It’s the wedding that seems to have taken forever to arrive, but Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant are finally set to tie the knot this week. With festivities at the Jio World Centre in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), Mumbai, this isn’t just a wedding—it’s the event of the year, if not the decade. The guest list, recently revealed by the Economic Times, reads like a Who's Who of global powerhouses.
#WATCH | Video of wedding invitation card of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant as shared by one of the card recepients pic.twitter.com/zTas6pjsUM — ANI (@ANI) June 27, 2024
Among the glitterati set to grace the event are reality TV royalty Kim Kardashian and Khloe Kardashian. Adding a touch of futuristic flair is Peter Diamandis, while the artistic vibe will be elevated by none other than Jeff Koons. Self-help enthusiasts will be thrilled to spot Jay Shetty in attendance, possibly sharing some wisdom on marital bliss.
The political guest list is equally impressive, with former UK Prime Ministers Boris Johnson and Tony Blair, former US Secretary of State John Kerry, former Swedish PM Carl Bildt, and former Canadian PM Stephen Harper expected to attend. It seems diplomacy will be in full swing at the celebrations.
Not to be outdone, the international leadership roster includes Tanzania President Samia Suluhu Hassan, IOC Vice President Juan Antonio Samaranch, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino. If world peace and football strategies are discussed over canapés, we wouldn’t be surprised.
Business magnates are also flocking to the nuptials. The who's who of the corporate world includes HSBC Group Chairman Mark Tucker, Aramco CEO Amin Nasser, Morgan Stanley MD Michael Grimes, Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen, Mubadala MD Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Samsung Electronics Chairman Jay Lee, Lockheed Martin CEO James Taiclet, BP CEO Murray Auchincloss, Temasek CEO Dilhan Pillay, and Ericsson CEO Borje Ekholm. If you thought the wedding was just a social event, think again—it’s practically a global economic summit.
The guest list doesn’t stop there. HP President Enrique Lores, ADIA board member Khalil Mohammed Sharif Foulathi, Kuwait Investment Authority MD Bader Mohammad Al-Saad, Nokia President Tommi Uitto, GlaxoSmithKline CEO Emma Walmsley, GIC CEO Lim Chow Kiat, and Moelis & Co Vice Chairman Eric Cantor will also be present. The guest list is rounded out with Indian union cabinet ministers, chief ministers, and other prominent business figures, ensuring a perfect blend of national and international prominence.
The wedding festivities are a meticulously planned blend of tradition and opulence, adhering to Hindu Vedic customs. The grand celebrations kick off on Friday, July 12, with the Shubh Vivah, or wedding function. The revelry continues into Saturday, July 13, with Shubh Aashirwad, and culminates in the Mangal Utsav or wedding reception on Sunday, July 14.
