Global celebrities, business magnates, and politicians have started arriving in Mumbai, India, to partake in the wedding of Mukesh Ambani’s youngest son, Anant Ambani. Anant, aged 29, is tying the knot with his long-time partner, Radhika Merchant. The extravagant celebrations are being held at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, a property owned by the Ambani family. The wedding festivities span over four days and commenced with a traditional Hindu wedding ceremony on Friday, followed by a lavish reception planned for the weekend. A star-studded guest list reportedly includes prominent figures like former British Prime Ministers, Tony Blair and Boris Johnson, Saudi Aramco CEO Amin H. Nasser, members of the Kardashian family, musicians like Adele, Lana Del Rey, Drake, and sports personality David Beckham. Despite reports, the Ambani family has not officially confirmed the attendees.
As the city experiences heavy monsoon rains causing flooding and flight disruptions, traffic diversions have been put in place around the wedding venue to manage the influx of guests flying into Mumbai. Mukesh Ambani, the father of the groom and Asia’s wealthiest person, boasts a staggering net worth of $116 billion. His company, Reliance Industries, is a colossal conglomerate with annual revenue surpassing $100 billion, with interests ranging from petrochemicals, oil and gas to telecommunications and retail. The family possesses opulent assets, including a $1 billion 27-story private apartment building in Mumbai, complete with three helipads, a 160-car garage, and a private cinema.
Anant Ambani oversees the expansion of the conglomerate into renewable and green energy sectors and manages a sprawling 3,000-acre animal rescue center in Jamnagar, Gujarat. The bride, Radhika Merchant, aged 29, is the daughter of pharmaceutical tycoon Viren Merchant and serves as the marketing director for his company, Encore Healthcare, according to Vogue. Critics argue that Mukesh Ambani’s success is attributed to political affiliations during various Indian governments and under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration, citing examples of preferential treatment given to certain corporations like Reliance Industries, highlighting issues of “crony capitalism.”
The Ambani family has a track record of organizing lavish events, such as the pre-wedding celebrations that took place earlier in the year, attended by a plethora of global VIPs and featured performances by renowned artists like Rihanna and Akon. The extravagance extended to a three-day cruise from Italy to France in May, with entertainment provided by Katy Perry and Pitbull. As part of the ongoing celebrations, a mass wedding for over 50 underprivileged couples was arranged recently. Moreover, a private pre-wedding concert headlined by Justin Bieber was hosted, accompanied by performances from Bollywood luminaries Alia Bhatt, Ranveer Singh, and Salman Khan. The Ambani family’s reputation for hosting grand events was previously observed during Mukesh Ambani’s daughter’s wedding in 2018, which included a pre-wedding performance by Beyoncé and attendance from notable figures like former U.S. Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and John Kerry, alongside Indian celebrities and Bollywood stars in Udaipur, India.
