Celebrity News

Inside billionaire heir Anant Ambani’s 3-day, $600M wedding ceremony attended by Kim Kardashian, Priyanka Chopra and more

Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s wedding is a multi-day, mega-million affair — and super star-studded.

Kim Kardashian, Priyanka Chopra and more A-listers traveled to India to watch the son of Asia’s richest man tie the knot on Friday.

The couple, who got engaged in December 2023, have been celebrating for months, starting with a pre-wedding party in March attended by 1,200 guests, including Ivanka Trump and Mark Zuckerberg.

Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s lavish wedding began in India Friday. AFP via Getty Images
The star-studded affair will last multiple days. kimkardashian/Instagram
The couple have been celebrating for months ahead of the three-day wedding ceremony. AFP via Getty Images

In May, the pair invited 800 people to embark on a four-day European cruise along the Mediterranean coast.

Their festivities rolled on earlier this month, with a mass wedding for more than 50 other couples and a private “haldi” ceremony with their friends and family.

As Anant and Merchant’s main wedding ceremony kicks off on Friday at the JIO World Convention Center in Mumbai, scroll down for all the details on their lavish union.

Who are the bride and groom?

Anant is the son of Asia’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani. AP
Mukesh, the chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries, already gifted the newlyweds with an $80 million home in Dubai. REUTERS

The groom’s father is billionaire Mukesh Ambani, the chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries, and his mother is philanthropist Nita Ambani.

Mukesh, 67, has already gifted the couple with an $80 million, 10-bedroom villa on Palm Jumeriah in Dubai, which boasts a private beach.

As for the bride, she is the daughter of pharmaceutical tycoons Viren Merchant and Shaila Merchant.

Radhika is the daughter of pharmaceutical tycoons Viren Merchant and Shaila Merchant. AFP via Getty Images
The couple were reportedly childhood friends before things turned romantic. Getty Images

Anant and Radhika, both 29, are reportedly childhood friends whose friendship took a romantic turn during a 2017 drive with mutual pals.

They went public with their romance in 2018 following their respective graduations from Brown University and New York University (via Architectural Digest).

In December 2023, Anant proposed to his partner at the Shrinathji Temple in Nathdwara, Rajasthan, and they celebrated the engagement with an extravagant party the following month.

How many days is their celebration?

The pair have been celebrating their nuptials for months leading up to the wedding. REUTERS
Their main ceremony takes place Friday with events on Saturday and Sunday. REUTERS

In addition to hosting a mass wedding, also known as a “Samuh Vivah,” on July 2 in Palghar, Anant and Radhika enjoyed a night of music and dancing, or a “sangeet,” at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Center three days later.

They were blessed by friends and family members during their private “haldi” ceremony on July 8.

Their main ceremony takes place on Friday, complete with a red carpet, followed by a “Shubh Ashirwad,” or a divine blessings ceremony, the next day, at the Ambani family’s residence, Antilia.

Sunday’s reception, or “Mangal Utsav,” will take place in the same 27-story skyscraper mansion.

How much does the wedding cost?

The wedding reportedly costs upwards of $600 million. Hindustan Times via Getty Images
They allegedly paid $10 million for Justin Bieber to perform at a pre-wedding event. Justin Bieber/Instagram

The Guardian broke down the potential cost of the luxe wedding, estimating it to be upwards of $600 million dollars.

If true, this whopping total would reportedly account for only half a percent of the Ambani family’s fortune.

Flying in Justin Bieber to sing at the couple’s “sangeet” allegedly cost $10 million alone, with Rihanna paid $6 million to perform at their March bash.

Which celebs are attending?

Kim and Khloé Kardashian were among the attendees at the event. kimkardashian/Instagram
Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra were also there. REUTERS
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair was photographed at the event. AP

Kim documented her and Khloé Kardashian’s appearance at the headline-making wedding via Instagram Stories Friday.

The Skims creator, 43, wore a ruby red lehenga, a matching dupatta, a diamond headpiece and multiple diamond necklaces, while her sister, 40, stunned in an equally sparkling white and gold ensemble.

Chopra, 41, was also in attendance with husband Nick Jonas, as well as actor John Cena.

Which musical artists are performing?

Bieber performed for the couple and their guests earlier this month. Justin Bieber/Instagram
Rihanna also performed at one of the couple’s pre-wedding events back in March. X/crispypunxni

Rihanna was blasted online for her allegedly “lackluster” set at March’s pre-wedding bash, while the celebratory cruise two months later featured performances by David Guetta, Pitbull and the Backstreet Boys.

Bieber gave a behind-the-scenes look at his performance for the couple earlier this month via Instagram.

As for the musical artists booked for the wedding, speculation is swirling about Adele and Lana Del Rey, according to CNN.

What is the dress code?

Guests, including John Cena, wore traditional Indian attire on Friday. ZUMAPRESS.com
Invitees were reportedly told to wear formal Indian outfits for the event on Saturday. kimkardashian/Instagram
Khloé wore a sparkling white and gold ensemble with diamond necklaces. khloekardashian/Instagram

Guests at Anant and Radhika’s “jungle fever” party in March received a nine-page dress code to follow with hair and makeup artists on site, as well as traditional Indian draping experts.

Friday’s red carpet consisted of “traditional Indian attire” (via Daily Mail), while invitees were ordered to wear “Indian formal” outfits the following day.

As for the reception, attendees were expected to show up in “Indian chic” looks.