In a star-studded affair that boasted the presence of global icons and Bollywood’s finest, Anant Ambani, son of the esteemed Ambani family, and his fiancée Radhika Merchant, celebrated their pre-wedding festivities with grandeur in Jamnagar. Yet, there was one unexpected absence that caught the eye of many—a void where Bollywood filmmaker and social butterfly, Karan Johar, would normally shine. Renowned for his omnipresence at high-society gatherings, Johar’s absence was conspicuous, especially in light of actress Kareena Kapoor’s playful remarks on his habitual party attendance during her recent stint on his talk show, ‘Koffee with Karan’.
While the occasion was graced by illustrious guests such as Shah Rukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, and Ananya Panday, who lent their glamorous touch with engaging performances, Karan Johar was notably missing from the event’s roster. Rumor had it that he was not only invited but also slated to perform a dance number on stage alongside his good friend, the acclaimed fashion designer Manish Malhotra.
Nevertheless, a sudden bout of fever and a sore throat thwarted Johar’s plans, compelling him to prioritize his health over the celebration. Thus, the director of the eagerly awaited ‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani’ made the tough decision to remain in Mumbai and recuperate. As a result, Manish Malhotra single-handedly took the stage, accompanied by a troupe of new-generation celebrities—Ananya Panday, Khushi Kapoor, Janhvi Kapoor, and Sara Ali Khan—to perform the evergreen hit ‘Bole Chudiyan’ from one of Johar’s blockbuster films, ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’. Interestingly, it was Malhotra who had originally designed the iconic costumes worn by legendary actors Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Hrithik Roshan, and Kareena Kapoor in that very song.
Despite his physical absence, Karan Johar expressed his heartfelt congratulations to the young couple via social media. On Instagram, he shared a reel capturing moments from the pre-wedding bash in which he extended his warmest wishes. “The celebrations were not only deeply immersed in warmth, family bonds, and immense love but so beautifully resonant of our glorious Indian traditions… The pre-wedding festivities are a testament to the love the family has in everyone’s hearts! My deepest love to Nita Bhabhi, Mukesh Bhai, @aambani1 and @shloka11, @_iiishmagish & @anandpiramal. And so much love to Radhika and Anant dil se… Badhai ho,” Johar wrote, conveying his affection and sentiments digitally.
Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s forthcoming nuptials, set to occur in July, have already garnered significant attention due to the pre-wedding celebration’s opulence and the impressive guest list. Dignitaries from various industry spheres, including tech moguls like Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, socialite Ivanka Trump, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, and Bollywood powerhouses Salman Khan and Amitabh Bachchan, were among those who attended the three-day event, illustrating the Ambani family’s extensive influence and the event’s high profile.
The grandeur of such pre-wedding festivities underscores not only the cultural importance of marriage in Indian society but also the peculiar blend of tradition and modern celebrity that characterizes functions of this magnitude. Even without the presence of Karan Johar, the gala was a spectacle that captured the essence of celebration and the anticipation of the couple’s future union, setting the stage for what is expected to be one of the most prominent weddings of the year.
