Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant finally tied the knot on 12 July 2024, bringing an end to what is certainly the grandest wedding of the 21st century so far. The mega wedding lasted seven months, from the engagement of the couple on 29 December 2023 to the mammoth reception, or Mangal Utsav, on 14 July 2024. While the media attention around the festivities and the astounding display of wealth by the Ambani family has been constant, we look at the relationship timeline of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant and everything that went down to bring these two together.
The Ambanis, one of the wealthiest families in the world, displayed the power of money over the last seven months, bringing together some of the most famous names on the planet at the celebrations – from Rihanna to Katy Perry and Justin Bieber to Backstreet Boys – to perform at different events held in multiple places, including the small town of Jamnagar and a four-day luxury cruise in Italy.
Anant, the youngest son of Mukesh and Nita Ambani, and Radhika, the daughter of pharmaceutical tycoon Viren and Shaila Merchant, had their engagement party in January, a pre-wedding party in March where the guest list included Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the cruise in May, a mass wedding followed by a haldi ceremony in early July, and finally the wedding.
Of course, the couple was at the centre of all the celebrations. Their beautiful bonding was evident in every moment of the festivities that were captured by the cameras. Understandably, there is a significant interest in their personal lives and the years of friendship that culminated in everlasting love.
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Though not a lot is known about the love story of the couple, we try to shed more light on it. Here’s all you need to know about their relationship.
All you need to know about the relationship timeline of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant
How did they first meet?
Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant have remained tight-lipped about how they first met. However, according to a joint statement shared by their families, the couple have known each other for years. Few sources have also claimed that they have been friends since childhood, but their romance blossomed much later in life.
When did they first get together?
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The rumours of them being together first started doing the rounds as a picture of them went viral on the internet. In the picture, Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant looked love-struck as they twinned in their matching olive green robes. The couple did not address these rumours, which further fuelled the speculations.
What happened after the viral picture?
Even though there were no comments from the couple, these rumours got stronger as Radhika Merchant joined the Ambanis at Lake Como in Italy for Isha Ambani’s engagement ceremony. She was there as a family friend, but her pictures with Anant went viral again. Some sources at the venue had also suggested that something was brewing between them.
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In 2018 when Isha Ambani got married, Radhika Merchant attended all the wedding festivities. She was even a part of the four who walked with the bride during her phoolon ki chadar (canopy of flowers) ceremony. It was clear that Merchant was extremely close to the Ambani family and might even become a part of the family.
The following year, in 2019, Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant were again spotted together during Akash Ambani’s wedding. In December 2021, when Akash and Shloka Ambani’s son Prithvi’s first birthday was celebrated in Jamnagar, Radhika was seen present there as well. By now, everyone knew that the couple was next on the list.
How did the Ambanis confirm Anant Ambani’s wedding to Radhika Merchant?
It was June 2022 when the Ambanis hosted Radhika’s Arangetram ceremony and confirmed their youngest son Anant Ambani’s wedding. Arangetram ceremony is the ritual that marks a dancer’s graduation and ascent to the performing stage for the first time. As Radhika is a trained Bharatnatyam dancer, this was her graduation ceremony hosted by her would-be in-laws!
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Finally, in December 2022, the Ambanis and the Merchants officially announced that Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant were set to tie the knot soon. A roka ceremony was held at Shrinathji Temple in Nathdwara in Rajasthan. This was followed by a grand engagement ceremony in Mumbai in January 2023, that officially welcomed Radhika Merchant into the family.
Following the traditional ceremonies, two star-studded pre-wedding events were held in India and abroad. The pre-wedding festivities were grandiose and the stage was set for the wedding that was held in Mumbai on 12 July.
Here Is An A To Z Breakdown Of Everything That Happened At Anant Ambani And Radhika Merchant’s Wedding
How Much Did Each Celebrity Charge For Performing At Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s Wedding?
Hero and Featured Images: Courtesy Sujit Jaiswal/AFP
This article first appeared on Lifestyle Asia India
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Anant revealed in an interview recently that Jamnagar is close to his heart. Also, he was inspired by PM Narendra Modi's idea of Wed in India. Notably, Jamnagar is Anant's grandmother's birthplace and the town where his grandfather Dhirubhai Ambani and his father Mukesh Ambani started their business.
He is 28 years old.
Radhika Merchant joined Isprava, a luxury real estate company. After working for a year, she moved to Encore Healthcare. She has also received training in Bharatnatyam dance form.
Radhika Merchant and Anant Ambani are childhood friends. According to media reports, Radhika was a frequent guest at Ambani's abode.
