Windsors of India: After Months of Celebrations, the Wedding Day Arrives

To many in India, it feels like the Ambani wedding is an event that’s been making headlines forever.

The wedding of Anant Ambani, son of India’s richest man Mukesh Ambani, to Radhika Merchant, daughter of a wealthy pharmaceutical tycoon, was never going to be a modest affair. Mukesh Ambani, worth an estimated $120 billion, is known for his extravagant displays of wealth. The family resides in a 27-storey mansion, Antilia, and previously set the record for India’s most expensive wedding in 2018, costing nearly $100 million and featuring a performance by Beyoncé.

Even by Ambani standards, the five-month-long pre-wedding celebrations for 29-year-old Anant have been extraordinary. Estimates suggest the entire spectacle will exceed $600 million—a mere 0.5% of the Ambani fortune.

The actual wedding ceremonies will be held over three days in Mumbai, starting on Friday. Domestic media has dubbed it “India’s own royal wedding,” highlighting the Ambani family’s influential status. The guest list reportedly includes Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Hillary Clinton, Boris Johnson, Tony Blair, the Beckhams, the Kardashians, and top Bollywood stars like Shah Rukh Khan. Musicians Adele and Drake are rumored to be performing, and hundreds of private planes have been chartered to fly in guests.

Leher Kala, a columnist for the Indian Express, compared the extravagance to the grand weddings of India’s old royal families, saying, “It’s a statement that the Ambanis have arrived, not just in India, but globally. They seem to want to recast themselves as the Windsors of India.”

The Ambanis’ incredible wealth and Mukesh’s journey from modest beginnings to heading a multi-billion dollar conglomerate make them aspirational figures for many, despite allegations of political patronage. Kala adds, “The Ambanis are pretty much the only family who could get away with such conspicuous consumption on this scale. They have unparalleled power and social capital in India.”

The exhaustive pre-wedding events began in March with a high-profile party featuring Rihanna, who reportedly received $6 million for her first concert in almost eight years. Guests, including Bill Gates and Ivanka Trump, marveled at a light show with 5,500 drones and enjoyed a jungle-themed party with a nine-page dress code.

In May, an 800-guest wedding party cruise around the Mediterranean, costing $150 million, featured performances from Andrea Bocelli, Katy Perry, the Backstreet Boys, and Pitbull. The festivities were so intense they led to noise complaints from locals in Genoa and Portofino.

Last week’s traditional pre-wedding sangeet featured Justin Bieber, who reportedly pocketed $10 million for his performance.

As for the wedding itself, details remain under wraps, but the lavish invitation—a box playing Hindu mantras and filled with gifts—suggests another extravagant affair. Events will be held at a vast Mumbai convention center and Antilia, which boasts a ballroom, pool, helipad, and cinema. Police have restricted access to the surrounding roads for three days, considering it a “public event.”

The overt opulence has sparked criticism regarding inequality in India, where the number of billionaires has surpassed 200 while poverty remains widespread. Reports indicate that the richest 1% now control over 40% of the country’s wealth.

Some see this as a time to celebrate India’s culture and traditions, drawing international attention to the country. According to Jefferies, an investment banking firm, Indian families spend nearly double on weddings compared to education.

Mareesha Parikh, co-founder of Swaaha Weddings, commented on the trend of weddings being used as a status symbol in India, saying, “Over the past decade, weddings have shifted from being just about emotions to being about statements of status. It’s great for our industry as people make significant investments in celebrations. With a family like the Ambanis, this wedding is happening on an international scale like we’ve never seen before.”

Source: The Guardian