This July 12, all eyes will be on Anant Ambani — the youngest son of Mukesh Ambani, the chairman of Reliance Industries, and his wife Nita Ambani — who will tie the knot with Radhika Merchant, the daughter of Encore Healthcare CEO Viren Merchant and his wife Shaila.
Anant attended Brown University in the US and is the executive in-charge of Reliance Industries Ltd.’s energy division. He serves as a director on the Boards of Reliance Industries Ltd, Jio Platforms Limited, Reliance Retail Ventures Limited, Reliance New Energy Ltd and Reliance New Solar Energy Ltd, and has also been serving on the Board of Reliance Foundation since September 2022.
The Ambani scion is driving the expansion of the energy and materials businesses of Reliance Industries and its global operations in renewable and green energy. He is leading Reliance’s journey to become a Net Carbon Zero company by 2035.
Anant’s passion for animal welfare ensured his involvement with several initiatives across rescue, healthcare, rehabilitation and conservation of animals.
It is this passion for animal conservation that was reflected in his pre-wedding festivities as celebrations were held in Vantara — the Ambanis’ animal rescue centre in Jamnagar.
Speaking to News18 after the grand opening of Vantara, Anant Ambani said the centre is rooted in Sanatan beliefs as every deity has an animal as a vahana. He added that the initiative was driven by the cause of animal welfare and his will to give back to society.
Vantara is a first-of-its-kind comprehensive animal rescue, care, conservation and rehabilitation programme. Spread over 3,000 acres in the green belt of Reliance’s Jamnagar Refinery Complex, it has more than 2,000 rescued animals across 43 species from around the world.
“So, as you know, in our Sanatan (Dharma), every deity has an animal close to their heart. Every deity has a vahana, which is an animal. In the Rigveda, too, (Hindu deity) Krishna says all life is equal, be it human or a bee, or an ant. Here (Vantara), we take care [of animals] from frogs to mice to everything,” Anant told News18 in an exclusive interview.
Anant and Radhika got engaged in a traditional ceremony in January 2023 at the family’s residence Antilia in Mumbai. After a lavish sangeet and haldi ceremony, the couple will tie the knot on July 12 at the Jio World Convention Centre.
The main wedding ceremonies will start on July 12, with the auspicious Shubh Vivah or wedding function. Guests have been advised the dress code will be Indian traditional. July 13 will be the day of Shubh Aashirwad and the dress code has been advised as Indian formal. July 14 will be the Mangal Utsav or the wedding reception and the dress code is advised as ‘Indian chic’.
