![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EJE2Y2CG6VEF7P7CGCBMW75MVI.jpg?smart=true&auth=9298d3387bc165f17950f832b2e8b4a4ace185a957bf467740bf60815f1b4236&width=400&height=225)
Castle-themed decor
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/I23ZHPYUNBDGFLAVV7MO65ZCHA.jpeg?smart=true&auth=599cfc767c31a5499cf477ec03f89e28e61f191790a30adae52227108435a171&width=400&height=225)
Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant at their pre-wedding even in Jamnagar, Gujarat, India, dressed by Manish Malhotra. All photos: Manish Malhotra
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GG2YH3HWU5CL5FAROR2YTJVJKQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=2d560f8756491b20e45ea41c3c9e68d8f91fb982b12be60ba3d20746cb355a3e&width=400&height=225)
Mother of the groom Nita Ambani
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VZMDM2A5PZEQFA4XZDWIF4VP3I.jpg?smart=true&auth=1351efaf41673620df2299b7b106cbde698ef9c5c1308a1eac91b923af139e6b&width=400&height=225)
Nita worked closely with Malhotra to design the three-day bash in Jamnagar
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UMEBCRYYQJACHK72ZPTS2ZHSHE.jpg?smart=true&auth=13f3f813f4da770456c5c87721c99211436336b05dcabc2465faf862356c1800&width=400&height=225)
Akash Ambani, Anant's older brother, dressed in Manish Malhotra
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RID2M6KEZ5EXPARGUUPF7MQHXQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=df929a9b2c08fcdeb38df66611cba9d16a0ea4c6fae74a09dc0faed6d4577928&width=400&height=225)
Shloka Mehta Ambani, Akash Ambani's wife
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XDIP5QQQTRFRVBKVBRQKCQKOFM.jpg?smart=true&auth=ccfdad0deff450de1b743454971781c1005f8d84204220b9906a01a16b9103f6&width=400&height=225)
Bride-to-be Merchant in Manish Malhotra
Isha Ambani, older sister of Anant, at one of the themed nights, dressed by Manish Malhotra
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZPOSOLYCANDHLPNGE7WAHFA4KI.jpg?smart=true&auth=312aaaff5711b305f8dad95ebeafd44cf14676de8d0ba580677ec404ccfb188c&width=400&height=225)
Shloka Mehta Ambani in one of her outfits from the three-day event
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FUUIU3F6PRGKHASF5MRRQ4ZMTQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=48815bbb27160fb7584225c3976a07d2074f1a7fc632b0c3f3f726cb15cbfcdc&width=400&height=225)
Shloka in a Manish Malhotra creation
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HNXTSBNVCBHMDAV2ZDMU6XZJQ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=ea8e7d96804b8dd5c8ef5d4aa486b8a0f1652d0c2762ec9507e15bd272dd5992&width=400&height=225)
Nita dressed in Manish Malhotra
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MX24JXCAW5GLLIV5WZB5CHWXRQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=c0a7d1dc879a4b74597aae1d6e915642f478b995f50d89a303ef58c4c0b9aa59&width=400&height=225)
Anand Piramal, the husband of Isha Ambani
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NSQSGENBWNEVZHXADV5CICQZEQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=4563521ba7b32aae07969c9f0214e04c8e8608ce70ef5409e094c6d89a80dbaf&width=400&height=225)
Groom-to-be Anant is the youngest child of Mukesh and Nita Ambani
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YKDZ3KXAWNBRXLHVFSS6UPGOQY.jpeg?smart=true&auth=452fc104082a45c00ccdebf85c2de6a2a9187cfa81fdd40d8646c76e9953d2e7&width=400&height=225)
Nita with daughter Isha Ambani
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WYYYDXASQ5DBXE2OQ4LQNLSPDY.jpeg?smart=true&auth=a00665c7ea717a7ddd0d0b4d461a83ae60e2aedeb6ac83b4ac712a8f096aacb7&width=400&height=225)
Shloka in Manish Malhotra
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/62GDJBEPU5DVXLDMUZUFLORFD4.jpeg?smart=true&auth=5d4d1f24812e973d0c6ff887f6ac9af7aae7fc3e5649d0cb9cff6602e4631357&width=400&height=225)
Isha in Manish Malhotra
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IXPYNRG65ZAKDG4QF7LH42POTQ.jpeg?smart=true&auth=e691e6bb090b7600531de79ca40203d928f8278a1344901e08fca11348ac4631&width=400&height=225)
Isha in one of Malhotra's creations
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F2BMBKPRRFF35CS65LKHYRKX5M.jpeg?smart=true&auth=7ac2d47219e952005fd3c2ed303d684e2d012507468a0363619fcf96e37760f4&width=400&height=225)
Nita and Mukesh Ambani perform on stage
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LY54LYHRYJC4JMUWQ5MDFM5IKQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=631df89af5676144e51f64e361e38db3595d4a4ae3d16914b58210509afd8633&width=400&height=225)
World leaders, business tycoons and Bollywood's top stars attended the event
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5NWRLH7FL5DY5FNLK77EWR3LEI.jpg?smart=true&auth=3c000c7c8a52deca59317e7965a702f621e400761b26e42eaa56a7a585e8d2d1&width=400&height=225)
Malhotra says he had five months to put the event together
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GXWNH2DR6RGT5LFFQKU6E7BOHE.jpg?smart=true&auth=fd80994ef87bf3da9926859139cb0aaf1eefe8633bb9fd09519166a3f2d6ac0b&width=400&height=225)
Malhotra, 57, has a long relationship with the Ambanis
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WUEWHSKZFVENLLN3LQGHT3LLVY.jpg?smart=true&auth=acc4202555290a552348e1f5a59e14d4f161ba7f6ae1fbee7dbc9f7eb329334a&width=400&height=225)
The event was a precursor to the main wedding
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZXHAEFSL4FAJZDOH7A6IQK3B64.jpg?smart=true&auth=160d1891fe81e1fcc06ebdc422c61f22a47f4d38eceed79994edff09f9e02b81&width=400&height=225)
Malhotra will also design the main wedding event on July 12
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BKIRNTVFSRCLXGCG7DK7YARKEE.jpg?smart=true&auth=6298587a6796ea5df8b40d2cf704cd200a4635722581379d89a77994e68282b1&width=400&height=225)
The event featured choreographed Bollywood-style stage productions
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RHHN6GZMM5CGTGB2YLPCKHGMBU.jpg?smart=true&auth=ae41e121a85e629dc44e03fe0e6a0a24a83a2cce99f753dc3393bd8ab26dd168&width=400&height=225)
There were also fireworks displays and multiple themed parties
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QS73IW4H5VEKTMEGEYQ2ZQYVNM.jpg?smart=true&auth=a5680ce2acc3ecb6c9088510a6129caf9c2498564a535e4c8b91da012b892ed6&width=400&height=225)
The pre-wedding bash alone is rumoured to have cost more than 12 billion rupees ($144m)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KDLP3QLIARD73GFCQNQESYU22E.jpg?smart=true&auth=716fb1ae702ff4573641de254148035443f199a5dffaef45cb735e8d11d789f8&width=400&height=225)
One of the parties featured a temple set-up
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3FOJZXEAPJFCTPN34WB2J62ML4.jpg?smart=true&auth=5630d7b88fc66cf40a9dfc7e93846b86686dc174284cca18b8c740fb95a88d87&width=400&height=225)
One of the nights was Moulin Rouge-themed
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KHGTKPQ33BHFVIHZR7EDC3XURE.jpg?smart=true&auth=417e658b8d4021e7d575be6c24d118139be18c36e4281e5c7f8133a97717d87d&width=400&height=225)
Carousel-themed decor
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EJE2Y2CG6VEF7P7CGCBMW75MVI.jpg?smart=true&auth=9298d3387bc165f17950f832b2e8b4a4ace185a957bf467740bf60815f1b4236&width=400&height=225)
Castle-themed decor
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/I23ZHPYUNBDGFLAVV7MO65ZCHA.jpeg?smart=true&auth=599cfc767c31a5499cf477ec03f89e28e61f191790a30adae52227108435a171&width=400&height=225)
Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant at their pre-wedding even in Jamnagar, Gujarat, India, dressed by Manish Malhotra. All photos: Manish Malhotra
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GG2YH3HWU5CL5FAROR2YTJVJKQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=2d560f8756491b20e45ea41c3c9e68d8f91fb982b12be60ba3d20746cb355a3e&width=400&height=225)
Mother of the groom Nita Ambani
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VZMDM2A5PZEQFA4XZDWIF4VP3I.jpg?smart=true&auth=1351efaf41673620df2299b7b106cbde698ef9c5c1308a1eac91b923af139e6b&width=400&height=225)
Nita worked closely with Malhotra to design the three-day bash in Jamnagar
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UMEBCRYYQJACHK72ZPTS2ZHSHE.jpg?smart=true&auth=13f3f813f4da770456c5c87721c99211436336b05dcabc2465faf862356c1800&width=400&height=225)
Akash Ambani, Anant's older brother, dressed in Manish Malhotra
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RID2M6KEZ5EXPARGUUPF7MQHXQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=df929a9b2c08fcdeb38df66611cba9d16a0ea4c6fae74a09dc0faed6d4577928&width=400&height=225)
Shloka Mehta Ambani, Akash Ambani's wife
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XDIP5QQQTRFRVBKVBRQKCQKOFM.jpg?smart=true&auth=ccfdad0deff450de1b743454971781c1005f8d84204220b9906a01a16b9103f6&width=400&height=225)
Bride-to-be Merchant in Manish Malhotra
Isha Ambani, older sister of Anant, at one of the themed nights, dressed by Manish Malhotra
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZPOSOLYCANDHLPNGE7WAHFA4KI.jpg?smart=true&auth=312aaaff5711b305f8dad95ebeafd44cf14676de8d0ba580677ec404ccfb188c&width=400&height=225)
Shloka Mehta Ambani in one of her outfits from the three-day event
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FUUIU3F6PRGKHASF5MRRQ4ZMTQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=48815bbb27160fb7584225c3976a07d2074f1a7fc632b0c3f3f726cb15cbfcdc&width=400&height=225)
Shloka in a Manish Malhotra creation
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HNXTSBNVCBHMDAV2ZDMU6XZJQ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=ea8e7d96804b8dd5c8ef5d4aa486b8a0f1652d0c2762ec9507e15bd272dd5992&width=400&height=225)
Nita dressed in Manish Malhotra
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MX24JXCAW5GLLIV5WZB5CHWXRQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=c0a7d1dc879a4b74597aae1d6e915642f478b995f50d89a303ef58c4c0b9aa59&width=400&height=225)
Anand Piramal, the husband of Isha Ambani
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NSQSGENBWNEVZHXADV5CICQZEQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=4563521ba7b32aae07969c9f0214e04c8e8608ce70ef5409e094c6d89a80dbaf&width=400&height=225)
Groom-to-be Anant is the youngest child of Mukesh and Nita Ambani
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YKDZ3KXAWNBRXLHVFSS6UPGOQY.jpeg?smart=true&auth=452fc104082a45c00ccdebf85c2de6a2a9187cfa81fdd40d8646c76e9953d2e7&width=400&height=225)
Nita with daughter Isha Ambani
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WYYYDXASQ5DBXE2OQ4LQNLSPDY.jpeg?smart=true&auth=a00665c7ea717a7ddd0d0b4d461a83ae60e2aedeb6ac83b4ac712a8f096aacb7&width=400&height=225)
Shloka in Manish Malhotra
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/62GDJBEPU5DVXLDMUZUFLORFD4.jpeg?smart=true&auth=5d4d1f24812e973d0c6ff887f6ac9af7aae7fc3e5649d0cb9cff6602e4631357&width=400&height=225)
Isha in Manish Malhotra
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IXPYNRG65ZAKDG4QF7LH42POTQ.jpeg?smart=true&auth=e691e6bb090b7600531de79ca40203d928f8278a1344901e08fca11348ac4631&width=400&height=225)
Isha in one of Malhotra's creations
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F2BMBKPRRFF35CS65LKHYRKX5M.jpeg?smart=true&auth=7ac2d47219e952005fd3c2ed303d684e2d012507468a0363619fcf96e37760f4&width=400&height=225)
Nita and Mukesh Ambani perform on stage
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LY54LYHRYJC4JMUWQ5MDFM5IKQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=631df89af5676144e51f64e361e38db3595d4a4ae3d16914b58210509afd8633&width=400&height=225)
World leaders, business tycoons and Bollywood's top stars attended the event
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5NWRLH7FL5DY5FNLK77EWR3LEI.jpg?smart=true&auth=3c000c7c8a52deca59317e7965a702f621e400761b26e42eaa56a7a585e8d2d1&width=400&height=225)
Malhotra says he had five months to put the event together
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GXWNH2DR6RGT5LFFQKU6E7BOHE.jpg?smart=true&auth=fd80994ef87bf3da9926859139cb0aaf1eefe8633bb9fd09519166a3f2d6ac0b&width=400&height=225)
Malhotra, 57, has a long relationship with the Ambanis
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WUEWHSKZFVENLLN3LQGHT3LLVY.jpg?smart=true&auth=acc4202555290a552348e1f5a59e14d4f161ba7f6ae1fbee7dbc9f7eb329334a&width=400&height=225)
The event was a precursor to the main wedding
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZXHAEFSL4FAJZDOH7A6IQK3B64.jpg?smart=true&auth=160d1891fe81e1fcc06ebdc422c61f22a47f4d38eceed79994edff09f9e02b81&width=400&height=225)
Malhotra will also design the main wedding event on July 12
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BKIRNTVFSRCLXGCG7DK7YARKEE.jpg?smart=true&auth=6298587a6796ea5df8b40d2cf704cd200a4635722581379d89a77994e68282b1&width=400&height=225)
The event featured choreographed Bollywood-style stage productions
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RHHN6GZMM5CGTGB2YLPCKHGMBU.jpg?smart=true&auth=ae41e121a85e629dc44e03fe0e6a0a24a83a2cce99f753dc3393bd8ab26dd168&width=400&height=225)
There were also fireworks displays and multiple themed parties
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QS73IW4H5VEKTMEGEYQ2ZQYVNM.jpg?smart=true&auth=a5680ce2acc3ecb6c9088510a6129caf9c2498564a535e4c8b91da012b892ed6&width=400&height=225)
The pre-wedding bash alone is rumoured to have cost more than 12 billion rupees ($144m)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KDLP3QLIARD73GFCQNQESYU22E.jpg?smart=true&auth=716fb1ae702ff4573641de254148035443f199a5dffaef45cb735e8d11d789f8&width=400&height=225)
One of the parties featured a temple set-up
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3FOJZXEAPJFCTPN34WB2J62ML4.jpg?smart=true&auth=5630d7b88fc66cf40a9dfc7e93846b86686dc174284cca18b8c740fb95a88d87&width=400&height=225)
One of the nights was Moulin Rouge-themed
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KHGTKPQ33BHFVIHZR7EDC3XURE.jpg?smart=true&auth=417e658b8d4021e7d575be6c24d118139be18c36e4281e5c7f8133a97717d87d&width=400&height=225)
Carousel-themed decor
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EJE2Y2CG6VEF7P7CGCBMW75MVI.jpg?smart=true&auth=9298d3387bc165f17950f832b2e8b4a4ace185a957bf467740bf60815f1b4236&width=400&height=225)
Castle-themed decor
Manish Malhotra looks back at 'memorable' Ambani pre-wedding party as he plans main event
Celebrated fashion designer was creative director for three-day celebration in Gujarat
David Tusing
29 April, 2024
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