Indian billionaire heir's pre-wedding party: All the outfits worn by bride-to-be Radhika Merchant
Radhika Merchant is set to wed Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani. To celebrate the upcoming nuptials, the couple held an elaborate three-day pre-wedding party. We take a look at all the outfits worn by the bride-to-be.
Radhika Merchant in Tarun Tahiliani. (Photo: Instagram/taruntahiliani)
It was the pre-wedding extravaganza of the year. Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Asia’s richest man Mukesh Ambani (who has an estimated fortune of US$117 billion, according to Forbes), is set to wed Radhika Merchant, daughter of industrialist Viren Merchant, in July 2024. Ahead of the nuptials, the couple held a lavish three-day pre-wedding party in Jamnagar, India.
The guestlist featured the who’s who of the business and tech world – Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg both attended the party. Rihanna was also reportedly paid millions to perform for the couple.
Naturally, all eyes were on the bride-to-be's outfits. She wore a lavish selection of couture for the festivities, showcasing a mix of Western and Indian designers. Take a look at all the showstopping designs below.
CUSTOM VERSACE GOWN
On the first day of the extravaganza, Radhika opted for a custom Versace gown in pink. If the dress looks familiar, that’s because it was earlier worn by Blake Lively at the 2022 Met Gala.
It is inspired by the architecture of New York, and was initially crafted in copper and turquoise hues.
ASHISH GUPTA FRINGE DRESS
That same night, she also wore a vibrant, multi-coloured fringe dress by London-based designer Ashish Gupta. The ensemble was completed with a pair of green embellished Manolo Blahnik mules and tinted heart-shaped glasses from Cartier.
MANISH MALHOTRA LEHENGA
On the second ay, Radhika dazzled in a gold and champagne-coloured lehenga by Indian designer Manish Malhotra. It featured a corset-inspired off-the-shoulder blouse, adorned with intricate mirror work, paired with a matching lehenga skirt. A gold dupatta draped over the shoulders completed the look.
TARUN TAHILIANI LEHENGA SARI
For the concluding ‘Hastakshar’ ceremony – a prenup ceremony which officially marks the union and commitment of the couple – the bride-to-be stunned once again in a lehenga sari by Indian couturier Tarun Tahiliani.
The designer described the custom attire as a “poetic ode to Indian heritage”. The pre-draped lehenga sari featured “a tapestry of hand-painted miniature artistry, intricately woven with the delicate finesse of ‘kasheedakari’ craftsmanship in opulent shades of silver and gold”. Crafted in shades of silver and gold, Radhika paired the lehenga-sari with a blouse featuring exquisite “jaali” and “resham” work. Kasheedakari, jaali and resham refer to Indian embroidery techniques.
