NEW DELHI (AP) — It could be the biggest party this small western Indian town has ever seen. As billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani prepares for his son's wedding this summer, he is expecting billionaires from around the world, heads of state and Hollywood and Bollywood royalty to attend a three-day party in the family's hometown starting Friday.
The nearly 1,200-strong guest list includes Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Sunder Pichai and Ivanka Trump; Indian billionaires Gautam Adani and Kumar Mangalam Birla; legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar; and Bollywood stars like Deepika Padukone, Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukherjee, Salman Khan, Arijit Singh and Diljeet Dosanjh.
Bollywood actors Ranveer Singh (left) and Deepika Padukone arrive at the airport to attend the pre-wedding celebrations of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant in Jamnagar, India, Thursday, February 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
You will be entertained by pop superstar Rihanna, magician David Blaine and famous Bollywood singers.
The party is taking place in Jamnagar, a city of around 600,000 people in a desert part of the state of Gujarat. It is the family's hometown and home to their business empire's main oil refinery, Reliance Industries. There will also be traditional ceremonies in a temple complex.
On Wednesday, the Ambani family organized a community food service for 51,000 people living in nearby villages.
Anant Ambani, 28, will marry his long-time girlfriend Radhika Merchant in July. Merchant is the daughter of Viren Merchant, CEO of Encore Healthcare Pvt. Ltd. and entrepreneur Shaila Merchant.
The three-day pre-wedding bash starting Friday gives a glimpse into the actual wedding, which is expected in July.
Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, leaves the airport in a car as he arrives to attend the pre-wedding celebrations of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant in Jamnagar, India, Thursday, February 29, 2024 . (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Suhana Khan, daughter of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, leaves the airport in a car as she arrives to attend the pre-wedding celebrations of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant in Jamnagar, India, Thursday, February 29, 2024 . (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Guests will dress in jungle outfits to visit an animal rescue center run by Anant Ambani. Known as “Vantara,” meaning “Star of the Forest,” the 1,200-acre center houses abused, injured and endangered animals, particularly elephants.
The invitation states that guests will find a daily dress code mood board at their hotel with an army of hairdressers, makeup artists and Indian clothing designers.
Forbes lists Mukesh Ambani as the richest person in Asia. His Reliance Industries is a massive conglomerate with annual sales of over $100 billion, whose interests range from petrochemicals to oil and gas to telecommunications and retail.
Indian tycoons are never in a hurry to pass the baton, but 66-year-old Mukesh Ambani has begun handing over the reins to his sons and daughter.
Elder son Akash is now chairman of Reliance Jio; Daughter Isha runs retail; and younger son Anant was brought into the new energy business.
Also on the guest list are Mohammed Bin Jassim al Thani, the Prime Minister of Qatar; Stephen Harper, former Canadian Prime Minister; and the King and Queen of Bhutan.