Anant Ambani, the younger son of Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani and his wife Nita, recently married Radhika Merchant, CEO of Encore Healthcare and daughter of Viren Merchant. The wedding, held on July 12 in Mumbai, marked the culmination of a series of lavish pre-wedding celebrations.
The journey to their wedding began with a roka ceremony in 2022 at the Shrinathji Temple in Nathdwara, followed by an extravagant engagement party at Antilia, the Ambani residence, in early 2023. A mehendi ceremony took place in January 2023 at a prestigious Mumbai hotel.
In February 2024, the festivities intensified with the Lagan Lakhvanu ceremony, leading up to a grand three-day celebration hosted by the Ambani family at their sprawling Jamnagar estate in early March. This event drew a distinguished guest list that included international figures like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg, alongside numerous Bollywood stars, athletes, business leaders, and diplomats. The evenings featured exclusive performances by Rihanna and Diljit Dosanjh.
Continuing the celebrations, the Ambanis organized a luxury cruise in late May, where guests like Shah Rukh Khan, Ranveer Singh, and Ananya Panday enjoyed private concerts by Shakira, the Backstreet Boys, Katy Perry, and David Guetta across Mediterranean stops.
The week leading to July 12 saw a flurry of events including a sangeet with Justin Bieber performing, a mameru ceremony, a garba night, haldi and mehendi ceremonies, and philanthropic gestures like a mass wedding for underprivileged couples, Shiv Shakti pooja, and Graha Shanti pooja.
International Media Coverage
- The Washington Post
Describing it as a “spectacular” and “vulgar” affair, The Washington Post focused on the extensive guest list which included pop stars, politicians, tech tycoons, and Bollywood celebrities, overshadowing the couple themselves. - The Sun
Dubbed “the world’s most expensive wedding,” The Sun highlighted extravagant details: 100 private jets for international guests, 20 million flowers adorning the venue, 37,500 meal options prepared by 500 chefs, and an estimated cost of ₹6 to 7 lakh per invite. It also reflected on the stark wealth disparity in India. - Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera discussed criticism over the wedding’s opulence, noting its stark contrast against India’s socio-economic backdrop and public discontent over associated traffic restrictions in Mumbai. - The Guardian
The Guardian covered the influx of guests to Mumbai for the festivities and featured an opinion piece by Hannah Ellis-Petersen, remarking on the wedding’s unparalleled opulence and its societal implications.
