On 12 July 2024, India saw a spectacle never seen before, Anant Ambani, the youngest child of business tycoon Mukesh Ambani and philanthropist Nita Ambani, tying the knot with Radhika Merchant, daughter of healthcare baron Viren Merchant. The ceremony was not merely a wedding—it was an epoch-making occasion that is frequently referred to as "India's own royal wedding." A year later, the majesty, style, and sheer magnitude still reverberate through pop culture and society.
Months before the exchange of vows, Ambani family had already started hosting opulent pre-wedding parties, guests were flown to Jamnagar in March 2024 for a three-day extravaganza at the family's animal park, Vantara. The subject was "jungle fever," and A-list entertainment was the order of the day—Shah Rukh Khan, Diljit Dosanjh, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and even Rihanna, who performed live after eight years, took to the stage.
In May, the festivities extended to a Mediterranean cruise with 1,200 guests, the ocean trip was like a worldwide music festival. From Katy Perry and Pitbull to the Backstreet Boys, every evening was a night of celebrity-filled surprises.
Radhika didn't merely go to her wedding—she dominated each shot, during her haldi ceremony, she sported a dupatta made from 90 marigold flowers and thousands of jasmine buds. For her sangeet ceremony, she stunned in a gold Manish Malhotra lehenga studded with 25,000 Swarovski crystals.
On the cruise, she wowed everyone in a Grace Ling design done using aerospace-grade aluminum. But perhaps the most emotional was a Robert Wun gown that had a love letter from Anant, penned on her 22nd birthday, printed all over it. Styled by Rhea Kapoor, the outfit became an instant social media hit.
For her wedding, she wore an Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla lehenga that blended tradition and symbolism. The five-meter veil, zardozi embroidery details, and monogrammed brooch captured Gujarati heritage. Her post-wedding look—hand-painted on 12 Italian canvas panels by artist Jayasri Burman—honored mythology, elephants, and celestial motifs.
They put the wedding cost at $600 million to $1 billion—still just 0.5% of the Ambani's' net worth. By contrast, most Indian families spend anywhere from 5% to 15% of their lifetime savings on weddings. The Ambani wedding was lavish, certainly—but it also showed us how the super-rich party in their own style.
A year on, the Anant-Radhika wedding remains the epitome of luxury, fashion, and celebration. From pre-wedding euphoria to fashion pages, it created a new chapter in Indian wedding history.
