One of India’s richest couples will soon tie the knot, marking the end of the pre-wedding celebrations.
Anant Ambani, son of Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, and Radhika Merchant daughter of pharmaceutical tycoons Viren and Shaila Merchant got married today (July 12).
The ceremony will see the city’s key roads closed for several hours each day until all festivities conclude on Monday, July 15.
From Friday to Monday, roads around the convention center will be open only to “event vehicles” between 13:00 India time (07:30 GMT) and midnight, according to city police.
Reality TV star Kim Kardashian and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair are among the high-profile guests who have arrived in Mumbai for the party.
The couple will marry in a traditional Hindu ceremony at the Jio World Convention Center. A grand reception will take place throughout the weekend, before the final reception for the existing household staff.
Rajan Mehra, CEO of air charter company Club One Air, told Reuters that the family had chartered three Falcon-2000 jets to take their wedding guests to the event.
Wedding celebrations have been underway since March when the couple hosted more than a thousand guests at a three-day party in Jamnagar in Gujarat, India, to celebrate their upcoming nuptials. Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg, Disney CEO Bob Iger, and Ivanka Trump were among the high-profile guests in attendance, while Rihanna was reportedly paid $5m (ÂŁ3.94m) to perform.
So who are Anant and Radhika, and what do we know about their marriage?
Anant Ambani, the son of India’s richest man
From L to R, billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani, son of Anant and wife Nita, poses for photos as guests gather to celebrate the wedding.
Reliance Group through AP
Anant Ambani is the son of Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, 66, who is worth $117.8bn (ÂŁ92bn), making him the richest person in India and the ninth richest person in the world.
Mukesh inherited the company from his father, Dhirubhai Ambani, who founded the company in 1966. Dhirubhai died in 2002.
Anant and his siblings Akash and Isha joined the family business and joined the board of directors in August 2023, with Anant leading the energy business of Reliance Industries.
Forbes reports that the company will invest $80bn (ÂŁ63bn) in renewable energy over the next three years.
The family lives in Antilia, in Mumbai, which is considered to be the second most expensive private residence in the world (after Buckingham Palace). Reportedly costing around $2bn (ÂŁ1.6bn) to build, it has 27 floors, room for 168 cars, and is staffed by 600 members of staff.
Radhika Merchant, the daughter of a pharmaceutical tycoon
Niharika Kulkarni / Reuters
Radhika Merchant is an entrepreneur and daughter of Viren and Shaila Merchant, founders of pharmaceutical company Encore Healthcare.
Although not as much as his father-in-law, his father is rumored to be worth an estimated ÂŁ70m.
Radhika graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science from New York University in 2017 and is a trained classical dancer.
Forbes reports that Radhika serves on the board of Encore Healthcare, along with her sister, Anjali.
Since childhood sweetheart for a dream wedding
The Ambani family at Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra’s wedding
Sunil Verma / AP
Anant and Radhika are said to have been dating for a while, or at least family friends. Radhika has attended several Ambani family events in recent years, including Anant’s brothers’ weddings.
In 2018, the couple attended Nick Jonas’ wedding to Priyanka Chopra Jonas.
Anant reportedly proposed to Radhika in 2022, and they officially got engaged in a ceremony in January 2023. They will be married on July 12.
A lavish wedding with celebrity performances
Rihanna performed at the pre-wedding celebration
Standard Evening
The Ambani family is no stranger to lavish weddings – and the celebrity performances were a sight to behold.
In December 2018, Anant’s sister Isha married billionaire Ajay Piramal’s son Anand Piramal, and the wedding featured a performance by pop icon Beyoncé. Isha’s wedding is reported to have cost around $15m (£12m), although some reports have speculated that it could be as much as $100m (£79m).
Then, in 2019, Anant’s brother Akash married Shloka Mehta, with British band Coldplay performing at their wedding.
Not to be outdone by his older siblings, Anant invited Rihanna to perform at the pre-wedding celebration, as well as singer Lonely Akon, and illusionist David Blaine.
If these top stars make an appearance at the pre-wedding party, we can’t wait to see who will perform at the ceremony…
