Radhika Anant Merchant is an Indian businesswoman, dancer(Bharatnatyam, classical Indian) media personality, and celebrity partner. She is also a part of the pharmaceutical company Encore Healthcare’s board of directors, along with her parents, and her sister. She came into the media highlight after she engaged with Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries.
She is married to Anant Ambani, the younger son of businessman Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani, Anant and Radhika’s wedding cost around Rs 5000 crore. The festivities commenced with the Shubh Vivah on July 12, the traditional wedding ceremony that signifies the union of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant. This is followed by the Shubh Aashirwad on 13th July, where the couple receives blessings from esteemed guests, and culminates with the Mangal Utsav, a grand reception on July 14.
Early Life & Education
Radhika Merchant was born in Mumbai on December 18, 1994, and belongs to Kutch in Gujarat. She is the daughter of Viren Merchant, the CEO of Encore Healthcare, and Shaila Merchant. She initially attended The Cathedral and John Connon School in Mumbai & École Mondiale World School and earned an International Baccalaureate diploma from BD Somani International School.
Radhika graduated in political science from New York University in 2017, after completing her education, she returned to India and began working as an intern with consultant firms like India First Organization and Desai & Diwanji. Before holding a significant position in her family business, she joined the Mumbai-based real estate company Isprava as a junior sales manager.
Career
Radhika Merchant is a part of the board of directors at the pharmaceutical company Encore Healthcare. On the other hand, her father Viren Merchant is the CEO of Encore Healthcare. Radhika’s mother Shaila Merchant holds directorial positions at the company.
Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s wedding
Mukesh Ambani, Asia’s wealthiest man, and his wife Nita Ambani have spared no expense in celebrating their youngest son’s wedding. After seven months of pre-wedding celebrations, the festivities commenced with the Shubh Vivah on July 12, the traditional wedding ceremony, followed by the Shubh Aashirwad on 13th July, and culminates with the Mangal Utsav, a grand reception on July 14. The couple hosted a four-day wedding celebration at the Jio World Convention Center in Mumbai, India.
The guest list reads like a who’s who of global celebrities, including prominent figures from Bollywood, and international icons such as Kim Kardashian, and John Cena. Former British Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Boris Johnson; and Saudi Aramco CEO Amin H Nasser were also on the guest list along with politicians and sports personalities, adding a touch of glamour to the affair.
Reports from LiveMint, The Economic Times, and Outlook Business estimate that the celebrations have cost approximately Rs 5,000 crore. This figure surpasses the costs of iconic weddings like Princess Diana and Prince Charles’s at Rs 1,361 crore. Noteworthy expenditures include Rs 74 crore paid to Rihanna for her performance at the Jamnagar pre-wedding festivities, and Justin Bieber’s staggering fee of Rs 83 crore for his sangeet night appearance.
Interests and Activities
Dance: Radhika is trained in Bharatnatyam, a classical Indian dance form, and has performed at various events. Her Arangetram (a debut on-stage performance of a classical art student) was a significant event attended by notable personalities.
Philanthropy: She is known to be involved in various charitable activities and supports numerous causes, often aligning with the philanthropic initiatives of the Ambani family.
