Justin Bieber has become the latest in a string of international stars to perform for India’s richest man’s son and his wife-to-be to celebrate their upcoming wedding.
The Canadian singer flew to Mumbai over the weekend to perform with his guests – Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant.
He had a lot to live for. The couple’s first pre-wedding party featured Rihanna, while the second – a cruise around the Mediterranean – featured performances from ’90s heartthrobs The Backstreet Boys, singer Katy Perry, and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli.
So Ambani wedding watchers – of whom there are now legions around the world – are waiting for news on who will perform at the actual wedding later this week.
Internet rumors suggest it could be Adele, but the family is tight-lipped.
No expense is being spared for Mukesh Ambani’s youngest son’s wedding, putting it in a different league than even the most extravagant of Indian weddings. It also eclipses his daughter’s weddings, which featured Beyoncé’s headline-grabbing performance.
Last weekend Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant celebrated their sangeet ceremony – a night of music and dance before the wedding ceremony. In typical fashion, the Ambanis went above and beyond what was normally expected of guests.
It featured Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, worth an estimated $115bn according to Forbes, and the rest of the family taking to the stage in their choreographed dance to Bollywood star Khans of Khan Shah Rukh Khan‘s hit song, “Dewangi Dewangi”.
It was also another opportunity for wedding-goers to catch a glimpse of the outfits worn by the guests – including some of India’s most glamorous stars dressed by the country’s top fashion designers.
Pre-wedding celebrations seem to have become as much catwalks as concerts, with stars sharing professional shots on their social media accounts ahead of the parties.
Till date the value of the three parties is not known. Rihanna was rumored to have been paid $7m (£5.5m) for her performance, while the suggested figure for Justin Bieber is said to be $10m.