Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s OTT pre-wedding festivities: the son of Asia’s richest man and his fiancée invited 1,000 guests, including Rihanna, Mark Zuckerberg and Hillary Clinton to the bash

Mar 2 , 2024

Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant are staging an extravagant pre wedding celebration this March, ahead of their summer wedding. Photo: @radhikamerchant_/Instagram

If there’s one thing we’ve learned about the Ambanis, it’s that Asia’s richest family isn’t afraid to splurge when it comes to wedding celebrations.

Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant have invited a thousand guests to a pre wedding bash this March. Photo: @radhikamerchant_/Instagram

But if you thought Isha Ambani and Anand Piramal’s US$100 million nuptials or Akash Ambani and Shloka Mehta’s equally extravagant bash were over the top, then think again – because Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s big day is expected to take things to a whole new level.

Mukesh Ambani loves to spend big on his children’s weddings, including his son Anant and Radhika Merchant’s 2024 celebrations. Photo: @radhikamerchant_/Instagram

Reports are suggesting that their budget stands north of a whopping US$120 million, which would make it one of the world’s most expensive weddings, ever. And Rihanna, who is performing at the bash for a large pay cheque, has just arrived, according to British media.

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Mukesh Ambani, (centre), his wife Nita Ambani, back left, daughter Isha Ambani, right, son Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant, front left. Photo: AP

With a star-studded guest list, glimmering wardrobe, and soon-to-be combined fortune that would make anyone’s eyes water, here’s what we know ahead of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s upcoming summer wedding – and their pre-wedding itinerary taking place this weekend …

Who are Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant?

Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant in Mumbai, India last April. Photo: Reuters

Anant Ambani, 28, is the youngest son of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, the richest man in Asia according to Forbes.

Anant Ambani heads up Reliance Industries’ renewable and green energy businesses. Photo: @ETNowLive/Twitter

Working in the family business, Anant currently heads the energy companies in his father’s Reliance Industries portfolio, including its global operations in renewable and green energy, according to his profile on the company’s website.

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Radhika Merchant is the daughter of Viren Merchant and Shaila Merchant. Photo: @radhikamerchantfc/Instagram

Anant’s 29-year-old fiancée also hails from an ultra-wealthy family background. Per Indian Express, she is the daughter of industrialist Viren Merchant – CEO of the Encore Healthcare pharmaceutical firm – and Shaila Merchant.

That reportedly makes them part of two of India’s richest families by net worth.

The lavish pre-wedding celebrations

Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant are the children of two of India’s wealthiest tycoons. Photo: @radhikamerchant_/Instagram

Ambani and Merchant have been making headlines for the pre-wedding celebrations that kicked off on March 1 in the western Indian city of Jamnagar, per Reuters.

According to Tatler, they’ve invited 1,000 guests – including Rihanna, Mark Zuckerberg, Bollywood’s Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan, Hillary Clinton and Bhutan’s royal family – set up 14 newly erected temples, and created a nine-page dress code for the event.

The three-day celebrations will include cocktail parties and a “jungle fever” themed trip to the Reliance animal rescue centre, where guests will get an introduction to 200 elephants, 300 big cats and 120 reptiles that had previously been “at risk of being sold or poached”, according to The Times. And let’s not forget, this is just the pre-wedding celebrations, with the actual nuptials set to take place in July.

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Where is Radhika Merchant and Anant Ambani’s wedding?

Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant will finally tie the knot in July. Photo: @radhikamerchant_/Instagram

While most of their current focus is likely being channelled into this weekend’s three-day spectacle, the couple’s actual wedding is set to take place on July 12 in Mumbai, according to the Hindustan Times.

Mukesh Ambani and family

As Asia’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani doesn’t hold back when it comes to his children’s weddings, already spending millions on daughter Isha and son Akash’s nuptials – now it’s youngest kid Anant’s turn
Anant Ambani is marrying Radhika Merchant, the daughter of Viren and Shaila Merchant, in the summer – but first come the ultra-extravagant pre-wedding celebrations this weekend