The son of Asia’s richest man is getting married in one of India’s most anticipated — and lavish — weddings of the year | CNN

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the upcoming lavish wedding of billionaire heir Anant Ambani and his longtime girlfriend Radhika Merchant, which is expected to be the "wedding of the year" in India. It provides details about the couple, the extravagant pre-wedding celebrations, and the expected grandeur of the main wedding events.

🙋 Q&A

[01] Who are the bride and groom?

1. Who are Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant?

• Anant Ambani, 29, is the youngest son of Asia's richest man, Mukesh Ambani, who has an estimated fortune of $118 billion.
• Anant is responsible for driving the expansion of the energy sector of the family's conglomerate, Reliance Industries.
• Radhika Merchant, 29, is the daughter of pharma tycoon Viren Merchant and works for his company, Encore Healthcare.
• Radhika is formally trained in Bharatnatyam, a form of Indian classical dance.
• The couple met through mutual friends during a drive in 2017 and have been dating since then.

[02] Pre-wedding Celebrations

1. What were the details of the pre-wedding celebrations?

• In March, the couple had a three-day pre-wedding party in Jamnagar, attended by around 1,200 high-profile guests, including Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates.
• The event featured an elaborate light show with 5,500 drones and a performance by Rihanna.
• In late May, the couple held a four-day Mediterranean cruise for friends and family, with performances by Katy Perry, the Backstreet Boys, and opera star Andrea Bocelli.

[03] The Main Wedding

1. What are the details of the main wedding events?

• The Mumbai wedding is set to take place from July 12 to 14 at the Ambani family's residence, Antilia, and the Jio World Convention Centre.
• The wedding festivities will include several traditional Hindu ceremonies, such as the haldi, mehndi, and sangeet.
• The wedding attire is expected to showcase Indian craftsmanship and textiles, with designs by famous Indian designers like Manish Malhotra, Sabyasachi Mukherjee, and Tarun Tahiliani.
• Guests have been asked to dress in "traditional Indian," "Indian formal," and "Indian chic" attire for the different events.

2. What is the significance of the wedding in the Indian context?

• The Ambani-Merchant wedding is widely described as the "wedding of the year" in India, reflecting the country's growing fascination with lavish celebrity weddings.
• The wedding industry in India has evolved dramatically, with Bollywood and celebrity culture inspiring couples to throw grander and more expensive affairs.
• However, the opulence of the event has also drawn criticism, as it stands in stark contrast to the poverty affecting millions in the country and the increasing wealth gap between the rich and poor.