NEW DELHI — When the son of Asia’s richest man is set to tie the knot, what happens?
His father hosts a three-day prenuptial celebration four months before the actual wedding ceremony.
Business magnates from all over the globe, heads of state, and both Hollywood and Bollywood stars gathered in the small western Indian city of Jamnagar on Friday to kick off a grand wedding celebration for the youngest son of billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani.
Among the nearly 1,200 guests are pop icon Rihanna, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Sunder Picha, Ivanka Trump, and Bollywood sensation Shah Rukh Khan.
All eyes are on 28-year-old Anant Ambani and his long-time girlfriend Radhika Merchant, aged 29, who are set to exchange vows in July. Radhika is the daughter of Viren Merchant, CEO of Encore Healthcare Pvt. Ltd., and entrepreneur Shaila Merchant.
Such extravagant celebrations align with the Ambani family’s reputation for hosting lavish and extravagant events while showcasing the economic and political influence of the Indian billionaire.
Here is everything you need to know about the family and the extravagant pre-wedding festivities that have captivated the nation.
Mukesh Ambani, aged 66, currently ranks as the 10th wealthiest individual globally with a net worth of $115bn according to Forbes, making him the richest person in Asia.
His conglomerate, Reliance Industries, boasts an annual revenue exceeding $100 billion, with business interests spanning petrochemicals, oil and gas, telecommunications, and retail.
Under Ambani’s leadership, Reliance revolutionized the telecom industry with the launch of 4G phone and broadband services through Jio in 2016, amassing over 420 million subscribers today and offering 5G services. Recently, Disney announced an $8.5bn partnership with Reliance Industries to create a new media conglomerate in India.
Critics suggest Ambani’s success stems from political affiliations during both the Congress era in the 1970s and 80s and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure post-2014, labeling it as “crony capitalism” aiding certain corporations like Ambani’s.
Passing on the business to his two sons and daughter, Ambani’s oldest son Akash oversees Reliance Jio, his daughter Isha manages the retail segment, while his youngest, Anant, set to wed in July, joins the energy sector.
Extravagant celebrations are synonymous with the Ambani family.
In 2018, Ambani’s daughter’s wedding grabbed headlines for its grandeur, featuring performances by Beyoncé at the pre-wedding events, attended by former U.S. Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and John Kerry alongside Indian celebrities and Bollywood stars in Udaipur.
Later that year, the couple – Isha Ambani and Anand Piramal – celebrated their engagement overlooking Lake Como in Italy and tied the knot at the Ambani residence in Mumbai in December.
The three-day pre-wedding festivities offer a glimpse into the opulence expected at the July nuptials.
Held in the Ambani family’s hometown of Jamnagar, guests attending the wedding will enjoy a stay in the near-desert city with the family’s main oil refinery.
The invitation details jungle-themed attire for a visit to an animal rescue center managed by the groom-to-be, Anant, known as “Vantara” or “Star Of The Forest,” housing abused, injured, and endangered animals, especially elephants.
The guests will start each day with a new dress code and have access to stylists, makeup artists, and designers to help them prepare.
Traditional Hindu ceremonies at a temple complex are also part of the celebrations.
Guests arriving by chartered planes will be treated to 500 dishes prepared by around 100 chefs.
The guest list features prominent figures like Mohammed Bin Jassim al Thani, the Prime Minister of Qatar; Stephen Harper, former Canadian Prime Minister; and Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema.
Recently, the Ambani family hosted a community food service benefiting 51,000 residents of nearby villages.