A grand spectacle unfolded in the quaint western Indian city of Jamnagar as tycoons, world leaders, and celebrities from Hollywood and Bollywood gathered to kick off the extravagant wedding celebration hosted by billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani for his youngest son.
Among the illustrious guests on the nearly 1,200-person list are luminaries such as pop icon Rihanna, tech moguls Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg, business magnate Sunder Picha, political figure Ivanka Trump, and Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan.
All eyes are on the forthcoming nuptials of 28-year-old Anant Ambani and his longtime partner Radhika Merchant, 29, set to take place in July. Radhika, the daughter of Viren Merchant, CEO of Encore Healthcare Pvt. Ltd., and entrepreneur Shaila Merchant, is at the center of attention alongside her betrothed.
This extravagant affair is in keeping with the Ambani family’s tradition of hosting lavish and extravagant gatherings, showcasing their economic and political influence within India.
Who is Mukesh Ambani?
At 66 years old, Mukesh Ambani holds the title of the world’s 10th richest individual, boasting a net worth of $115 billion, as per Forbes, and reigning as Asia’s wealthiest person.
His conglomerate, Reliance Industries, is a colossal entity with annual revenues exceeding $100 billion. Its interests span diverse sectors including petrochemicals, oil and gas, telecommunications, and retail.
Under Ambani’s stewardship, Reliance initiated a telecom revolution with the launch of the 4G phone and broadband service Jio in 2016, which triggered a price war in the industry. Today, Jio boasts over 420 million subscribers and is venturing into 5G services. Recently, Disney struck an $8.5 billion deal to merge its Indian operations with Reliance Industries, birthing a formidable media conglomerate.
Pre-wedding bash
The three-day pre-wedding extravaganza provides a glimpse into the opulence anticipated at the forthcoming July wedding.
Set in Jamnagar, the Ambanis’ ancestral city and home to their primary oil refinery, the festivities include visits to an animal rescue center overseen by the groom-to-be, Anant. Dubbed “Vantara” or “Star of the Forest,” the sprawling 3,000-acre sanctuary shelters abused, injured, and endangered animals, with a focus on elephants.
Guests are required to don jungle-themed attire for the occasion and can expect daily dress codes, mood boards, and a retinue of stylists, makeup artists, and Indian fashion designers at their disposal.
Notable among the Ambanis’ possessions is Antilia, a 27-story private skyscraper in Mumbai valued at $1 billion. Complete with three helipads, a 160-car garage, a private cinema, swimming pool, and fitness center, it epitomizes luxury living.
Critics argue that Ambani’s success stems largely from political connections, spanning from the Congress era to the present rule under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, labeling it as “crony capitalism” facilitating the prosperity of certain corporations like Ambani’s.
With Mukesh Ambani gradually delegating responsibilities to his offspring, the reins of Reliance Jio, its retail arm, and the emerging energy business are respectively helmed by his sons Akash and Anant, and his daughter Isha.
