Ambani’s Son Set to Marry After Months of Global Festivities

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The highly anticipated wedding of Anant Ambani, the son of Asia’s richest man Mukesh Ambani, is set to culminate in a grand ceremony this Friday. The nuptials, which will unite Anant with Radhika Merchant, daughter of prominent pharma tycoons Viren and Shaila Merchant, mark the conclusion of a series of opulent celebrations that have spanned the globe.

The four-day wedding extravaganza will take place at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, capping off months of lavish events that began in March. These festivities have captured international attention, featuring high-profile performances by stars such as Rihanna, Justin Bieber, and the Backstreet Boys. Despite the star-studded celebrations, the lavishness has sparked controversy, with complaints about traffic disruptions and the ostentatious display of wealth.

Mukesh Ambani, currently the 10th richest man in the world with a net worth of $115 billion, oversees Reliance Industries, a vast conglomerate with interests ranging from petroleum and retail to financial services and telecommunications. His youngest son, Anant Ambani, 29, is involved in the company’s energy sector and serves on the board of Reliance Foundation.

The wedding will be celebrated with a traditional Hindu ceremony and a grand reception throughout the weekend, culminating in a final reception for the family’s household staff on Monday. Speculation about surprise performances, including rumors of Adele taking the stage, has been circulating, although the family has not confirmed these details.

Mumbai police have designated the wedding as a “public event” due to the attendance of numerous international and Indian VIPs. To manage the influx of guests, traffic restrictions have been imposed around the venue from 1:00 PM to midnight daily, with roads around the convention center accessible only to “event vehicles.”

Rajan Mehra, CEO of air charter company Club One Air, revealed that the Ambanis have chartered three Falcon-2000 jets to transport guests to the event, with each aircraft making multiple trips across the country.

The extravagant celebrations began with a three-day pre-wedding party in Gujarat, attended by 1,200 guests, including notable figures like Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg and Microsoft’s Bill Gates. This was followed by a luxury cruise from Italy to France featuring performances by the Backstreet Boys, Katy Perry, and Pitbull.

Earlier this week, Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s celebrations continued with Justin Bieber’s performance in Mumbai, further elevating the grandeur of the event. The Ambanis also invested in showcasing India’s cultural heritage by constructing 14 temples in Jamnagar and hosted a community feast and a mass wedding for underprivileged couples.

While the exact cost of the wedding remains undisclosed, estimates suggest that the celebrations have already cost between 11 billion and 13 billion rupees ($132 million – $156 million), with high-profile performances commanding hefty fees, including reports of Rihanna being paid $7 million and Bieber $10 million.