10 Best Traditional Looks Donned By the Soon-To-Be Ambani, Radhika Merchant

From dressing up in lush, intricately handcrafted bridal couture to walking down the aisle surrounded by exquisitely metamorphic décor, lavish elements, and outwardly gastronomic experiences in this era of destination weddings, we all want to feel like royalty on our big day! And, what’s deemed to happen when the scion of the most illustrious family in India is about to tie the knot with his lady love? Yes, we’re talking about the impending nuptials of Mukesh Ambani’s youngest son, Anant Ambani with his radiantly graceful, longtime beau, Radhika Merchant, in July 2024.

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Known for her sartorial elegance and naturalistic appeal, Radhika has stunned us all with her ever-evolving, uber-chic, Desi avatar over the years. Donning the likes of ace couturiers numerous times, she has reflected a charming pizzazz through her effervescent persona. Whether she's wearing a traditional saree or a bewitching dress, the youngest Mrs. Ambani-to-be is a true-blue fashionista. As she prepares to take the plunge with her better half, take a look back at her top ten favorite Indie outfits. 

Bridal Bells: A Sneak-Peak Into the Indian Elegance Embodied by the Soon-to-be Mrs Anant Ambani

As soon as Radhika Merchant made her first appearance at Priyanka Chopra's wedding festivities in 2018 in Udaipur (which, btw she just repeated at one of her friend's pre-wedding festivities last week- all hail, the queen of sustainability), she was hailed for her effortless style and easy-going demeanor. From rocking a bespoke Sabyasachi Lehenga to oozing oodles of glamour and ritz in a Manish Malhotra Saree, this stunning diva has portrayed herself as a pleasantly unsolicited muse for major fashion labels, looking exquisite in almost anything that she adorns whilst perfectly pairing it with luxurious accessories. 

Let's face it- with only a few weeks left until the wedding festivities begin in all their magnificent splendor, we are eagerly anticipating seeing the resplendent bridal attire that Radhika will sport as she once again sparkles in all her preposing glory.  But first, going down memory lane, check out our top 10 most loved traditional looks that she rocked with an ethereal finesse. 

Floral Flair

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Kickstarting their pre-wedding festivities with a customary Gujarati function known as 'Lagan Lakhvanu'a a few days back, comprising of seeking divine blessings on the first official wedding invitation, Radhika set the tone for cultural traditions and opulence as she embarks on new beginnings. Epitomizing timeless radiance, she looked mesmerizing in a bespoke Anamika Khanna pastel-blue Lehenga paired with a complementing pink choli.

Replete with floral motifs, her matching dupatta was draped seamlessly to resemble a signature saree. She exuded unparalleled charm as her updo was accentuated with a spectacular three-tiered diamond necklace set, a dainty maang-tikka, and a bangle, while she opted for minimalistic, dewy makeup and a flowing feminine hairstyle. With her natural beauty shining majestically, doesn't she serve as the perfect muse for spring weddings? 

Mehndi Playfulness

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Last year, Radhika wowed us with a fuchsia pink hand-embroidered Lehenga from ace designer Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla's atelier for her Mehndi ceremony before her Roka. Beaming brightly in these splendid 'hues of joy', this pretty lass epitomized romantic bliss in her kaleidoscopic, silk ensemble, encrusted with floral emblems, mirror work, and ornate patti borders. A beautiful homage to our culture, her updo featured half-length sleeves, a cropped edge filled with elaborate motifs, and tasseled Dori ties at the waist. 

She chose to complete her look with a custom-made, 22 karat Guttapusalu emerald-clad, polki choker necklace set rivetingly paired with an enticing maang tikka, and earrings by the visionary artisan brand, the House of Sunita Sekhawat. Her hair was tied in a fish-tail braid decorated with white blooms. Looking beautiful, doesn't she redefine rustic appeal? 

Blush Hues

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Emanating angelic vibes, isn't she? In this awe-inspiring ruffled, blush-hued saree from Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla's collection, Radhika Merchant was a shining example of impeccable sophistication and ebullience at the veteran designer duo's fashion film premiere, Mera Noor Hain Mashnoor, early last year. Her six yards of blush pink saree was rounded off with ruffled borders, gold and silver gotta patti embroidery on the edges, and a statement embellished blouse in silver, featuring wide-strapped sleeves, sparkling tassel embellishments, a sweetheart neckline, and an unequal hemline.

She enhanced her ethnic avatar with a luxuriously exquisite Kelly Bag from Hermès (an ideal fashionistic dream! ), a delicate diamond bracelet, and an eye-catching diamond choker necklace and floral earrings. Opting for a pulled-back sleek ponytail, and rouged, dewy makeup, this businesswoman looked ah-mazing!

Saree Not Sorry

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Radiating charm in her attire, the soon-to-be daughter-in-law of the Ambani family, opted for a gorgeous ombré metallic Saree from glam couturier, Manish Malhotra's collection for their traditional Ganpati festivities in 2023. A signature motif of the designer, this sequined-embellished saree, featured a matching blouse, and together, at close view, one can notice the illusory transformation of colour from a grimy pink to green.

Moreover, this lightweight attire seamlessly exuded refined elegance through Radhika's choice of bewitching accessories. Keeping up with the essence of the occasion, she sported a traditional bun that was bordered with aromatic jasmine gajras, white-sheathed jhumkas with a complementing tiered choker, and white traditional bangles. Lastly, her bindi-clad demeanor gracefully stood out with her glossy, blush-tinted, and kohl-heavy look.  

Golden Girl

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To celebrate her engagement with her childhood sweetheart, Anant Ambani on 19th January 2023, Radhika Merchant looked like an ethereal goddess in a dreamy golden Lehenga by their family's favorite designer, Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla. Featuring gold zari embroidery, crystal beads, taffeta, and a naqshi border on the skirt, we absolutely loved how she draped her attire using a kamar band in traditional gravitas with a matching blouse and understated dupatta. 

This understated look, redefining 'quiet luxury' in the realm of bridal wear was uplifted with an alluring diamond necklace, mang tikka, and drop earrings. Staying true to herself, this bride-to-be looked resplendent in her soft-glam getup as her impassioned glow glistened vociferously. 

Glam On-Point

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Showcasing nonchalant, sartorial glam yet again, Radhika Merchant truly bedazzled one and all at the annual Diwali bash hosted by fashion designer, Manish Malhotra in November 2023. Making a worthwhile appearance with her sister and her to-be mother-in-law, she looked like a million bucks in an ivory-tinged gharara set from the Mijwan Collection of the eponymous label- a collaboration honouring ancient craftsmanship through modern designs. Embellished with heavy embroidery and stone adornments, her traditional ensemble was revered for its flattering silhouette, consisting of flared pants, a pearl-encrusted, sleeveless choli with a plunging neckline, and a complementary dupatta. 

Exuding an easy-going appeal, she rocked a layered diamond necklace, shimmering bangles, earrings, and an extravagant golden, bow clutch. Her open locks and subtle locks depicted a sliver of desi sprezzatura at its best. Do you agree? 

Ice, ice Baby

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Touted as the go-to colour of that year, Radhika Merchant made heads turn at Isha Ambani's nuptials with her billionaire husband, Anand Piramal back in 2018. A top favourite in our desi round-up for our darling bride-to-be, she adorned a pastel blue Sabyasachi Lehenga that was intricately crafted with silver motifs all throughout. In one of her initial appearances with her future in-laws, she decided to go minimalistic with a printed bodice and a plain net dupatta.

Her overall getup was uplifted with a temple jewellery-inspired maang tikka,  bangles, and a standout mesomorphic choker. Slaying her 'main'(e) game by sporting open tresses and minimalistic makeup, her natural beauty really shone through, isn't it? 

Modern Beauty

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Embodying cocktail glamour at Mukesh Ambani's niece, Isheta Salgaocar's pre-wedding bash in May 2022, Radhika Merchant looked beguiling in this modish Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla garb. Donning a pastel pink lehenga with handcrafted white threadwork all over it, her silver-embellished high-neck blouse and a matching dupatta draped around both her elbows made her an epitome of unrivaled, debonair charm. Portraying regality at its best, this diva complemented her look with a diamond choker neckpiece from her mother-in-law's exquisite jewelry collection and equally splendid earrings.

Furthermore, her sleek hair, dewy, rose-hued makeup, flawless eyeliner, and understated lip shade added a touch of urbane poise. 

Brighten Up!

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As a contrast to her penchant for muted, earthen colour schemes, Radhika Merchant wore a bright orange Lehenga from Sabyasachi's collection at the wedding ceremony of Akash Ambani and his childhood sweetheart, Shloka Mehta in 2019. Replete with ornate elephant and floral motifs in striking gold, she accentuated her updo with a gold, polka-dotted half-sleeved bodice.

Pairing this vibrant attire with a matching dupatta, she set some relatable goals by sporting a marvelous diamond necklace  and earrings that was previously worn by Isha Ambani. Her hair was pulled into a neat ponytail that further elevated her scintillating appeal.

Old-World Charm

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Now, now! There's a reason why the blushing bride-to-be is heralded as a style connoisseur. With this old-school blend of Elizabethan contours and our cultural staple of celebrating nine yards of clothing finery, we are totally drooling over Radhika Merchant's bold fashion statement at the inauguration of the NMACC Cultural Centre in Mumbai last year.

She embodied vintage exuberance in a black coloured, Indo-Western lace saree from the maximalist label, Shahab-Durazi that was crafted with white-tinged floral embroidery. Pairing the saree with a corset blouse boasting of dramatic sleeves, her choice of diamond and ruby-encrusted necklace and coordinated earrings, too, accentuated her emblazoned fervor. Lastly, her red lipstick and her unique hairdo added an unforgettable finesse to her overall look. Talk about being retro chic, right!? 

Emanating some major bridal goals, stay tuned for more on the biggest wedding of this year only on WedMeGood!

 

ALSO READ: All The Deets From The Grand Ambani Engagement