Lavish Wedding Preparations Highlight Wealth Disparity in India
One of the most expensive weddings has begun in India as Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant prepare to marry. The months of lavish celebrations highlight the chasm of wealth inequality between the country's richest and the most vulnerable.
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00:00Private performances from Justin Bieber and Rihanna, sparkling jewels and saris, and a
00:09guest list of former presidents and prime ministers, professional athletes, CEOs, and
00:15Bollywood heavyweights.
00:17After months of celebrations, the wedding of one of the world's wealthiest families
00:21has begun in India.
00:23Anant Ambani is the youngest son of Mukesh Ambani, the richest man in Asia.
00:28He is marrying his long-term partner, daughter of pharmaceutical tycoon Ratika Merchant.
00:35Their pre-wedding celebrations have lasted for several months, with private performances
00:39from global stars, curated outfits worth millions, a luxury cruise for 800 guests around the
00:46Mediterranean, and many, many lavish parties.
00:49It's like a once-in-a-lifetime event that's happening in the Ambani family, and they've
00:54called so many artists from all over the world, and I think it's fabulous.
00:58It's helping the economy, it's helping everyone, India's coming to the forefront of artists
01:03and everyone around the world, so I think if they have the money, they should spend it.
01:06Honestly, I feel like it's the Ambani's, it's not even 1% of their total net worth.
01:11It's helping the economy, it's extravagant, but it's fine.
01:14I love that they're calling international artists to India to actually perform for the Indian public.
01:19The wedding decorations around the family's 27-storey mansion in Mumbai, a stark contrast
01:25to the tin-roofed shanties and decrepit buildings just miles away.
01:31India has one of the highest rates of wealth inequality in the world.
01:35A study from the Wealth Inequality Lab found the country's inequality is now worse than
01:39it was under British colonial rule.
01:43The months of lavish parties have many asking, how much is too much?
01:48It's their wealth, but it is beyond ridiculous what they're doing.
01:53Yeah, you have wealth, but yeah, we get it, you have wealth.
01:57That's it, like, there's no need to show off that much.
02:23As the Ambani wedding begins, and the world's richest and most powerful flock to Mumbai,
02:36the lavish decorations serve as a reminder that the celebration is the best of times
02:41for some, and the worst of times for the rest.
02:45Chris Ma and Harrel Hughes for Taiwan Plus.