Indian billionaire Anant Ambani celebrated his upcoming marriage in an extravagant multi-million dollar bash over the weekend; but it wasn’t just the A-list guest list or lavish entertainment that had people talking.
Anant, 28, who is the son of billionaire businessman Mukesh Ambani, is due to marry Radhika Merchant, 29, the daughter of billionaire Shri Viren Merchant, the CEO of private health firm Encore Healthcare, in July.
The incredibly lavish pre-wedding celebrations that have taken place over the past few days – and have seen the likes of Rihanna, Ivanka Trump, and Mark Zuckerberg all in attendance – have thrust Anant into the global spotlight, turning him into a star almost overnight.
But long before he became a wedding celebrity, Anant had earned attention for a very different topic: his struggle with weight loss and gain. That topic was once again a source of much interest after he stepped out at his celebrations, with the eyes of the world focused very much on him – and his appearance.
The wedding date comes nearly ten years after Anant first embarked on a weight loss regimen, which ultimately saw him shedding over 238lbs – a transformation that he maintained for years, before ultimately setting tongues wagging in 2020 when he began showing off a fuller frame.
Here, DailyMail.com lifts the lid on the billionaire groom’s dramatic weight journey over the years.
Billionaire heir Anant Ambani, 28, has always struggled with his weight – but his appearance has now become the focus of much public attention thanks to his recent wedding celebrations
Anant (who is pictured right in 2011 with his parents Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani) embarked on a weight loss journey in 2014 – and ultimately shed 238lbs
The 28-year-old has been thrust into the spotlight after hosting a lavish three-day wedding celebration that was attended by the likes of Ivanka Trump and Mark Zuckerberg (center)
2014 to 2015: Anant begins his weight loss journey
After struggling with obesity for most of his life, Anant made the decision to lose weight in 2014; wanting to have achieved a new physique by his 21st birthday.
After 18 months of hard work and dedication, the billionaire shared his impressive weight loss in 2016, dropping a huge 238lbs.
To do so, he hired celebrity trainer Vinod Channa – who had worked with Bollywood stars like John Abraham and Ayushmann Khurrana – whose help he enlisted to help him lose the weight and try keep it off.
According to Vinod, Anant’s biggest hindrance to not losing weight was his lack of exercise and his poor eating habits – which led to him becoming extremely lethargic.
The personal trainer started off Anant’s fitness routine slowly; adjusting his lifestyle with low intensity reps and 30-minute walks.
According to the South China Moring Post, Anant ended up spent around five to six hours of his day exercising, which included a mixture of yoga, weight-training and functional workouts.
Anant hired renowned trainer Vinod Channa to help him lose the weight and try keep it off, overhauling his lifestyle completely. Anant is seen left in 2011 and right in 2016
His trainer Vinod said Anant focused on consuming nutrient-dense foods such as fruits and vegetables and steered clear of sugar
In an interview with India Today in 2016, Vinod said Anant’s final weight was 88kg, adding although it took time, the plan was designed to be a total lifestyle overhaul so he can keep the weight off.
He also started eating meals rich in fiber, low in carbohydrates, and packed with protein, averaging around 1,300 to 1,500 calories per day, the SCMP reported.
Vinod said Anant focused on consuming nutrient-dense foods such as fruits and vegetables and steered clear of sugar.
Anant also had some family help, according to his mother Nita Ambani who opened up about her son’s weight to The Times of India in 2017, saying they embarked on a weight loss journey together with Nita losing 39lbs herself.
‘Whenever he exercised, I did too. If he went for a walk, I would go along,’ she explained to the publication at the time.
‘By virtue of being his mother, I lost weight. He was my main motivation and continues to be, as we are still fighting obesity.’
2020: Anant’s weight gain spotted at his girlfriend’s birthday
Anant, who has chronic asthma which has prevented him from losing weight in the past, managed to keep the weight off for many years, showcasing his svelte physique at a number of different events in India.
However, after footage from his girlfriend Radhika’s birthday emerged in October 2020, people noticed a significant change in his physique in the leaked video.
Anant reportedly gained the weight back after being in lockdown during the Coronavirus pandemic, and ended up retreating from the spotlight as a result.
Anant stayed out of the spotlight for a few years but struggled to keep the weight off over COVID, with his chronic asthma being cited as reason. Anant pictured in 2019
Anant (seen with Radhika Merchant in 2023) reportedly gained the weight back after being in lockdown during the COVID pandemic, and ended up retreating from the spotlight as a result
Bride and groom-to-be Anant (right) and Radhika are seen at the inauguration of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre in March 2023
2024: Pre-wedding extravaganza and wedding
Anant’s weight was once again under scrutiny following pictures of his pre-wedding extravaganza, showing him with a heavier look.
Many people speculated his weight gain was a result of his asthma medication, with reports he was taking steroids.
In a 2017 interview with the Times of India, his mother explained that Anant was put on ‘a lot of steroids’ to manage his severe asthma, adding that he also ‘suffers from obesity.’
Speaking to Firstpost, surgeon and founder of Digestive Health Institute doctor Muffazal Lakdawala, commented on Anant’s weight gain, hypothesizing it was due to his asthma medication, and the struggles he’s faced.
‘He lost a lot of weight, and that became news right,’ he said. ‘The whole world was talking about it because he’s a famous guy and he just did it with diet and exercise.
‘Somehow wedding, societal pressures, he let himself slip a bit, and back again he went up,” the doctor continued.
Muffazal explained that Anant tried to implement the same changes as before when he lost weight, but his body didn’t have the same reaction.
‘This time it just didn’t work,’ he said simply. ‘Because his body just had not adapted to that.’
Muffazal added his weight gain wasn’t because he was ‘lazy’ or started eating poorly all of a sudden.
Anant standing with Mukesh Ambani (right) Paula Hurd, and Bill Gates at his pre-wedding celebration over the weekend
Anant and Radhika pictured in March, 2024. Many people speculated his weight gain was a result of his asthma medication, with reports he was taking steroids
Taking to X, formally known as Twitter, many users slammed people for focusing on Anant’s weight gain, pointing out his medical conditions may make it difficult to maintain his weight loss.
‘Asthma and breathing difficulties related to it is a very common health issue. Not only it impacts your life, your sleep but also your energy expenditure,’ a woman, Priyanka Lahiri, who’s profile say she is a health and nutrition coach, posted.
‘Common preventive medications for asthma are steroids and anti allergens. While steroids come with their own side affects like breathlessness, increased appetite and water weight gain, antiallergic medications make you sleepy throughout the day,’ she pointed out in a thread about Anant’s condition.
‘It’s tragic to see what steroids have done to Anant Ambani,’ a user on X agreed. ‘Health is one thing that cannot be purchased even with crores of rupees.’
Anant is the youngest son of Mukesh Ambani, India’s richest man and the managing director of Reliance Industries, which has a revenue of $110bn.
Anant and Radhika will tie the knot in July this year, but celebrated their upcoming nuptials in a spectacular pre-wedding celebration this weekend.
The multi-day event took place from March 1 to 3, and is reported to have cost more than $150 million and was kicked off with a a performance by Rihanna, which is believed to have cost $6.3 million for a two-hour performance.
Their VIP guests include Ivanka and her family, as well as Bollywood legends Salman Khan Shah Rukh Khan and Katrina Kaif.
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