India’s Biggest Wedding: Star-Studded Celebrity Guest List

Anant Ambani, the son of Asia’s richest man, is tying the knot with his longtime girlfriend Radhika Merchant on Friday, concluding a series of wedding festivities that began several months ago.

The wedding ceremony is expected to host around 1,200 guests, including prominent figures from Bollywood, Silicon Valley tycoons, and former world leaders. Notable attendees include Boris Johnson, Tony Blair, Hillary Clinton, Kim and Khloe Kardashian, and Mike Tyson, as reported by Bloomberg.

Additionally, high-profile figures such as Samsung Electronics chief Jay Lee, Saudi Aramco’s Amin Nasser, Lockheed Martin’s Jim Taiclet, FIFA boss Gianni Infantino, and Gautam Adani, Asia’s second-richest man, are expected to be present.

Anant Ambani, 29, is the youngest son of Mukesh Ambani, the chairman of the Fortune 500 company Reliance Industries, which has an estimated net worth of $113 billion according to Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index. Reliance Industries is involved in various sectors, including petroleum refining and marketing, chemicals, organized retail, telecommunications, and digital streaming services. Mukesh Ambani and his wife Nita have three children: twins Isha and Akash, and Anant, all of whom manage different enterprises of their father’s business.

Radhika Merchant, also 29, is the daughter of pharmaceutical tycoon Viren Merchant and serves on the board of her father’s company, Encore Healthcare.

The wedding celebrations, which commenced around four months ago, have captured significant media attention both nationally and internationally. The initial festivities began in March with a three-day pre-wedding celebration in Mukesh Ambani’s hometown Jamnagar, located in the western Indian state of Gujarat. This event saw guests such as Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Ivanka Trump, the king and queen of Bhutan, and various world leaders. The celebration featured a specially built glass palace, a light show involving 5,500 drones, and performances by Rihanna, Diljit Dosanjh, and Akon.

In May, another pre-wedding celebration had the Ambanis hosting 800 guests on a four-day Mediterranean cruise from Italy to France. Entertainment included performances by the American band Backstreet Boys, singer Katy Perry, and opera star Andrea Bocelli.

Despite the grandeur, the celebrations have faced criticism for the inconvenience caused to the public. For instance, the Indian government temporarily upgraded Jamnagar airport to accommodate the private jets of the Ambani family’s guests, causing public outrage as the sensitive Indian Air Force facility was used for the wedding party.

In Italy, residents, tourists, and local businesses in Portofino and Genoa were displeased as the cities were closed down for the cruise party. People living near the bay had to endure loud music, causing further frustration.

In Mumbai, the concluding wedding festivities have led to chaos in India’s financial hub. Traffic restrictions were imposed around the wedding venue, the Jio World Convention Centre, which is owned by Reliance, from July 12 to 15. This has upset many residents in a city already known for its congested traffic, especially exacerbated by heavy rains. Several offices in the Bandra Kurla Complex, a commercial hub, have instructed employees to work remotely until July 15, according to Mint. The complex houses India’s top stock exchange, market regulator, and numerous international banks.

The latest round of wedding celebrations began last weekend, featuring Justin Bieber performing for the couple’s friends and family at the traditional sangeet ceremony. Bieber performed hits like “Love Yourself” and “I’m The One” at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre in Mumbai. Rumors suggest he was paid $10 million for the private performance.

The wedding ceremony on Friday will follow traditional Hindu customs, and there will be a two-day reception. Rajan Mehra, CEO of air charter company Club One Air, mentioned that the Ambanis have hired three of his company’s Falcon 2000 jets to ferry guests and expect more than 100 private planes for the event, as reported by Reuters. “The guests are coming from all over and each aircraft will make multiple trips across the country,” he noted.

Manish Malhotra, one of India’s top designers, is the wedding designer. Media reports indicate that he has been working closely with the groom’s mother, Nita Ambani, to bring the family’s vision for the wedding to life. “Each detail, from the decor and cuisine to the attire and ambiance; each event, from the vibrant sangeet to the ceremonial wedding day and the grand reception, is designed to immerse guests in an atmosphere of joy, love, and celebration,” he told CNN.

Source: Bloomberg, Mint, Reuters, CNN