- The pre-wedding celebrations for Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant kicked off on Friday.
- Anant is the son of billionaire Mukesh Ambani, chair of the Fortune 500 company Reliance Industries.
- The first night of the three-day festivities featured a cocktail party and a performance by Rihanna
The pre-wedding party for Anant Ambani, the son of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, officially kicked off on Friday.
The elder Ambani is the chair of the Fortune 500 company Reliance Industries and has an estimated net worth of $113 billion — and he has spared no expense on the festivities for his son’s marriage to Radhika Merchant.
The first day of the party, which is taking place in Gujarat, India, featured a cocktail party themed “an evening in everland” and concluded with a private performance from Rihanna.
Here are some of the most eye-catching outfits worn by the Ambanis and their 1,200 guests.
Bride and groom Radhika Merchant and Anant Ambani.
The couple are due to get married in July, but the celebrations are already underway.
Merchant wore a bespoke Versace dress, similar to one Blake Lively wore at the 2022 Met Gala.
At the cocktail party, the bride wore a bespoke gown from Atelier Versace, the luxury label’s haute couture division.
A similar dress was made for Blake Lively to wear to the Met Gala in 2022. It was previously on display at Kensington Palace in London.
Ivanka Trump wore a sparkling gold and silver sari for the glitzy event.
The daughter of former US president Donald Trump posed for photos with her husband, Jared Kushner, and their daughter, Arabella.
Her dress featured cut-out detailing on her midriff and had alternating gold and silver diagonal stripes.
Her husband went for a simple black buttoned-up bandhgala, while Arabella wore a glittery blue gown.
Nita Ambani wore a glossy maroon gown.
Nita Ambani, Mukesh Ambani’s wife, wore a maroon sari that featured colorful button detailing down the side.
Natasha Poonawalla arrived in a striking crystal-covered skirt and steel dome top.
Natasha is the wife of Adar Poonawalla, the CEO of Serum Institute of India, a vaccine manufacturer.
Adar previously said he fled India because of threats against him during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bollywood actors Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan coordinated their looks.
The two Bollywood stars attended the cocktail party with their son, Taimur Ali Khan.
Saif Ali Khan paired his pinstripe black suit with a purple shirt while his wife donned a pearl-covered sari.
Bill Gates’s outfit was quite understated in comparison to the other guests.
The Microsoft cofounder was photographed with Anant and Mukesh Ambani.
Gates opted for a blue suit, while his wife wore a black gown that featured gold detailing at the shoulders.
Nita Ambani joined forces with the Gates last year when her Reliance Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced an initiative to support 1 million female entrepreneurs.
Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan were photographed wearing matching black and gold outfits.
The Facebook founder’s black suit featured embroidered dragonfly motifs, while his wife’s dress was embellished with gold beads in the shape of two roses.
The pair also showed off their looks for the second day, which had a “jungle fever” theme.
The second day of the three-day celebrations featured “a walk on the wild side” to the nearby Reliance animal rescue center.
Rihanna wore a green dress featuring a thigh-high split for her performance.
The singer, who was joined on stage after her performance by the Ambani family, performed her set barefoot. She also wore pink mesh leg warmers that matched her pink jacket.
The singer changed after the show into a baby pink and turquoise look.
Rihanna was seen dancing at the afterparty with fellow guests wearing the pink ensemble.