Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Reliance Industries Chairman and Asia’s richest man Mukesh Ambani, tied the knot with Viral Merchant’s daughter Radhika Merchant at the Jio World Convention Centre in BKC, Mumbai on July 12th. The grand affair saw attendance from Bollywood superstars, global celebrities, business tycoons, and politicians from India and around the world, making it one of the most talked-about weddings in recent times.
The celebrations were nothing short of spectacular, with the wedding ceremony followed by a ‘Shubh Aashirwad’ on July 13th and a ‘Mangal Utsav’ reception on July 14th. While the event showcased the Ambani family’s lavish lifestyle and the grandeur of Indian weddings, it also brought about significant inconvenience and frustration among local residents and office workers in Mumbai.
Traffic restrictions were imposed from July 12th to 15th around the wedding venue, situated within the Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai’s bustling financial district. The restrictions caused major disruptions, highlighting the impact of such large-scale events on everyday life in the city.
The star-studded event attracted internationally famous faces, including John Cena, Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas, AR Rahman, Ajay Devgn, Sachin Tendulkar, Rajnikant, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Katrina Kaif, and Deepika Padukone, among others. The guest list also included prominent business tycoons like Gautam Adani, Sunil Mittal (chairman of Bharti group, Airtel’s parent company), and Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Jay Y. Lee along with his wife. Top politicians such as former President Ram Nath Kovind and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also graced the occasion.
The celebrations were a visual feast, with the guests adding to the glamour and entertainment. Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan were spotted grooving together, while Rajinikanth performed his classic dance steps. Madhuri Dixit captivated everyone with her dance to the popular 90’s song ‘Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai,’ and Priyanka Chopra rocked the baarat with her dance to the Bollywood item song ‘Chikni Chameli.’
The event, which has garnered attention for its lavish scale, has seen Mukesh Ambani sparing no expense, with expenditures running into millions of dollars. The internet was abuzz with reactions to the wedding, with many sharing pictures and videos from the celebrations. From John Cena’s unexpected appearance in a sherwani to Kim Kardashian’s traditional attire, the wedding provided ample fodder for social media conversations and entertainment.
The Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant wedding, while a spectacle of extravagance, has sparked discussions about the impact of such events on the everyday lives of ordinary people and the balance between celebration and societal impact. The lavish affair serves as a reminder of the immense wealth and influence of certain families in India, while also raising questions about the responsibility that comes with such power and privilege.
