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4 months ago
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Anant Ambani, the son of Asia's richest man, and his fiancée Radhika Merchant, the daughter of a multi-millionaire, were all smiles as they posed at a lavish pre-wedding ceremony in Mumbai today.
The 'grand finale' of preparations for their wedding next Friday saw the happy couple joined by a host of famous guests, including Bollywood stars and famous cricketers, at a venue adorned with bouquets of flowers, glass chandeliers and a red carpet.
Anant wore a black and gold jacket adorned with floral patterns, and a pair of black trousers, while his fiancée opted for a traditional silver dress decorated with embroidery and an olive shawl, and a weighty necklace carrying a large green stone.
The couple, both 29, are estimated to have already forked out as much as £100m on a glamorous party in March, but joined friends for their Sangeet ceremony at Jio World Centre on Friday to dance and sing according to tradition.
Anant, worth an estimated £30bn, is the youngest son of the Reliance Industries chairman, an energy giant with revenues of £90bn and India's largest public company.
The marriage to Radhika will link the Anants to the prominent Merchant family, leaders in India's lucrative healthcare industry worth an estimated £73million.
The couple joined guests at the Jio World Centre on Friday for their Sangeet ceremony
Critics have pointed to the wedding as an example of the stark contrast between the lives of India's most wealthy and the millions living in dire poverty on as little as £4 a day
The son of India's richest man is to be married next Friday, July 12, in India
Much hype has been made of the wedding, with $128mn already splashed in March
Anant wore a black jacket with golf floral patterning to the pre-wedding ceremony in Mumbai
Due to marry on July 12 after several months of lavish pre-wedding celebrations, Anant and Radhika beamed throughout the opulent Sangeet ceremony on Friday, seen dancing with friends in clips circling social media.
The family grooved to famous Bollywood anthems during the musical night traditionally set aside for friendly competitions, according to the Hindustan Times.
The theme was 'celebration of hearts', preparing guests for a 'night of song, dance and wonder' with a dress code of 'Indian regional glam', according to The National.
Among the guests were Bollywood star Nimrat Kaur, actor Javed Jaffrey, actresses Alia Bhatt and Vidya Balan.
Award-winning actor and film producer Salman Khan also made an appearance, cutting a dapper figure in a trim black dinner jacket and black shirt.
Former Indian cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni joined his wife Sakshi Dhoni on the red carpet on Friday, alongside fellow sportsmen Hardik Pandya, Zaheer Khan and KL Rahul.
The festivities have attracted global attention for months, with millions reportedly spent on hosting huge parties around the world in the build-up to the main wedding, lasting July 12 - July 14.
Earlier this month, the couple attended a traditional Mameru pre-wedding ritual ceremony in Mumbai, surrounded by guests.
Childhood sweethearts Anant and Radhika were both dressed in orange, a colour which holds special importance in Hindu culture, signifying warmth, energy and auspiciousness.
Radhika, who read political science at New York University and has worked as a business consultant, wore a custom-made lehenga by top Indian designer and couturier Manish Malhotra, which she accessorised with gold jewellery.
Her husband-to-be, meanwhile, wore a beaded nehru jacket with a kurta underneath.
Between May 29 and June 1, the couple took as many as 1,200 guests on a weekend trip across Europe. Amongst them were global tech CEOs, Bollywood stars and Hollywood legends.
Despite a strict no-phones policy reported, the Backstreet Boys and David Guetta were seen in videos performing on a luxury cruise ship to add to the spectacle.
The vessel they chose is called Celebrity Ascent and is said to have cost $900 million to build.
The enormous ship boasts 32 restaurants, bars, and lounges, as well as a rooftop garden, a casino, spa, multiple pools, and a theatre.
Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt poses for a picture during pre-wedding ceremony on Friday
Alia Bhatt is a British actress of Indian descent with credits in many Hindi films
Indian cricketer Zaheer Khan with his wife actress Sagarika Ghatge pose in Mumbai
Former Indian cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his wife Saksh were also in attendance
Indian cricketer KL Rahul and his wife Athiya Shetty arrive on the red carpet
Indian cricketers Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya pose for pictures at Friday's event
Bollywood actor Salman Khan was on the star-studded guestlist for the pre-wedding ceremony
Over the course of the four-day expedition, the soon-to-be husband and wife, along with their guests, experienced the European cities of Sicily and Rome in Italy and Cannes in France.
The nighttime entertainment featured lavish parties and star-studded celebrity performances.
“It was a retreat for the people that have contributed to our life in different ways,” Radhika told Vogue India.
The magazine reported that the couple had decided to organise the cruise because 'many of their close friends' were 'unable to make it to' the first party.
Pre-wedding celebrations began in March with a glamorous party in Jamnagar, India, that was estimated to have cost them more than $128 million (£99.9mn).
The party included a performance from Rhianna, reportedly costing $6.3mn (£5mn), and had a star-studded guestlist with the likes of Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates, and various politicians.
The event was widely juxtaposed with the dire living conditions endured by many Indians working long hours in laborious jobs and living on as little as £4 a day.
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