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Global celebrities, business tycoons, and politicians have flocked to Mumbai for the grand wedding of Anant Ambani, son of Mukesh Ambani, Asia’s richest man. The celebrations, spanning four days at the Ambani-owned Jio World Convention Centre and their luxurious family home, include performances by international pop stars and a lavish reception. However, the opulence has sparked discussions about India's wealth inequality and caused significant traffic disruptions in Mumbai. Mukesh Ambani's vast empire, including interests in petrochemicals, telecoms, and retail, highlights his formidable influence. The bride, Radhika Merchant, comes from a prominent business family, adding to the union's high-profile nature.

Global celebrities, business tycoons, and politicians are arriving in India’s financial capital to attend the wedding of Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Mukesh Ambani, Asia’s richest man. The celebrations, taking place at the Ambani-owned Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, are the culmination of months of pre-wedding events that featured performances by international pop stars such as Rihanna and Justin Bieber.

Anant Ambani, 29, is set to marry his longtime girlfriend, Radhika Merchant. The four-day wedding celebrations commence with a traditional Hindu wedding ceremony on Friday, followed by a grand reception that will run through the weekend. The guest list is said to include former British Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Boris Johnson, Saudi Aramco CEO Amin H. Nasser, as well as celebrities like Adele, Lana Del Rey, Drake, and David Beckham. Local media have also reported sightings of Kim Kardashian and professional wrestler and actor John Cena.

Due to the influx of high-profile guests, Mumbai authorities have implemented traffic diversions around the wedding venue from Friday to Monday. This comes amid heavy monsoon rains that have already caused flooding and flight disruptions in the city. The extravagant nature of the wedding has drawn criticism from some Mumbai residents and sparked discussions about the growing inequality in India.

The groom's father, Mukesh Ambani, is the world’s ninth richest man with a net worth of $116 billion. His conglomerate, Reliance Industries, spans various industries, including petrochemicals, oil and gas, telecommunications, and retail, generating over $100 billion in annual revenue. The Ambani family resides in a 27-story Mumbai compound worth $1 billion, featuring amenities like three helipads, a 160-car garage, and a private movie theater.

Anant Ambani oversees Reliance’s renewable and green energy expansion and runs a 3,000-acre animal rescue center in Jamnagar, Gujarat, the family's hometown. His bride, Radhika Merchant, 29, is the daughter of pharmaceutical tycoon Viren Merchant and serves as the marketing director for Encore Healthcare.

Critics of Mukesh Ambani argue that his company's success has been bolstered by political connections, dating back to the Congress party-led governments of the 1970s and 1980s and continuing under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration since 2014.

The Ambani family has a history of hosting lavish and star-studded events. In March, they held a three-day prenuptial bash for Anant, featuring performances by Rihanna, Akon, and Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh. Guests included tech billionaires Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates, as well as Bollywood megastars. The family also organized a three-day cruise from Italy to France in May, which included performances by Katy Perry and Pitbull.

As part of their pre-wedding celebrations, the Ambanis hosted a mass wedding for over 50 underprivileged couples on July 2. More recently, Justin Bieber performed for hundreds of guests at a pre-wedding concert, which also featured Bollywood stars Alia Bhatt, Ranveer Singh, and Salman Khan.

The Ambanis' opulent celebrations have often made headlines. In 2018, Beyoncé performed at the pre-wedding festivities for Mukesh Ambani’s daughter, which were attended by former U.S. Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and John Kerry.

This extravagant wedding has not only highlighted the staggering wealth and influence of the Ambani family but also reignited discussions about the economic divide in India. While the celebrations continue to capture global attention, they also serve as a reminder of the growing inequality in a country where millions still struggle to make ends meet.