Star-Studded Event: Inside Anant Ambani's Extravagant Pre-Wedding Celebration
Step into the extravagant world of Anant Ambani's pre-wedding bash, where guests arrive in luxury charter jets, Rihanna dazzles with a special performance, and a unique dress code adds a whimsical touch to visits at an animal rescue center.
Billionaire Mukesh Ambani is known for throwing extravagant parties, whether it's chartering jets for tycoons and celebrities or organizing a performance by Rihanna. As the head of Indian conglomerate Reliance and Asia's richest man with a net worth of $114 billion according to Forbes, Ambani spares no expense when it comes to celebrations for his son.
The moment that has captured India's attention is a three-day pre-wedding celebration for Anant Ambani, the youngest son of the Ambani family, who is getting married to Radhika Merchant. The festivities will kick off on Friday and will be held in a township near Reliance's main oil refinery in Jamnagar, Gujarat. The guest list includes 1,200 people.
The actual wedding ceremony is scheduled for July, but the celebrations started on Wednesday with a communal dinner hosted by Anant and Radhika for the local villagers. The dinner, which served 51,000 people, marked the beginning of the joyous occasion.
US magician David Blaine will perform at Anant’s pre-wedding bash, alongside pop and R&B superstar Rihanna. Traditional ceremonies in a temple complex will also be part of the event.
According to two sources familiar with the plans who chose to remain anonymous, the guest list for the celebration is expected to include prominent figures like Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Gautam Adani, Kumar Mangalam Birla, as well as cricketers and Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan.
Also likely to attend is Bob Iger, CEO of Disney, which announced a $8.5 billion merger of its India media assets with Reliance’s on Wednesday.
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Anant is a director at Reliance's new energy business and one of Ambani's three children who are the heirs to his empire. Merchant is a director at India's Encore Healthcare.
Ambani also gained attention for his daughter Isha's wedding in 2018, which some likened to a mini-Davos summit. Former U.S. Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and John Kerry were spotted dancing with Bollywood stars at the event.
Guests attending Anant Ambani's celebrations will have the opportunity to enjoy 500 delicious dishes prepared by approximately 100 talented chefs.
In addition to the delectable cuisine, guests will also have the chance to indulge in pampering services such as hair styling, makeup application, and assistance with draping Indian attire. These services will be available on a "first come, first serve basis," as stated in a planning document shared with invitees and reviewed by Reuters.
Guests will have the opportunity to visit a rescue center that is home to over 2,000 animals, including one of the world's largest elephant hospitals, according to Reliance.
The dress code for the visit is "jungle fever," and guests are encouraged to wear animal print clothing or Hawaiian shirts.
Return charter jet flights from New Delhi and Mumbai are available for guests. However, it is advised to limit luggage to two items or three suitcases per couple. The document notes that if more luggage is brought, there is no guarantee it will arrive on the same flight.
Guests are reminded to keep their expectations reasonable when it comes to laundry services.
The hotel mentioned that clothes sent for pressing will be returned within 3 hours. They advise against expecting a faster turnaround time as it may not be possible.
Editor's P/S:
The lavish pre-wedding celebration of Anant Ambani, the son of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, has drawn attention for its extravagance and star-studded guest list. The event, which includes performances by David Blaine and Rihanna, has raised questions about the widening gap between the ultra-wealthy and the rest of society. While the festivities may bring joy to the Ambani family and their guests, they also serve as a reminder of the inequality that persists in India, where millions of people struggle to meet basic needs.
The meticulous planning and attention to detail in the event's arrangements, from the 500-course menu to the pampering services, highlight the immense resources at the disposal of the Ambani family. The fact that guests are advised to limit their luggage and have modest expectations for laundry services suggests that even the most mundane aspects of life are managed with the utmost care and efficiency in this rarefied world. The opulence of the celebration stands in stark contrast to the challenges faced by ordinary Indians, who often lack access to adequate healthcare, education, and sanitation.
