• From left: Nita Ambani, Radhika Merchant, Anant Ambani and Isha Ambani in Manish Malhotra. Photo: @manishmalhotra05 / Instagram
    From left: Nita Ambani, Radhika Merchant, Anant Ambani and Isha Ambani in Manish Malhotra. Photo: @manishmalhotra05 / Instagram
  • Anant Ambani looked regal in a sherwani intricately embroidered with jungle motifs and Swarovski crystals. Photo: @manishmalhotra05 / Instagram
    Anant Ambani looked regal in a sherwani intricately embroidered with jungle motifs and Swarovski crystals. Photo: @manishmalhotra05 / Instagram
  • Bride-to-be Radhika Merchant wore a lehenga featuring a metal mesh drape embellished with more than 20,000 Swarovski crystals. The dress was made by more than 70 artisans, Malhotra said. Photo: @manishmalhotra05 / Instagram
    Bride-to-be Radhika Merchant wore a lehenga featuring a metal mesh drape embellished with more than 20,000 Swarovski crystals. The dress was made by more than 70 artisans, Malhotra said. Photo: @manishmalhotra05 / Instagram
  • Isha Ambani also wore red in a lehenga-inspired gown, which she paired with a giant emerald necklace as well as matching bracelet and earrings, and finished her look with a red fur jacket. Photo: @manishmalhotra05 / Instagram
    Isha Ambani also wore red in a lehenga-inspired gown, which she paired with a giant emerald necklace as well as matching bracelet and earrings, and finished her look with a red fur jacket. Photo: @manishmalhotra05 / Instagram
  • Nita Ambani chose a more traditional look for the night, wearing a Kanchipuram sari, renowned the world over for its fine silk weaves. Malhotra and his team then added traditional zardosi, or elaborate embroidery, to the border of the sari, giving it a regal look. Photo: @manishmalhotra05 / Instagram
    Nita Ambani chose a more traditional look for the night, wearing a Kanchipuram sari, renowned the world over for its fine silk weaves. Malhotra and his team then added traditional zardosi, or elaborate embroidery, to the border of the sari, giving it a regal look. Photo: @manishmalhotra05 / Instagram
  • Shloka Mehta, Anant's sister-in-law also dazzled in a custom made lehenga with patterns made in a "cage cutout" style that took 8,000 hours to make. Photo: @manishmalhotra05 / Instagram
    Shloka Mehta, Anant's sister-in-law also dazzled in a custom made lehenga with patterns made in a "cage cutout" style that took 8,000 hours to make. Photo: @manishmalhotra05 / Instagram
  • Bollywood star couple Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone performed on the night. Photo: Reliance Industries
    Bollywood star couple Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone performed on the night. Photo: Reliance Industries
  • Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan on stage. Photo: Reliance Industries
    Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan on stage. Photo: Reliance Industries
  • Ivanka Trump, centre, and husband Jared Kushner. Photo: Reliance Industries
    Ivanka Trump, centre, and husband Jared Kushner. Photo: Reliance Industries
  • Actors Salman Khan, Ram Charan, Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan perform. Photo: Reliance Industries
    Actors Salman Khan, Ram Charan, Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan perform. Photo: Reliance Industries
  • Bollywood stars Amir Khan, Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan got together for a rare reunion. Photo: Reliance Industries
    Bollywood stars Amir Khan, Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan got together for a rare reunion. Photo: Reliance Industries
  • New Zealand cricketer Trent Boult and his wife Gert Smith. Photo: Reliance Industries
    New Zealand cricketer Trent Boult and his wife Gert Smith. Photo: Reliance Industries
  • England cricketer Sam Curran and Isabella Grace. Photo: Reliance Industries
    England cricketer Sam Curran and Isabella Grace. Photo: Reliance Industries
  • Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar with his wife Anjali. Photo: Reliance Industries
    Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar with his wife Anjali. Photo: Reliance Industries
  • Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan. Photo: Reliance Industries
    Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan. Photo: Reliance Industries
  • Bill Gates and Paula Hurd. Photo: Reliance Industries
    Bill Gates and Paula Hurd. Photo: Reliance Industries
  • Actor Saif Ali Khan, his wife and actor Kareena Kapoor Khan and their son Taimur Ali pose during pre-wedding celebrations of Anant Ambani, son of Mukesh Ambani and Radhika Merchant, daughter of industrialist Viren Merchant, in Jamnagar, Gujarat, India, March 2, 2024. Reliance Industries/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.
    Actor Saif Ali Khan, his wife and actor Kareena Kapoor Khan and their son Taimur Ali pose during pre-wedding celebrations of Anant Ambani, son of Mukesh Ambani and Radhika Merchant, daughter of industrialist Viren Merchant, in Jamnagar, Gujarat, India, March 2, 2024. Reliance Industries/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.

What the Ambanis wore on day two of pre-wedding celebrations


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Indian fashion designer Manish Malhotra has shared images and details of his creations on the second of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's three-day pre-wedding celebration.

Malhotra designed the family outfits and the venue itself in a Mela Rouge theme, using a mishmash of regal Indian and French influences. That was the second party of the day at the lavish event in Jamnagar, a township in the western Indian state of Gujarat.

While Rihanna performed on the first night on Friday, guests on the second day, including Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates, were first treated to a jungle-themed A Walk on the Wildside party. Guests then swapped their outfits for more elegant wear in the evening for Mela Rouge and watched top Bollywood stars take to the stage for more celebrations.

Red was the colour of choice for groom-to-be Anant, who looked regal in a sherwani intricately embroidered with jungle motifs and Swarovski crystals. Anant finished his look with a cheetah brooch, a nod to his recently-launched 1,200-hectacre animal centre project in Jamnagar.

Anant's sister, Isha Ambani, also wore red in a lehenga-inspired gown, which she paired with a giant emerald necklace as well as matching bracelet and earrings, finishing her look with a red fur jacket.

Isha Ambani in Manisha Malhotra. Photo: @manishmalhotra05 / Instagram
Isha Ambani in Manisha Malhotra. Photo: @manishmalhotra05 / Instagram

Bride-to-be Merchant wore a lehenga featuring a metal mesh drape embellished with more than 20,000 Swarovski crystals. The dress was made by more than 70 artisans, Malhotra said.

Anant's mother, Nita, chose a more traditional look for the night, wearing a Kanchipuram sari, renowned the world over for its fine silk weaves. Malhotra and his team then added traditional zardosi, or elaborate embroidery, to the border of the sari, giving it a regal look.

Nita Ambani in a Kanchipuram sari. Photo: @manishmalhotra05 / Instagram
Nita Ambani in a Kanchipuram sari. Photo: @manishmalhotra05 / Instagram

Nita finished her look with a massive emerald necklace with diamond details. “Woven with blessings and love, this sari embodies the spirit of the occasion and Mrs Ambani's deep respect for Indian craftsmanship,” Malhotra said.

Shloka Mehta, Anant's sister-in-law, also dazzled in a lehenga with patterns made in a “cage cut-out” style that took 8,000 hours to make.

Malhotra also shared pictures of the venue he designed, which included a replica of the famous windmill atop the Moulin Rouge cabaret in Paris.

Other stars also wore Malhotra on the night, including Kareena Kapoor Khan, who attended the party in a glittering red sari, accompanied by her husband, actor Saif Ali Khan, and son Taimur.

Kareena Kapoor Khan with husband, actor Saif Ali Kham, and their son Taimur Ali. Photo: Reliance Industries
Kareena Kapoor Khan with husband, actor Saif Ali Kham, and their son Taimur Ali. Photo: Reliance Industries

Bollywood took over the second night of the celebrations, and included a rare reunion on stage of the Khans – Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan and Salman Khan – who once ruled Bollywood.

The Khans were later joined on stage by South Indian superstar Ram Charan to perform Naatu Naatu, the 2023 Oscar-winning song from the Telegu-language film RRR. Husband and wife duo Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone also performed, along with Punjabi superstar Diljit Dosanjh.

Malhotra also took to the stage to perform Bole Chudiyan, a song from the hit 2001 film Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, for which he designed the costumes. He was joined by young Bollywood stars Janhvi Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan, Ananya Panday and Khushi Kapoor.

  • Ivanka Trump, her husband Jared Kushner and their daughter Arabella. Reuters
    Ivanka Trump, her husband Jared Kushner and their daughter Arabella. Reuters
  • Bill Gates and Paula Hurd. Reuters
    Bill Gates and Paula Hurd. Reuters
  • Actor Shah Rukh Khan, his wife Gauri and their son Abram. Reuters
    Actor Shah Rukh Khan, his wife Gauri and their son Abram. Reuters
  • Actor Ranbir Kapoor and his wife and actor Alia Bhatt. Reuters
    Actor Ranbir Kapoor and his wife and actor Alia Bhatt. Reuters
  • Rihanna, third from left, with members of the Ambani family during the first night of pre-wedding celebrations. Reliance Industries / Reuters
    Rihanna, third from left, with members of the Ambani family during the first night of pre-wedding celebrations. Reliance Industries / Reuters
  • The singer performed some of her biggest hits in a rare performance. Reliance Industries / Reuters
    The singer performed some of her biggest hits in a rare performance. Reliance Industries / Reuters
  • Bill Gates and girlfriend Paula Hurd with Anant Ambani and Mukesh Ambani during the pre-wedding celebrations. Reliance / Reuters
    Bill Gates and girlfriend Paula Hurd with Anant Ambani and Mukesh Ambani during the pre-wedding celebrations. Reliance / Reuters
  • Radhika Merchant and Anant Ambani address guests during day one of their three-day pre-wedding celebrations in Jamnagar. All photos: AFP / Reliance unless stated otherwise
    Radhika Merchant and Anant Ambani address guests during day one of their three-day pre-wedding celebrations in Jamnagar. All photos: AFP / Reliance unless stated otherwise
  • Nita Ambani, chairwoman and founder of the Reliance Foundation
    Nita Ambani, chairwoman and founder of the Reliance Foundation
  • Bollywood stars Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan
    Bollywood stars Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan
  • India's former cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni with wife Sakshi
    India's former cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni with wife Sakshi
  • Bollywood actors Ajay Devgn, centre, and Akshay Kumar, right
    Bollywood actors Ajay Devgn, centre, and Akshay Kumar, right
  • Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg with wife Priscilla Chan
    Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg with wife Priscilla Chan
  • West Indies's former cricket captain Dwayne Bravo, right, and wife Regina Ramjit
    West Indies's former cricket captain Dwayne Bravo, right, and wife Regina Ramjit
  • From left, Jared Kushner, daughter Arabella and Ivanka Trump posing with billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani
    From left, Jared Kushner, daughter Arabella and Ivanka Trump posing with billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani
  • Indian businesswoman Natasha Poonawalla
    Indian businesswoman Natasha Poonawalla
  • From left, Ivanka Trump, daughter of former US president Donald Trump, and Nita
    From left, Ivanka Trump, daughter of former US president Donald Trump, and Nita
  • Akash Ambani, left, with wife Shloka Mehta and Mukesh Ambani, right, with wife Nita
    Akash Ambani, left, with wife Shloka Mehta and Mukesh Ambani, right, with wife Nita
  • India's spiritual guru and founder of Isha Foundation, Jagadish 'Jaggi' Vasudev, popularly known as Sadhguru
    India's spiritual guru and founder of Isha Foundation, Jagadish 'Jaggi' Vasudev, popularly known as Sadhguru
  • Indian politician Praful Patel with wife Varsha
    Indian politician Praful Patel with wife Varsha
Updated: March 04, 2024, 2:33 PM