Everything we know about Anant Ambani’s wedding preps
As per reports, Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's wedding festivities will continue through April 2024, leading up to a grand wedding in Mumbai on July 12, 2024.
One of the world’s richest men, Mukesh Ambani is gearing up for the big fat Indian wedding of his younger son Anant Ambani with Radhika Merchant. The pre-wedding ceremonies are set to start on March 1-3 in Jamnagar, Gujarat, the home of Ambani’s massive oil refineries.
Several high-profile personalities from all around the world are expected to attend the three-day function, and to make sure that all the guests are treated to a luxury experience like no other, the Ambanis are leaving no stone unturned. From star-studded performances to a variety of tastes and cuisines, here is how the Ambanis are preparing for an elaborate menu for their guests.
Day Wise Itinerary
Day 1 (March 1, 2024):
As per a PTI report, guests are expected to attend several themed parties over the three-day event and are advised to dress accordingly based on the ‘Event Guide’ issued to them. On the first day, which will be commemorated as “An Evening in Everland,” guests are expected to dress for a cocktail party.
Day 2 (March 2, 2024): ‘A Walk on the Wildside’ will be the event on this day, and ‘Jungle Fever’ is the recommended attire. It is scheduled to take place outside at the Ambanis’ Jamnagar animal rescue facility. After that, the visitors will head to “Mela Rouge,” a mash-up of Desi activities, where they will dress in their most beloved South Asian ensembles.
Day 3 (March 3, 2024): Two events will take place on this last day – Hashtakshar and Tusker Trails. The first event will take place outdoors, allowing attendees to take in Jamnagar’s natural splendour. For the final event, guests would be dressed in heritage Indian attire.
International Guestlist
The pre-wedding ceremonies of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant will see hundreds of eminent international celebrities in attendance in Jamnagar. If reports are to be believed, Mukesh Ambani has invited Microsoft founder, Bill Gates, Meta CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, BlackRock CEO, Larry Fink, Blackstone chairman, Stephen Schwarzman, and Disney CEO, Bob Iger, among others. The guestlist does not end just there as the Prime Minister of Qatar, the king and queen of Bhutan, Adobe CEO, Shantanu Narayen, and many others will also mark their presence at the grand celebration. All guests will travel to Jamnagar on chartered flights from Mumbai or Delhi between 8am and 1pm on March 1.
Star-studded Performances
Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt have already reached Jamnagar. As per media reports, the couple has flown to Gujarat for the pre-wedding celebrations and dance rehearsals. The couple will be enthralling the guests with a special performance on their romantic numbers. Singers like Rihana, Diljit Dosanjh, Arijit Singh, and Hariharan are also expected to perform. Illusionist David Blaine will also perform some of his magical tricks at the event.
2500 Unique Dishes
According to reports, a team of more than 21 chefs will fly from Indore to Jamnagar to participate in the event, which will focus on Indian cuisine. The menu is extensive and includes Parsi, Thai, Mexican, Japanese and Pan-Asian dishes. The chefs have been roped in from the Jardin Hotel and out of these 21 chefs, there is just one male chef, while the other 20 are women. A total of 2,500 unique dishes will be served for three days. The breakfast menu alone has more than 70 options, while lunch and dinner have more than 250 options. Guests will also be served a variety of vegan dishes and evening snacks. Midnight meal will be served from 12 midnight to 4 am, preparations have been made in such a way that not a single item will be repeated in other functions.
Why Jamnagar as Wedding Venue?
In an interview with CNBC 18, Anant Ambani revealed why the family has chosen Jamnagar as the wedding venue. “My grandmother is from Jamnagar,” he said. “My mother has built the whole city. They have built the whole thing brick by brick. I have spent a lot of time here as a child. Mumbai is my home, but my heart is in Jamnagar. My parents and grandmother also suggested that we pick Jamnagar as the venue. It also gives me an opportunity to celebrate with my colleagues, and the other people I work with."
As per reports, Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s wedding festivities will continue through April 2024, leading up to a grand wedding in Mumbai on July 12, 2024.
KL RAHUL scored a century in the second unofficial Test against England Lions, offering some clarity to India’s top-order plans ahead of the five-match Test series in England.
Rahul, opening alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, made an unbeaten 116 on Friday in Northampton. He batted on a lively pitch under overcast skies without offering any chances.
India are currently without experienced batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who both retired from Test cricket last month. The team, now led by Shubman Gill, is looking to rebuild its top order.
Rahul, who has experience batting across the order, is seen as a likely option to partner Jaiswal at the top. Gill or Karun Nair could be considered for the No. 4 position previously held by Kohli.
Nair, who last played a Test in 2017, made a double hundred in the first unofficial Test in Canterbury.
“We haven't really decided on the (batting order), we still have some time,” Gill had said at his pre-departure press conference in Mumbai.
“We will be playing an intra-squad match and we will be having a 10-day camp in London. So we still have a little bit of time and I think we can decide on the batting order once we go there.”
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Yusuf was appointed chair last year by party leader Nigel Farage, who asked him to help professionalise the party.(Photo: Getty Images)
ZIA YUSUF announced on Saturday that he is returning to Reform UK, just two days after stepping down as the party’s chair. He said his resignation had been the result of exhaustion from the role.
Yusuf, a businessman who does not hold elected office, resigned on Thursday following a disagreement with a Reform UK lawmaker over her call to ban the burqa, a full-length garment worn by some Muslim women.
Yusuf was appointed chair last year by party leader Nigel Farage, who asked him to help professionalise the party.
Although Reform UK has since overtaken prime minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party in some polls, the departure of several senior members has raised concerns about Farage’s ability to maintain unity ahead of the next general election, expected in 2029.
"After 11 months of working as a volunteer to build a political party from scratch, with barely a single day off, my tweet was a decision born of exhaustion," Yusuf said on X, referring to the earlier post where he had announced his resignation.
He said he will now shift his focus to leading a new "UK DOGE team" within the party, inspired by Elon Musk. The team is expected to focus on reducing wasteful spending in councils where Reform UK gained control following last month’s local elections.
Senior exits have previously affected the party.
In March, Reform UK lawmaker Rupert Lowe was suspended following allegations including threats of physical violence against Yusuf. No charges were filed, and Lowe has denied the allegations.
In November, deputy leader Ben Habib stepped down, citing "fundamental differences" with Farage.
Farage said Yusuf will contribute to policy, fundraising, and media work, in addition to his role in overseeing council operations.
"Zia will continue to be an important part of the team we are building to fight and win the next general election," Farage wrote on X.
RANI MAKES RETURNDoctor Who acclaimed actress Archie Panjabi added to her diverse body of work by playing the iconic villain Rani in the recently concluded series of Doctor Who. She reprised the role originally portrayed by Kate O’Mara decades ago. Unfortunately, the series – available on BBC iPlayer – has been plagued by problems and suffered plummeting ratings, largely due to poor storylines. As a result, Archie and fellow cast member Varada Sethu are unlikely to return in future episodes.
Doctor Who
SINDOOR SHOW
Although many interpreted Aishwarya Rai Bachchan wearing sindoor at the recent Cannes Film Festival as a nod to India’s strike on Pakistan, it may have held a more personal meaning. After months of speculation about a possible split from Abhishek Bachchan, the gesture appeared to reaffirm that her marriage remains strong. It followed her recent Instagram post sharing a happy photo with her husband and daughter.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
DEY’S LONDON DATE
Brilliant Indian bassist Mohini Dey will deliver one of this summer’s standout concerts at the world-famous Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London on July 9. She has been unstoppable in recent years – releasing an acclaimed self-titled album in 2023 and collaborating with music legends such as Zakir Hussain, Quincy Jones and AR Rahman, as well as touring North America with Willow Smith. The only female bassist in MusicRadar’s Top 10 Bassists of the 21st Century, she promises a unique musical experience.
Mohini Dey
SHIVALI CASTS A SPELL
After being one of the leading lights of devotional music, Shivali launched a bold new chapter in her artistic journey with the sold-out one-woman show Queen of Wands in London last month. This powerful solo performance brought her spoken word album to life through a dynamic blend of music, poetry, storytelling, immersive visuals and diverse themes. The British talent received a standing ovation for the thought-provoking and relatable show. Shivali said: “The experience was sublime, a different kind of feeling. I discovered I’m allegedly a comedian. It was one woman, but I had the backing of a team that rivals Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls. We are just starting conversations to take the show forward – and New York might be the first stop. More will be revealed soon.”
Queen of Wands
DISAPPEARING TV DRAMAS
While most people in India can cope with Pakistani celebrity social media accounts disappearing, the inability to watch drama serials from across the border has not gone down as well. The ongoing conflict has led to streaming platforms and YouTube channels blocking access to episodes of hit Pakistani dramas like Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum.
Although tech-savvy viewers have found ways around the restrictions, others are being forced to seek alternative shows to binge-watch.
Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum
DUD-LOOKING HISTORICAL
Riteish Deshmukh has unveiled the first-look poster of his passion project Raja Shivaji, which he is writing, directing, starring in, and releasing in multiple languages.
Unfortunately for him, the historical drama – based on the life of Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj – features a line-up of past their-prime co-stars that audiences no longer seem interested in, including Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Fardeen Khan, Genelia Deshmukh and Bhagyashree.
Deshmukh’s inexperience as a filmmaker will only add to the challenges Raja Shivaji faces ahead of its scheduled release on May 1, 2026. The only stone-cold certainty is that – like several recent Bollywood films about historical rulers – it will probably distort facts and lean heavily into jingoism.
Raja Shivaj
JINXED KAIF SISTER
After more than a decade of trying – and failing – to find her footing in Bollywood, it may be time for Isabelle Kaif to read the room. Her 2022 film Time To Dance vanished without a trace, and just as she was supposed to get a long-delayed ‘break’ with the clumsily titled Suswagatam Khushamdeed, that too disappeared. A lack of interest led to the film being quietly pulled from a recent cinema release without explanation. Perhaps the producers finally realised they were throwing good money after bad. Being Katrina Kaif’s younger sister might have opened a few doors for Isabelle, but it clearly has not been enough to turn her into a star. It may be time for her to reconsider her career path entirely – whether that means working behind the scenes or stepping away from Hindi cinema altogether. At the very least, she needs to make smarter choices and find better people to advise her.
Suswagatam Khushamdeed
COPYWOOD KHAN
Promotions for Sitare Zameen Par are in full swing ahead of its release on June 20. Lead star and producer Aamir Khan will be hoping Bollywood audiences avoid watching the Spanish original Campeones, which his comedy-drama is a remake of. That 2018 film – along with its 2023 American remake Champions – is available on streaming platforms.
Social media users have already begun drawing comparisons between the original and scenes from the trailer, which could make it harder for June’s big Bollywood release to succeed. This does not bode well for Khan, who has a lot riding on his not-so-original film after two major failures – Thugs of Hindostan and Laal Singh Chaddha.
Sitare Zameen Par
ARIJIT SET FOR STADIUM SHOW.
Tickets are now available for Arijit Singh’s upcoming concert at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 5. This landmark event will be the biggest show ever headlined by a South Asian artist outside India – a testament to the singer’s global appeal.
The unassuming star is looking forward to returning to London. He said: “I’m just an ordinary person who happens to sing, and I’m incredibly humbled that I have the opportunity to share my songs and perform in London again. If that means I make history, then I will be very blessed.
“It makes me happy when the world sings my songs with me, and my London fans are the absolute best.” This milestone adds to Arijit’s remarkable list of achievements, including being the most followed artist on Spotify and featuring on Ed Sheeran’s forthcoming single Sapphire. It also marks a major moment for show organisers TCO Group and Vijay Bhola’s Rock On Music.
Arijit Singh
SNEHA SHANKAR IS JUST SENSATIONAL
I was really impressed with Indian Idol 15 finalist Sneha Shankar after watching her make her UK stage debut. The gifted 19-year-old has incredible versatility – ranging from the raw power of Sufi sensation Jyoti Nooran to the gentle finesse of Bollywood music queen Shreya Ghoshal. Although she did not win the reality TV show, her multi-layered vocals could turn her into a future superstar, if paired with the right songs. It is no surprise she secured a lucrative contract with India’s biggest record label, T-Series. She is destined for greatness.
Sneha Shankar
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Devotees offer prayers at Shree Krishna Mandir in Leamington Spa
A HINDU temple in Warwickshire has applied for permission to sink twelve marble statues into the sea off Dorset's Jurassic Coast as part of an ancient religious ceremony, reported the BBC.
The Shree Krishna Mandir in Leamington Spa wants to carry out a Murti Visarjan ritual in Weymouth Bay this September, which involves the ceremonial submersion of deity statues to represent the cycle of creation and dissolution in Hindu tradition.
The unusual request comes as the 30-year-old temple is being demolished and rebuilt, meaning the existing statues cannot be moved to the new building. Temple chairman Dharam Awesti explained that the statues must remain whole and undamaged to be suitable for worship.
"The murtis can't go into the new temple in case they get damaged, they have to be a whole figure," Awesti said. "Members of the public are sponsoring the cost of the new murtis but we are not sure of how much they will be because they are coming from India."
The ceremony would involve transporting the statues by lorry from Leamington Spa to Weymouth, where a crane would lift them onto a barge for the journey out to sea. Five of the twelve statues are human-sized and weigh 800kg each.
"Before the statues are lowered onto the seabed we will have a religious ceremony and bring our priest with us," Awesti explained. "Instead of dumping them anywhere, they have to be ceremoniously submerged into the sea safely so we can feel comfortable that we have done our religious bit by following all of the scriptures."
The temple chose Weymouth Bay because another Midlands temple had previously conducted the same ritual at the location. Awesti stressed the religious significance of water in Hindu beliefs.
"Life, in Hinduism, starts with water and ends in the water, even when people are cremated we celebrate with ashes in the water," he said.
The chairman added that the marble statues would not harm the marine environment or sea life. The statues, which are dressed in bright colours while in the temple, would be submerged in their original marble form.
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is currently reviewing the application, which requires a marine licence for approval. A public consultation on the proposal runs until June 22, allowing local residents and stakeholders to voice their opinions.
"The marine licencing application for the submersion of Hindu idols in Weymouth Bay is still ongoing," an MMO spokesperson said. "Once this is completed, we will consider responses received from stakeholders and the public before making determination."
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BBC Three documentary uncovers new details in Kim Kardashian Paris robbery case
Nearly ten years after Kim Kardashian was robbed at gunpoint in a Paris hotel, the story is being revisited in a new documentary coming to BBC Three and iPlayer. Titled The Kim Kardashian Diamond Heist, the film digs into one of the most talked-about celebrity crimes of the last decade, offering fresh access and unheard accounts from those closely involved in the case.
Kim Kardashian Paris robbery case revisited in new BBC Three documentaryGetty Images
New voices and untold moments from the night that shocked the world
The 45-minute documentary features first-hand interviews with close family friends, French police officers, and journalists who followed the robbery from day one. It takes viewers back to that October 2016 night, when Kardashian was tied up and robbed of jewellery worth millions of pounds inside her private apartment at a luxury hotel during Paris Fashion Week.
The film doesn’t stop at the crime itself. It moves forward to recent developments, including the court case in which Kim finally came face-to-face with her assailants last month. Eight people were found guilty, nearly a decade after the robbery made global headlines.
Kim Kardashian 2016 diamond heist case brought eight people to justice nearly a decade after the robberyGetty Images
Beyond gossip: A look at the cost of digital fame
This BBC Three documentary goes beyond the headlines and Instagram timelines. It examines the role of social media in the robbery, where public posts may have tipped off the thieves, and the emotional fallout Kim faced in the aftermath.
Nasfim Haque, Head of Content at BBC Three, says the film “cuts through the noise and looks at the real-life consequences of being so visible in the digital age.” Firecracker Films, the production company behind the documentary, also hopes the film helps viewers understand how the case was solved and the emotional cost behind the glamour.
Kim Kardashian arrives at the Assize Court for the trial Getty Images
Directed by Ben Bryant and produced by Jessica Sartenaer, The Kim Kardashian Diamond Heist will be available on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer later this month. Executive producers include Jes Wilkins and Sam Emmery, and the documentary will be distributed globally by Passion Distribution.