4 min readNew DelhiFeb 28, 2024 12:07 PM IST
Details from Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s pre-wedding festivities have emerged online, as the first batch of Bollywood celebrities arrive in Jamnagar, Gujarat, for the three-day event. Anant, the son of Mukesh and Nita Ambani, and Radhika, the daughter of business tycoon Viren Merchant, will tie the knot in July. Their wedding ceremony is expected to have Bill Gates, Hilary Clinton, Mark Zuckerberg, Sundar Pichai and Bob Iger in attendance, alongside several dignitaries and celebrities.
The guest list
According to The National, the Bollywood guest list includes celebrities such as Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Rajinikanth, Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, Twinkle Khanna, Ajay Devgn, Kajol, Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Vicky Kaushal, Katrina Kaif and others. Janhvi Kapoor was spotted arriving in Jamnagar on Tuesday.
The Itinerary
Additionally, The Times, Rihanna is expected to perform over the weekend, along with Diljit Dosanjh. At Isha Ambani’s pre-wedding bash, Beyonce was reportedly flown in for a private concert, at a cost of $6 million (Rs 50 crore). Additionally, the Daily Mail shared details of the itinerary that has been handed out to guests. On Friday evening, guests will attend an ‘Evening in Everland-themed’ cocktail party. The following day, they will be taken on a tour of the Reliance animal rescue centre, for which they’ve been asked to wear ‘comfortable shoes’. That evening, guests will dress in a ‘desi romance style’ for a ‘Mela Rogue’ party hosted by the couple. On day three, the guests will be taken on a ‘Tusker Trail’, for which they’ve been requested to dress in ‘casual chic’. The final event is a traditional ‘hastakshar’ ceremony, for which the guests will dress in sherwanis and lehengas. The ceremony will be carried out in the Jamnagar Township Temple complex.
The MENU
According to reports, a team of 21 chefs is being flown in for the lavish event. Over 2,500 dishes will be prepared over the course of the three-day event, with cuisines ranging from Thai, Japanese, Mexican, and Parsi. Over 70 items will be available for breakfast, over 200 for lunch, and over 275 for dinner. Midnight meals will be on offer from 12 am to 4 pm, with over 85 items on offer. Around 1,000 guests will be ferried to the venue on chartered flights. Sari drapers, stylists, and makeup artists will be available on location for the guests. A nine-page guide has reportedly been given to each guest, and according to the Daily Mail, a part of it reads, “We would like you to enjoy each moment to the fullest and make beautiful memories that last a lifetime.”
Radhika and Anant got engaged in 2022, and an engagement ceremony was held in 2023. The couple’s pre-wedding invite explained why Jamnagar was chosen as the venue. “Over the years, we planted more than 10 million trees in this arid region, transforming it into a bustling green community,” the invitation reads, according to The National News. “Taking the spirit of this initiative further, Anant has lovingly nurtured this complex into a haven of care and compassion for over thousands of rescued animals. Over the past 25 years, we’ve built our fondest memories in Jamnagar. And it is the place closest to our hearts. We look forward to having you as we celebrate the beginning of Radhika and Anant’s wedding festivities.”
Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant are all set to tie the knot on July 12. (File photo)