Celebrities Shine at $600M Wedding of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant

The weekend has arrived, marking the highly anticipated wedding of Anant Ambani, the son of India’s wealthiest man, Mukesh Ambani, who will marry Radhika Merchant in a star-studded event at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai.

It comes as no surprise that the son of a businessman worth $116 billion would host an extraordinarily lavish wedding. The celebrations have spanned five months, culminating in this grand event with an estimated cost of $600 million.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas, a known star of “Citadel,” made an appearance in a stunning pale orange lehenga choli ensemble adorned with intricate beading forming a floral pattern. She arrived on Friday with her singer husband, Nick Jonas, who wore a blush pink outfit.

Another high-profile guest, Kim Kardashian, the reality TV star and founder of Skims, attended the event wearing a striking red beaded ensemble. She had arrived earlier in a beige halterneck dress and oversized sunglasses.

Kim’s younger sister, Khloe Kardashian, also attended. She looked exquisite in a silver and gold detailed outfit paired with layered Polki jewelry.

WWE star and actor John Cena was seen in a pale blue embellished outfit, showcasing his style at the high-profile event.

As the festivities reached their peak, Anant and Radhika, both 29, have been dubbed the ‘Windsors of India’. Their wedding has featured a three-day pre-wedding event in March, one of which included a performance by Rihanna. This particular event reportedly cost the family $6.3 million.

March’s celebrations took place in the family’s hometown, Jamnagar in Gujarat, home to the Ambani oil refinery. The festivities included a dinner in a custom-built glasshouse and a Moulin Rouge-themed party at their palatial home. The renowned guests list for this party included illustrious names like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg, among 1,200 attendees.

Fashion choices for the bride and groom mirrored their extravagant lifestyle. The bride donned several custom outfits, including a lehenga with 20,000 Swarovski crystals and another that required 5,700 hours to create. The groom wore Dolce & Gabbana outfits, paired with a Richard Mille wristwatch valued at $1.5 million.

Following a series of lavish celebrations, the family took the party overseas in June. They embarked on a luxurious cruise along the Tyrrhenian Sea in Italy and the French Mediterranean. The wedding party, featuring Bollywood stars, stopped in Rome, Portofino, Genoa, and Cannes, with performances from The Backstreet Boys, Katy Perry, and Andrea Bocelli.

Reports from MailOnline suggest that the wedding is set to cost around $151 million, with the catering contract alone amounting to $25 million. The months-long preparations feature dazzling outfits, fairytale decor, and A-list guests, drawing comparisons to royal weddings.

Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Nita and Mukesh Ambani, has a family business empire that encompasses oil, telecoms, chemicals, technology, fashion, and food. Mukesh, the chairman, and managing director of Reliance Industries, is the richest person in Asia and the 11th richest globally. Anant’s older sister, Isha, holds the previous record for the most expensive wedding after her $100 million nuptials in 2018.

Meanwhile, Radhika Merchant is the daughter of pharma tycoons Viren and Shaila Merchant.

Indian weddings are often grand affairs, involving several distinctive customs. For instance, a Hindu priest, or pandit, may use astrology to determine the most favorable date and time for the ceremony. These weddings typically span several days, starting with intimate events attended only by close friends and family.

The color red, considered lucky, is often featured prominently in the wedding decor, outfits, and flowers. Indian weddings also tend to have extensive guest lists, ensuring no one feels left out. Each part of the wedding day requires a different outfit, contributing to the celebration’s opulence.

Entertainment includes accomplished dance performances, often featuring Bollywood-style dances by guests and the couple themselves. Unlike Western weddings, public displays of affection are usually deemed inappropriate, so the couple usually skips the “You may now kiss the bride” moment.

The groom’s entrance, known as the baraat, is a grand procession, while the bride prepares for her grand reveal, termed kanya aagaman. The ceremony includes saptapadi—seven steps that the couple takes together, symbolizing their journey as husband and wife.

Source: MailOnline