according to local reports.

Although the Ambani family has not officially confirmed the guest list, the anticipation is palpable.

Due to the high-profile nature of the event, Mumbai Police have imposed traffic diversions around the wedding venues from Friday to Monday. This is to manage the influx of guests flying into the city, which has been grappling with heavy monsoon rains, causing flooding and flight disruptions.

Mukesh Ambani, the father of the groom, is ranked as the world’s ninth richest man with an estimated net worth of $116 billion, according to Forbes. Reliance Industries, his conglomerate, generates over $100 billion in annual revenue, with interests stretching from petrochemicals and oil to telecoms and retail.

The Ambani family’s wealth extends to their residence, a 27-story private apartment building valued at $1 billion. The house boasts three helipads, a 160-car garage, and a private movie theater, exemplifying their opulent lifestyle.

Anant Ambani manages Reliance’s renewable and green energy initiatives and also runs a sizeable animal rescue center in Jamnagar, Gujarat, the family’s hometown.

Radhika Merchant, the bride, is also 29 and the daughter of pharmaceutical tycoon Viren Merchant. She serves as the marketing director for her father’s company, Encore Healthcare.

Critics of Mukesh Ambani argue that his company has thrived largely due to political connections established during the Congress party-led governments in the 1970s and ’80s, and has continued to prosper under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration since 2014. They assert that “crony capitalism” is a significant factor in Ambani’s success.

The pre-wedding celebrations of the Ambani family have been nothing short of extravagant.

In March, they hosted a three-day prenuptial event that included 1,200 guests, performances by Rihanna, Akon, and Diljit Dosanjh. Notable attendees included world leaders, tech tycoons, and Bollywood megastars. Tech billionaires Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates were also present.

These monthslong pre-wedding celebrations have consistently made headlines and created a social media buzz.

In May, the family took guests on a lavish three-day cruise from Italy to France, featuring performances by Katy Perry and Pitbull.

As part of the festivities, they also organized a mass wedding for over 50 underprivileged couples on July 2.

Last week, guests were treated to a private pre-wedding concert by Justin Bieber, which also saw performances by Bollywood stars Alia Bhatt, Ranveer Singh, and Salman Khan.

This high level of celebration is reminiscent of 2018 when Mukesh Ambani’s daughter tied the knot. That event captured the world’s attention, highlighted by a pre-wedding performance from Beyoncé and attended by former U.S. Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and John Kerry, alongside Indian celebrities and Bollywood stars in Udaipur.

Source: AP News, Forbes, Vogue