Mumbai, India – The city of dreams has come alive with one of the most extravagant wedding celebrations in recent history. Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Asia’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani, is set to marry Radhika Merchant this weekend. The celebrations have attracted a star-studded guest list, including Hollywood celebrities, global business leaders, and two former British prime ministers.
A Star-Studded Guest List
Saturday’s events commenced with a blessing ceremony at a 16,000-capacity convention centre owned by the Ambani family’s conglomerate, Reliance Industries. The venue witnessed the presence of notable personalities such as socialite Kim Kardashian, actor John Cena, and former British leaders Tony Blair and Boris Johnson. Also gracing the event were FIFA boss Gianni Infantino, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, and Samsung chairman Jay Y Lee.
Star Performances and Grand Parties
Following the blessing ceremony, a grand party was held with unconfirmed reports suggesting performances by pop stars Drake, Lana Del Rey, and Adele. Friday evening’s formal ceremony and party were equally glamorous, with private performances by Rihanna and Justin Bieber earlier this year, and an elaborate Mediterranean cruise with 1,200 guests.
Celebrity Guests and High-Flying Arrangements
Guests such as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and Ivanka Trump were part of the pre-wedding festivities. The couple embarked on a four-day Mediterranean cruise with notable performances by Katy Perry, the Backstreet Boys, US rapper Pitbull, and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. Rajan Mehra, chief executive of Club One Air, confirmed that the Ambani family rented three Falcon-2000 jets to transport guests across the country for the celebrations.
Community Service Amidst Celebrations
Despite the lavishness, the Ambani family hosted a bhandara, a community feast for underprivileged people, reflecting their commitment to social responsibility.
Mukesh Ambani and His Empire
Mukesh Ambani, 66, is the chairman of Reliance Industries, India’s largest company by market capitalization. With a net worth of over $123 billion, according to Forbes, he stands as the world’s 11th richest person. His family’s interests span luxury retail, telecommunications, and sports, including ownership of an Indian Premier League cricket team. The family’s residence, Antilia, a 27-floor mansion in Mumbai, is a prominent city landmark valued at over $1 billion.
Public Reaction and Controversy
While the opulence of the wedding has garnered global attention, it has also sparked a backlash. Mumbai residents have expressed frustration over road closures exacerbating traffic issues during monsoon flooding. The extravagant display of wealth has also drawn criticism from various quarters, with opposition politician Thomas Isaac calling it “obscene” and a “sin against mother earth and the poor.”
An Unparalleled Display of Wealth
Wedding planners estimate the cost of the wedding to be between 11 billion and 13 billion rupees ($132 million to $156 million). Rumours suggest that Rihanna and Justin Bieber were paid $7 million and $10 million, respectively, for their performances.
Despite the controversy, a Reliance executive described the event as a “powerful symbol of India’s growing stature on the global stage,” highlighting the country’s prominence in global affairs.
As the wedding celebrations conclude on Sunday with a grand reception party, Mumbai remains abuzz with the extraordinary spectacle of wealth and grandeur.
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