My Two Cents On The Ambani-Merchant Wedding

While we recover from the grandeur of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's pre-wedding galas, the July 12 wedding videos of the extravaganza have created a buzz on the internet. The wedding ceremony, which began on July 12 at Mumbai's Jio World Convention Centre, was highly anticipated after the blast that pre-wedding ceremonies made. You must have watched the lavish pre-wedding parties of the couple, right? When pre-wedding was so glamorous that it blinded our eyes, imagine the shine of the actual wedding. 

When I watched the glimpse of the pre-wedding bash of the couple, I couldn't make sense of anything. Of course, watching celebrities coming together (especially the Khans' performance) was entertaining. Even the embellished outfits of Radhika Merchant raised eyebrows. And who can forget? Mukesh and Nita Ambani dancing to Raj Kapoor's iconic 1955 song 'Pyaar Hua Iqraar Hua Hai'. Additionally, they also performed a skit showcasing Mukesh in the iconic 'Don' character, wearing dapper sunglasses, with Nita's amusing grand entrance humorously claiming the title of the "asli" (real) Don of the Ambani household.

How Ambani Weddings Affect Me

So, yes, everything was entertaining. However, while Ambani entertainment is a complete fit for social media, things are hardly that easy and entertaining in a commoner's life. Our weddings involve lots of chaos, family drama, uncomfortable outfits, money crunch and much more. As I scroll through the reels, I ponder do I even want a wedding this large scale? What are my choices? 

Fancy weddings? Too hollow

Fancy weddings, be it of Ambanis or any other rich family, have never excited me. Rather, I find them ‘fancy’- good on the surface, hollow inside. Many people dream of destination weddings and lavish entries to make the day memorable. But I don’t understand how investing so much money can make your day memorable.

Inviting celebs? Dreamy! 

One of India’s richest families, the billionaire Ambanis, effortlessly surpassed all expectations for son Anant’s pre-wedding weekend in Jamnagar. And the second pre-wedding is already on its course, with an actual wedding set in July. The hefty guest list of Bollywood stars includes Kareena Kapoor Khan, Alia Bhatt, Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh. Flying straight from Hollywood, we saw Rihanna perform in Jamnagar, including the elites of Silicon Valley: Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan, Bill Gates, Sundar Pichai, Larry Fink, and Bob Iger. 

All of us dream of seeing, getting autographs and clicking selfies with our favourite celebrities. But we would often miss out even if they grace our towns. Hence, we rely on our rectangular screens, we pacify ourselves through such heavily photographed events and as civilians only dream of a Kareena-sans 'Bole Chudiyan' performance.  

Social media broadcast? Privacy is my priority 

Ambani weddings are heavily broadcasted on social media. Each ceremony, outfit details, the lovey-dovey performances and even the cost of the entire event are flaunted on social media. While some people appreciate them with positive reactions, many people criticise the excess. 

Small issues like Radhika Merchant’s wrong lyrics while singing for Anant Ambani, Rihanna’s mispronunciation of Merchant’s name or her vocalness about farmer’s protest and not even visiting them while she was in India - were pointed out. These criticisms, whether relevant or not, breach the privacy of the couple. If the couple is rich enough to ignore criticism, fine. But what about us? Can we ignore it? 

Marriage? Still no 

After watching fancy weddings, many women dream of being a bride and having a beautiful wedding. But what about the life that starts once the fancy decorations are pulled down? Are you ready for that? 

A marriage is not just about a party. It is a commitment between two people, and sadly two families too. While divorce is an option, it is not the easiest one. 

So even after watching video after video of Ambani weddings, I never got inspired to get married. My decision to remain single stays intact. 

I am not criticising Ambanis for their lavish weddings. It is their choice. However, my point is to not make those weddings benchmarks. We all are different with different cultures and backgrounds. Every wedding is special if it involves everyone’s consent and happiness. 

Views expressed are the author's own.