Mukesh Ambani, currently ranked 11th on the Forbes Richest List with a net worth of $121 billion (approximately Rs 10,10,318 crore), spent a total of Rs 5,000 crore on the wedding of his youngest son, Anant Ambani, to Radhika Merchant, daughter of businessman Viren Merchant, the CEO and Vice-Chairman of Encore Healthcare. The Ambanis hosted three major wedding events in Mumbai: Shubh Vivaah, Shubh Aashirwaad, and Mangal Utsav.
Prior to these, two extravagant pre-wedding celebrations were held, one in Jamnagar and the other on a luxurious cruise that sailed from Italy to France. The celebrations saw attendance from Bollywood celebrities, politicians, billionaires, industrialists, socialites, sports personalities, and other prominent individuals from around the world.
During the pre-wedding celebrations, guests were entertained by Rihanna, Katy Perry, Andrea Bocelli, and the Backstreet Boys. For the wedding itself, Justin Bieber performed at the sangeet ceremony, held at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) in Mumbai on July 5th. Here, we delve into the extravagant arrangements made by Nita and Mukesh Ambani for their guests.
5. Falcon 2000 Jets
The Ambanis arranged three Falcon 2000 jets for guests arriving from various parts of the world. Rajan Mehra, CEO of Air Charter company Club One Air, confirmed that the Ambanis rented three of their Falcon 2000 jets for the wedding. “The guests are coming from all over, and each aircraft will make multiple trips across the country,” he added. Additionally, for the pre-wedding festivities in Jamnagar and Italy, multiple chartered flights were arranged for close friends and guests to travel to the venues, incurring significant travel expenses according to India Today.
4. Powerful Performances
The Ambanis went all out with star-studded performances. Following performances by Rihanna, Diljit Dosanjh, Katy Perry, and the Backstreet Boys at the pre-wedding ceremonies, Justin Bieber was invited to perform at the sangeet ceremony. Nigerian rap sensation Rema also entertained guests with his popular track “Calm Down” during the three-day wedding in Mumbai. According to the Times of India, Rema was paid a whopping $3 million (approximately over Rs 25 crore) for his performance. Renowned Indian artists like AR Rahman, Shreya Ghoshal, Shankar Mahadevan, and Mohit Chauhan also performed at the wedding.
3. Gold Idols of Lord Ganesha and Radha Krishna
The wedding invitation for Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant was a luxurious package that included a silver mandir with gold idols of Radha Krishna and Lord Ganesha. According to India Today, it also contained a silver box with the wedding invitation, sweets, dry fruits, and a handwritten note by Nita and Mukesh Ambani.
2. Gourmet Menu by World-Renowned Chefs
The Ambani family hired renowned chefs Virgilio Martínez from Peru and Avinash Martins from Goa to craft a gourmet menu for the wedding in Mumbai. The Indian Express reports that Chef Martínez offered a blend of traditional and innovative dishes, honoring Gujarati culinary customs. His menu included avocado emulsion and Peruvian corn, zucchini and asparagus tiradito with purple amaranth, and other exquisite dishes. Chef Martins served Goan delicacies such as grilled oyster mushroom xacuti and tender coconut carpaccio. Indian snacks from Kaashi Chaat Bhandaar were served, including aloo tikki, pani puri, and kulfi.
1. Rare and Expensive Watches
As a special gesture for his groomsmen, Anant Ambani commissioned 25 special edition Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar watches. These 18K rose gold timepieces feature a sapphire crystal back and the Grande Tapisserie pattern. The watches are 9.5 mm thick, have a total diameter of 29 mm, and are powered by the Manufacture Calibre 5134 self-winding movement. Priced at over Rs 2 crore each, these watches were seen on the wrists of Shah Rukh Khan, Ranveer Singh, Shikhar Pahariya, and other groomsmen during the wedding.
Nita and Mukesh Ambani’s meticulous planning and lavish arrangements made Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s wedding an unforgettable event, showcasing their unmatched hospitality and grandeur.
