Anant Ambani Wedding: A Lavish, Star-Studded Ceremony in Mumbai

After seven months of elaborate pre-wedding festivities, Anant Ambani, son of India’s wealthiest individual, consummated his highly anticipated marriage to pharmaceutical heiress Radhika Merchant before thousands of esteemed guests on Friday.

Among the notable attendees who journeyed to Mumbai for Anant Ambani's wedding were Kim and Khloé Kardashian, Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. The ceremony also drew luminaries from various sectors, including Indian entertainment, sports, business, and politics. Bollywood icons such as Rajinikanth and Sanjay Dutt, former President Ram Nath Kovind, and chief ministers from several states, along with members of India’s revered cricket team, were in attendance.

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The Ambani family, founders of India’s largest private corporation, Reliance Industries, spared no expense. Established by Anant’s grandfather, the conglomerate is now overseen by his father Mukesh, whose net worth exceeds $122 billion, according to Forbes.

In a rain-soaked Mumbai, authorities closed roads surrounding the Ambani-owned, 16,000-capacity Jio World Convention Center in preparation for a red-carpet event. Attendees, donning custom sarees, lehengas, and kurtas, paraded past photographers, setting potential trends in Indian wedding fashion. International guests honored traditional attire, with many dressed in creations by prominent Indian designers. John Cena graced the red carpet in an embroidered sky-blue sherwani and white trousers, while Nick Jonas dazzled in a baby pink bouclé fabric sherwani, accompanied by matching satin trousers. Jonas arrived with his spouse, actress Priyanka Chopra, who wore an intricately embellished sunshine-yellow sari.

The fashion elite were present in full force at Anant Ambani's wedding. Zendaya’s longtime stylist Law Roach sported a mauve velvet jacket, a purple tunic, and Schiaparelli gold-toed shoes, while designer and New York Fashion Week staple Prabal Gurung appeared in a rose-colored sherwani and aviator sunglasses. Kim and Khloé Kardashian, who bypassed the red carpet, were seen on social media in gold and red saris, respectively. Kim’s outfit featured an off-the-shoulder tasseled bodice, whereas Khloé opted for ornate long sleeves, stacked necklaces, and a lavish maang tikka. Kim hinted at their film crew's presence for an episode of "The Kardashians" via an Instagram story.

Once inside the venue, which was transformed into a miniature replica of the holy Indian city of Varanasi, widely shared social media footage showed celebrities such as Chopra and Cena enjoying the festivities at Anant Ambani's wedding.

The groom made his red carpet entrance in a golden sherwani paired with sneakers, which he later changed for the ceremony. The bride radiated in hand-embroidered bridal couture by Indian label Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla. Merchant adhered to the Gujarati tradition of wearing red and white, in an opulent red-trimmed ivory ensemble featuring a 16-foot veil adorned with stones and sequins and a seven-foot-long detachable train, as detailed by her stylist Rhea Kapoor on Instagram.

In a video posted on social media on Friday morning, Anant’s mother, Nita Ambani, recounted a recent visit to Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, where she sought blessings for the couple. She expressed her intention to "reimagine and present the purity, positivity, and beauty of Varanasi at the wedding," adding that the event would "pay tribute to India’s glorious culture and heritage, brought to life by thousands of artisans, weavers, and craftspeople."

It was also disclosed that Nita Ambani’s gown for the event, a custom peach silk ghagra by couture house Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla and artisans Vijay Kumar and Monika Maurya, took more than 40 days to create.

A Lavish Affair at Anant Ambani's Wedding

The Ambani family remained discreet about the details leading up to Anant Ambani's wedding, though speculation about the guest list and star performers abounded. Local media and Indian social media users speculated on aspects ranging from the dinner menu to the jewelry displayed from the family’s extensive collection.

Renowned fashion designer Manish Malhotra served as the event’s creative director, crafting bespoke outfits for various Ambani family members throughout the month-long wedding celebrations. "Each detail, from the decor and cuisine to the attire and ambiance, is designed to immerse guests in an atmosphere of joy, love, and celebration," he conveyed to CNN via email prior to the wedding.

In the days preceding Anant Ambani's wedding, the couple participated in several traditional pre-wedding rituals. Justin Bieber performed at the "sangeet," a night of music and dance, last Friday. The couple then attended a private "haldi" ceremony, where friends and family traditionally apply turmeric paste to bless the bride and groom.

In accordance with Hindu tradition, the wedding dates were reportedly chosen based on auspicious days from the bride and groom’s birth charts.

A Brown University graduate, 29-year-old Anant Ambani is Mukesh’s youngest child and serves as a director at an energy business within Reliance. His bride, Radhika Merchant, also 29, is the daughter of Viren and Shaila Merchant, founders of the pharmaceutical company Encore Healthcare.

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The exact financial outlay for Anant Ambani's wedding has not been disclosed, though industry estimates suggest expenditures in the hundreds of millions of dollars, with musical performers reportedly receiving seven- or eight-figure payments.

Opinions on the extravagant event varied among Mumbai residents interviewed by CNN. Preschool teacher Devanshi Zaveri remarked, “It is their wealth, but the extravagance is beyond ridiculous.” Conversely, banker Jenica Kothari appreciated the economic boost: “It is helping the economy and everyone involved. If they have the means, they should spend it.” Local hotel rates reportedly surged as thousands of guests prepared to travel to Mumbai, the country’s commercial capital.

Months of Celebrations for Anant Ambani's Wedding

The festivities will continue through the weekend at the Ambani family’s 27-story Mumbai residence, Antilia. A "Shubh Ashirwad," or divine blessings ceremony, is expected on Saturday, followed by a Sunday reception with an "Indian chic" dress code, offering guests a final opportunity to celebrate with the couple.

This weekend marks the culmination of seven months of celebrations for Anant Ambani's wedding, dubbed India’s wedding of the year. The series of events began with a celebrity-filled engagement party in January. In March, the Ambanis hosted a communal dinner for over 50,000 villagers and a pre-wedding celebration for 1,200 guests, featuring performances by Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and Ivanka Trump, and a rare live performance by Rihanna.

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In May, the family chartered a cruise ship for a four-day Mediterranean voyage, including multiple European stops and on-deck concerts by the Backstreet Boys and Pitbull, among others.

Anant’s elder sister, Isha, also held a grand wedding in 2018. Her marriage to businessman Anand Piramal was attended by celebrities, politicians, and business magnates, and her pre-wedding celebration featured a private concert by Beyoncé.

News Source:- edition.cnn.com