Mumbai: Reliance Foundation Chairperson Nita Ambani poses for photographs as she arrives at the Mangal Utsav wedding reception of her son Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant in Mumbai, Sunday, July 14, 2024 | Photo Credit: PTI
Months of celebrations culminated in a wedding reception on Sunday, as the youngest son of Asia’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani, married his long-time girlfriend in a deal worth millions.
The newlyweds were celebrated by friends and relatives at Mumbai’s Jio World Drive – a convention centre built and owned by the Ambani family – as part of the “Mangal Utsav” (festival of joy) that many have dubbed as the wedding of the year.
Anant Ambani tied the knot with Radhika Merchant, daughter of pharma tycoon Viren and Sheila Merchant. The wedding rituals, including the couple exchanging garlands and walking around the holy fire, began on Friday and were completed on Saturday morning.
Former British prime ministers Boris Johnson and Tony Blair, as well as Kim and Khloe Kardashian, Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas, US wrestler and actor John Cena, Bollywood superstars Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan were among the celebrities who attended the celebrations on Friday and Saturday.
Bollywood actress Aditi Rao Hydari arrives to attend the wedding reception of Anant Ambani, son of billionaire businessman and Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, and Radhika Merchant, in Mumbai on July 14, 2024. Photo Credit: AFP
Mumbai: American stylist Law Roach arrives in Mumbai to attend Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s wedding reception ‘Mangal Utsav’, Sunday, July 14, 2024 | Photo Credit: PTI
Imagination Technologies Chairperson Bert Nordberg walks the red carpet while attending the reception of Anant Ambani and Radhika Ambani following their wedding in Mumbai, India on July 14, 2024. Photo Credit: Reuters
Mumbai: Actress Tamannaah Bhatia poses for pictures as she arrives in Mumbai to attend Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s wedding reception ‘Mangal Utsav’, Sunday, July 14, 2024 | Photo Credit: PTI
Bollywood actor Bobby Deol poses for pictures on the red carpet while attending the reception of Anant Ambani and Radhika Ambani after their wedding in Mumbai on July 14, 2024. Photo Credit: Reuters
Safa Siddiqui poses for pictures on the red carpet while attending the reception of Anant Ambani and Radhika Ambani after their wedding in Mumbai, India on July 14, 2024. Photo credit: Reuters
Bollywood actor Arjun Kapoor poses for pictures on the red carpet while attending the reception of Anant Ambani and Radhika Ambani after their wedding in Mumbai on July 14, 2024. Photo Credit: Reuters
Bollywood actress Diana Penty poses for pictures on the red carpet while attending the reception of Anant Ambani and Radhika Ambani after their wedding in Mumbai on July 14, 2024. Photo Credit: Reuters
Mumbai: Actor Bobby Deol arrives in Mumbai to attend Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s wedding reception ‘Mangal Utsav’, Sunday, July 14, 2024 | Photo Credit: Reuters
Bollywood actor Sunny Deol arrives at the wedding reception of Anant Ambani, son of billionaire Mukesh Ambani, and Radhika Merchant in Mumbai on July 14, 2024. Photo Credit: AFP
Indian actor Rajkummar Rao with his wife Patralekha pose for a picture at the wedding reception of Anant Ambani, son of billionaire Mukesh Ambani, and Radhika Merchant in Mumbai, India, Sunday, July 14, 2024. Photo credit: AP
Mumbai: Actor Govinda arrives in Mumbai to attend Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s wedding reception ‘Mangal Utsav’, Sunday, July 14, 2024 | Photo Credit: PTI
Mumbai: Actress Amruta Khanvilkar poses for photographs as she arrives in Mumbai to attend Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s wedding reception ‘Mangal Utsav’, Sunday, July 14, 2024 | Photo Credit: PTI
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday blessed the newlyweds at a reception hosted by the Ambani family, highlighting the billionaire’s growing influence.
“This is the last and most auspicious ceremony and the last wedding of our family,” the Times of India newspaper quoted Mukesh Ambani as saying. The Ambani family did not disclose how much they spent on the months-long celebrations.
Rihanna and Akon performed for a star-studded guest list of 1,200 during a three-day pre-wedding celebration in March.
A four-day European cruise in May included on-deck concerts by the Backstreet Boys and Pitbull, followed by a masquerade ball featuring Katy Perry. Justin Bieber sang his hits at a traditional music night in Mumbai last week.
Mukesh Ambani, the groom’s father, is the ninth richest person in the world, with a net worth of $116 billion, according to Forbes. He is Asia’s richest person. His Reliance Industries is a conglomerate with annual revenues of more than $100 billion that includes petrochemicals, oil and gas, telecommunications and retail.
The Ambani family owns, among other properties, a 27-story family compound in Mumbai worth $1 billion. The building has three helipads, a garage with a capacity of 160 cars, and a private movie theater.
The groom, Anant, 29, oversees the group’s renewable and green energy expansion. He also runs a 3,000-acre (about 1,200 hectares) animal rescue center in Jamnagar, Gujarat state, the family’s hometown.
According to Vogue, the bride, also 29, is the daughter of pharmaceutical tycoon Viren Merchant and is the marketing director of his company, Encore Healthcare.
