How Nita Ambani danced her way through an epic weight loss journey – and into Mukesh’s heart

May 11 , 2021

Nita Ambani has always danced and she credits this lifelong passion for leading her to God, to fitness and to her husband, Asia’s richest man, Mukesh. Photo: Pinterest

She may be a powerful businesswoman; have broken boundaries in the sports world with her Indian Premier League cricket team the Mumbai Indians; and run an A-list household with her husband Mukesh Ambani, one of the richest men in the world – but it is dance that remains Nita Ambani’s true love. Having let creativity and movement lead her through life since she was a child, now, as she runs multibillion-dollar projects, it is still her passion project – dance – that keeps her grounded and, of course, in shape too.

Here we track how dance led Nita to love, spiritual awareness, weight loss and purpose.

Dance united Mukesh and Nita

Billionaire businessman Mukesh Ambani with wife Nita Ambani. Photo: @nitaambaniii/Instagram

In a now famous love story, Mukesh and Nita’s romance started through dance. In an interview on TV show Face to Face in 2003, the couple explained how Nita was doing a routine at a cultural dance show where Mukesh’s father, Dhirubhai became enthralled by her. He asked for her number, hoping to create a match between his son and Nita. Eventually she agreed to meet Mukesh, setting the scene for their long marriage.

She’s a trained dancer

Nita has often spoken about her love of dance. As a trained bharatanatyam (a traditional form of Indian classical dance) dancer, Nita said in the Face to Face interview that she had been dancing since she was a child. In an interview with Times of India, Nita said her day starts at 7am and she always kicks it off with dance practice.

Dance is key to her fitness journey

Dance has helped Nita Ambani slim down Photo: @nita_ambani_official_; @nita_ambani3/Instagram

When Nita’s youngest son, Anant, decided to embark on an epic weight loss routine which saw him shift 108kg in just 18 months ahead of his 21st birthday in 2016, his mum joined him on his lifestyle overhaul in a bid to help motivate him. But the billionaire businesswoman also ended up shedding over 40kg herself in the process.

Now, years later, Nita reportedly does at least 40 minutes of exercise every day. She mixes up her routine to keep things interesting, doing a combination of yoga, swimming and dancing.

The famous Akash and Shloka Mehta dance video

Nita dances at Akash Ambani and Shloka Mehta’s engagement ceremony. Photo: @nitzrulzx412/Twitter

When Nita’s son Akash got married to Shloka Mehta in an extravagant wedding ceremony in 2019, the Ambani matriarch outshone the couple with her dance skills.

Footage of Nita doing a dance routine surrounded by extravagant lights and water features went viral, reported the Hindustan Times. The wedding was attended by the likes of Bollywood stars including Priyanka Chopra, Shah Rukh Khan and Ranbir Kapoor. Nita’s performance to Achyutam Keshavam impressed guests, with her husband Mukesh getting up to give her a standing ovation.

Nita lit up Isha’s wedding celebrations too

The wedding between Anand Piramal and Isha Ambani. Photo: Twitter/@WforWoman

Akash’s wedding celebrations were not the first time Nita enthralled crowds with her dance skills. Nita’s abilities were on display at her daughter’s Isha wedding to Anand Piramal in 2018 too.

The intricate dance routine performed by Nita during the pre-wedding celebrations had several backup dancers as well as a massive stage with props and lighting.

Mum and daughter dance together

Daughter and mother: Nita and Isha Ambani. Photo: @ishaambaniiii/Instagram

Although Nita has said her daughter Isha did not catch the dance bug, the two were spotted dancing at Isha’s engagement party.

Nita leads the moment with a short solo routine, then to be joined by her daughter. The two expertly coordinated their moves and big smiles as guests cheered them on.

Dance connects her to God

Nita Ambani credits dance with grounding her commitment to god. Photo: @nita_ambani3/Instagram

Nita told Times of India that dancing not only keeps her grounded, but grounds her Hindu faith: “For me, dance is like meditation. It’s my connection to God.” She said she finds dancing a meditative practice and it is the one passion she has always had that keeps her going. Nita believes her ability to dance keeps her rejuvenated and that finding a lifelong passion has been one of her biggest blessings.

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Mukesh Ambani and family

To help her youngest son Anant Ambani lose weight ahead of his 21st birthday, Nita joined him on his lifestyle overhaul and shed over 40kg herself
Nita danced at the weddings of daughter Isha to Anand Piramal, and of son Akash to Shloka Mehta, in front of Bollywood stars Priyanka Chopra and Shah Rukh Khan