Radhika Merchant is soon going to become the daughter-in-law of India's richest family, the Ambanis. She and her beau, Anant Ambani will have a grand wedding in July 2024 in Jamnagar. The celebrations for Radhika and Anant are just getting started, and they marked their union with a three-day-long pre-wedding soiree. For the unversed, Anant leads the energy vertical at Reliance Industries, whereas Radhika works as a marketing director at her family's company, Encore Healthcare.
In an interview with Vogue, Radhika Merchant talked about her and Anant Ambani's first meeting and shared that they were introduced by mutual friends during a drive in 2017. Their first meeting sparked something special between them, and soon, they started dating. Later, Anant proposed to Radhika for marriage at the Shrinathji Temple in Nathdwara, Rajasthan, in 2023. The duo had a Goldhana ceremony, which was followed by a surprise engagement party at Antilia. Talking about the same, Radhika said:
“It was, unquestionably, the best night of my life.”
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Almost a year later, in 2024, Radhika and Anant hosted a three-day-long pre-wedding weekend and hastakshar ceremony at the Ambanis’ hometown Jamnagar. The couple built an animal sanctuary in a 750-acre compound and named it Vantara. Revealing why they chose Jamnagar as their wedding destination, Radhika said:
“Choosing Jamnagar was our way of honouring our roots and the family’s legacy. It’s the place where Anant works and where we spend much of our time, away from the hustle and bustle of city life. It is also where Anant’s grandmother, Kokilaben, was born and truly where our heart is. Anant and I both believe that this is our karma bhoomi, or land of duty.”
Anant and Radhika's pre-wedding took three months to plan. The groom's mother, Nita Ambani, and designer, Manish Malhotra, along with Isha Ambani and Shloka Mehta, turned creative heads. Meanwhile, Radhika also asked Rhea Kapoor to be her head stylist. She shared:
“Nita and Manish’s meticulous planning and execution round the clock brought the event to life. I cannot emphasize enough that no one else could have created something like this—both in scale and on such a tight time frame. We went to great lengths to accommodate our 1,500 guests, complete with an audio-guide system to ensure that everyone could connect with the animals that have been given a new lease on life here.”
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For the Mela Rogue event, Radhika opted for an outfit designed by Manish Malhotra. Her ghagra was embellished with Swarovski crystals, and she complemented her outfit with exquisite jewels. Revealing the deets about her outfit, Radhika said:
“For the first look, we chose a modern interpretation of the traditional ghagra, intentionally omitting the dupatta, or scarf, to reveal a meticulous cutwork back that mimicked lace, complete with intricate embellishments. We wanted to reinvent the bow by incorporating a drape around the shoulders for a geometric contrast of gold and silver against cool blue.”
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For their formal hastakshar ceremony, the bride-to-be opted for a concept saree from Tarun Tahiliani's collection. She looked divine as she walked down the aisle toward the temple. In the same interview, Radhika spilled the beans on her bridal ensemble and shared that she wanted to represent a traditional Indian bride by giving it a contemporary twist. She added:
“I wanted to represent a traditional Indian bride but infuse the look with a fresh and contemporary reinterpretation. I ventured beyond the typical bridal silhouettes while carefully integrating meaningful homages to Indian tradition and design. For example, my dupatta was intricately hand-painted and embellished, in a tribute to the art of Nathdwara, commemorating the place of our engagement. My veil was meticulously handwoven in Banaras with real gold threads, offering an ethereal elegance to my look and really allowing the detailed craftsmanship to shine through as it cascaded down the aisle.”
Anant and Radhika signed their wedding papers legally in the presence of 1500 guests. Later, Nita Ambani performed a special Bharatanatyam-style dance, marking an emotional end to the beautiful weekend for the couple. When the party began, Radhika changed into a pink gown embellished with crystals and paid homage to a traditional saree. Reflecting on her grand pre-wedding soiree, Radhika expressed that she feels immense gratitude.
“It added to the divinity of the night—all in the temple where we spent so many special moments during the last seven years together. I recognize that this is a privilege few people experience, and I truly feel blessed. I hope that our wedding will bring global attention to Vantara, the largest animal rehabilitation centre in the world, a project that my husband and I hold very close in our hearts.”
We can't wait to witness Anant and Radhika's grand wedding!
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