Pooja Pillai is an entertainment journalist with Asian Media Group, where she covers cinema, pop culture, internet trends, and the politics of representation. Her work spans interviews, cultural features, and social commentary across digital platforms.
She began her reporting career as a news anchor, scripting and presenting stories for a regional newsroom. With a background in journalism and media studies, she has since built a body of work exploring how entertainment intersects with social and cultural shifts, particularly through a South Indian lens.
She brings both newsroom rigour and narrative curiosity to her work, and believes the best stories don’t just inform — they reveal what we didn’t know we needed to hear.
Radhika Merchant and Anant Ambani were spotted at the visarjan of “Antilia Cha Raja.”
A video captured a light-hearted flower fight between the couple.
Radhika’s bodyguard stepped in to shield her during the exchange.
Nita Ambani also joined the procession in traditional attire.
Radhika Merchant’s Ganpati visarjan moment with husband Anant Ambani has become the highlight of this year’s celebrations at the Ambani residence, Antilia. The couple took part in the immersion procession of their Ganpati idol, known as “Antilia Cha Raja,” where a playful exchange between them caught the internet’s attention. In the video, featuring Radhika and Anant, a bodyguard stepping in at the right moment has now become the talking point across social media.
The Ambani family marked Ganesh Chaturthi with Antilia Cha Raja, where Nita Ambani also joined rituals Instagram Screengrab/ambani_update
What happened during Radhika Merchant’s Ganpati visarjan moment?
In the clip shared on a fan page dedicated to the Ambani family, Radhika Merchant is seen seated on a flower-decorated vehicle, holding marigolds in her hand. She laughs as she tosses petals at Anant Ambani, who is walking behind the vehicle. Anant responds by throwing flowers back at her, but before they reach her, Radhika’s bodyguard quickly shields her, leaving fans amused at the protective gesture. The video has since circulated widely, with many calling it a sweet glimpse into the couple’s bond.
Was Nita Ambani part of the Ganpati visarjan celebrations?
Yes. Another video from the visarjan showed Nita Ambani, dressed in a pink traditional outfit, enjoying the rally with other family members. She was seen participating with enthusiasm as the procession moved through the streets. The Ambanis are known for hosting large-scale Ganesh Chaturthi festivities every year, drawing attention both offline and online.
The Ambani family welcomed their Ganpati idol, fondly known as “Antilia Cha Raja,” on 27 August. Videos from the welcoming ceremony showed Anant Ambani, Radhika Merchant, and Nita Ambani performing aarti in front of the idol, all dressed in festive attire. The idol holds a special place in their celebrations, and its annual arrival is a tradition followed closely by their well-wishers.
Ganpati visarjan is the immersion ritual that marks the conclusion of Ganesh Chaturthi. Traditionally observed on the tenth day of the festival, some families also perform it earlier, such as after one-and-a-half days. In 2025, the main visarjan day falls on 6 September, but many, including the Ambanis, carried out the immersion on 28 August. The ritual is symbolic of bidding farewell to Lord Ganesha while praying for his return the following year.
The former talk show host shared a rare look inside her new English home
Ellen DeGeneres’ £24 million (₹257.3 crore) Cotswolds mansion features sweeping countryside views
The move to the UK came after Donald Trump’s re-election
Portia de Rossi’s love for horses helped seal the deal on their rural base
Locals say the pair are “down to earth” regulars at the village pub
Ellen DeGeneres has given fans a rare peek inside her new life in rural England, revealing her sleek £24 million (₹257.3 crore) Cotswolds mansion in an Instagram clip featuring her dogs, Sport and Kid. The former talk show host’s video doubled as an unintentional home tour, showing the couple’s glass-walled living space, minimalist furniture and rolling green views that look straight out onto the Cotswolds hills.
Ellen DeGeneres and actress Portia de Rossi pose for photographers as they arrive to attend the UK premiere of the film 'Finding Dory' Getty Images
Why Ellen DeGeneres’ Cotswolds mansion has everyone talking
The video, posted on Monday, showed Sport darting around the open-plan living area while Kid tried to keep up. “They’ve finally figured it out,” Ellen wrote, adding that the pups have lifted their spirits since losing their older dog, Augie.
Fans were focused on the house, the big windows showing the fields outside, the simple pale concrete walls, and the light wooden floors. You can see a long dining table and a low cream sofa. It’s hard not to notice how calm it all feels, a world away from the bright lights of Los Angeles.
Portia de Rossi’s love of animals was a big reason the couple chose life in the Cotswolds. Their new property includes stables, pastures and even space for their small flock of chickens and sheep. “When we decided to live here full time, we knew Portia couldn’t live without her horses,” Ellen told a BBC interviewer earlier this year.
The pair had initially bought a smaller farmhouse in spring 2024 but sold it months later for around £22.5 million (₹241 crore) after realising it wasn’t quite right. Their new home, built on 100 acres, gives Portia’s horses room to roam and the couple far more privacy.
Ellen DeGeneres’ Cotswolds mansion isn’t just another celebrity retreat, it’s her main home now. The 67-year-old comedian said Donald Trump’s re-election pushed her to make the move permanent. “We’re staying here,” she told an audience in Cheltenham in July. Their previous Montecito property, once worth over £21 million (₹224.7 crore), is quietly on the market. Friends say Ellen enjoys the slower rhythm here like the quiet walks, local pubs and no paparazzi outside the gate.
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