Lavish wedding celebrations for the son of Asia’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani, continued on Saturday. The star-studded event in Mumbai included Hollywood celebrities, global business leaders, and former British prime ministers.
Anant Ambani, 29, and his fiancée Radhika Merchant, also 29, are getting married after months of pre-marriage festivities.
Saturday featured a blessing ceremony at a 16,000-capacity convention center owned by the Ambani family.
Guests included socialite Kim Kardashian, actor John Cena, former British leaders Tony Blair and Boris Johnson, FIFA boss Gianni Infantino, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, and Samsung chairman Jay Y. Lee.
The celebration continued with a grand party where pop stars like Drake, Lana Del Rey, and Adele were rumored to perform.
Friday night saw a formal ceremony and party with appearances from Nick Jonas, Priyanka Chopra, and other famous figures. Earlier this year, pre-wedding events included a party at the Ambanis’ home with performances by Rihanna and Justin Bieber and a four-day Mediterranean cruise with 1,200 guests. The Ambani family has rented jets to transport wedding guests and hosted a community feast for underprivileged people.
Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries, is the world’s 11th richest person with a fortune of over $123 billion. The family’s interests span retail, telecommunications, and an IPL cricket team. Their 27-floor home in Mumbai is a city landmark.
However, the extravagant wedding has drawn criticism. Road closures in Mumbai have worsened traffic problems, and some people are upset about the display of wealth.
Opposition politician Thomas Isaac called the spending “obscene.” Wedding planners estimate costs between $132 million and $156 million.
Despite the backlash, an executive at Reliance said the event symbolizes India’s growing global stature. Celebrations will end with a reception party on Sunday.
(BBC)
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq5x22w0xl0o