Who Is Radhika Merchant, The Bride-To-Be Of The Ambani Family

India’s wealthiest man has initiated the festivities for the upcoming wedding of his youngest son, Anant Ambani, and his soon-to-be daughter-in-law, Radhika Merchant. The opulent three-day celebration in Jamnagar, Gujarat, has an attractive star-studded guest list, including global tech CEOs, industry magnates, A-list pop singers, and Bollywood celebrities. Mukesh Ambani, the billionaire tycoon, is hosting the extravagant event. Anant, 28, who holds directorial roles in various Reliance-owned companies, is set to marry 29-year-old Radhika Merchant, the daughter of an industrialist, on July 12. The engaged couple has been betrothed since January of the previous year.

Who is Radhika Merchant?

Radhika Merchant is the younger daughter of Viren Merchant and Shaila Merchant, who established and owns Encore Healthcare. Viren Merchant serves as the CEO of Encore Healthcare and holds a position on the board of APL Apollo Tubes, a steel manufacturing company. Meanwhile, Radhika’s mother, Shaila, serves as the director of Encore Healthcare.

According to her LinkedIn profile, Radhika Merchant completed her education at The Cathedral and John Connon School, Ecole Mondiale World School, and earned an International Baccalaureate diploma from BD Somani International School. Subsequently, she pursued studies in political science and economics at New York University, graduating in 2017.

Radhika kick-started her career with an internship at the Desai & Diwanji consulting firm before joining Isprava, a Mumbai-based real estate company, as a junior sales manager. After working at Isprava for a year she moved to Encore Healthcare. Additionally, Radhika received training in the Bharatnatyam dance. In June 2022, she showcased her ‘Arangetram,’ marking her inaugural stage performance, at Mumbai’s Jio World Centre.

Radhika also exhibited a keen interest in diverse areas such as animal welfare, civil rights, economic empowerment, education, health, human rights, and social service. 

Radhika Merchant and Anant Ambani share a longstanding friendship from their childhood. As per media records, Radhika was a regular visitor to the Ambani residence. She was also in attendance at Isha Ambani’s wedding to Anand Piramal in 2018 and the marriage of Akash and Shloka in 2019.

The Beginning Of Pre-Wedding Celebrations

The celebrations of the grand Ambani wedding began with the ‘Anna Seva’ in Jamnagar on 28 February. The villagers of  Jogvad near Reliance Township in Jamnagar were served traditional Gujarati food as part of the Anna Seva. Mukesh Ambani and the groom-to-be Anant Ambani along with other family members were spotted serving food at the Anna Seva. 

Radhika Merchant’s maternal grandmother and her parents, Viren and Shaila Merchant, actively participated in the Anna Seva, where approximately 51 thousand residents were served food and the reports confirmed that the event will continue for the next few days.

As part of the pre-wedding festivities, the Ambani family organized the Anna Seva to seek blessings from the local community. Following the meal, attendees were treated to traditional folk music, with a performance by renowned Gujarati singer Kirtidan Gadhvi.

The Ambani family’s three-day gala event in Jamnagar from March 1-3 will include a cocktail party on the first day called ‘An Evening in Everland.’ On the second day, guests will experience ‘A Walk on the Wildside,’ for which they are advised to wear comfortable clothing and shoes. Day 3 will be dedicated to celebrating India’s cultural heritage with ‘Hastakshar’ as the theme.

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Reports suggest that around 1,000 guests are expected at the couple’s pre-wedding celebrations, with notable figures like Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Melinda Gates, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen, Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger, and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai among the attendees.