Global celebrities gather for the wedding of India’s richest man’s son

NEW DELHI: Global celebrities including film stars, company executives, politicians and sports personalities descended on Mumbai on Saturday for the wedding celebrations of the son of India's wealthiest man and Reliance Industries boss, Mukesh Ambani.

Sundar Pichai, the chief executive of Google, former British prime minister Tony Blair, film stars Rajinikanth and Priyanka Chopra and cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and Hardik Pandya were among the guests.

Indian stars Shah Rukh Khan and Ranbir Kapoor were seen dancing with the bridegroom Akash Ambani and plenty of Indians shared photos on social media with #AkashAmbani and #AkashShlokaWedding among the top trending hashtags in India.

The bride, Shloka Mehta, is the daughter of Russell Mehta, a wealthy diamond merchant and managing director of familyowned company Rosy Blue.

Celebrations began in Mumbai with feasts, singing and dancing, and other prewedding rituals, for the wedding between the two 28year-olds.

Photos on Twitter showed elaborate floral decorations and celebrities posing on a lawn before the wedding. Mukesh Ambani, his wife Nita and the bridegroom wore various shades of pink.

Ambani, whose business empire spans oil and gas, telecoms and retail, is Asia's richest man and the world's 13th most wealthiest according to Forbes magazine, with his wealth estimated at US$50 billion.

— AFP photos (Top) Akash Ambani (Centre), son of Indian businessman Mukesh Ambani (Right) and businesswoman Nita Ambani (3rd left), their daughter Isha Ambani (3rd right) and her husband Anand Piramal (2nd right), son of Indian billionaire industrialist Ajay Piramal (not pictured), pose during the wedding ceremony of Akash Ambani in Mumbai on Mar 9. • (Centre, left) Shah Rukh Khan (left) poses for photographs along with his wife and film producer Gauri Khan as they arrive to attend the wedding ceremony; Abhishek Bachchan and actress-model wife Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and their daughter; (Left) Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair (centre) and his wife Cherie Blair are welcomed by Indian businessman Anil Ambani (right), brother of Mukesh Ambani arrive at the same ceremony. • (Inset) Priyanka Chopra.