New Delhi: Mukesh Ambani’s son Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s pre-wedding festivities have been the talk of the town for the past few days. Social media has been flooded with photos and videos from the opulent pre-wedding celebration in Jamnagar. The star-studded event, boasting a guest list featuring both local and international celebrities, along with extravagant decor, has drawn admiration from many. However, former VJ and host Maria Goretti, wife of actor Arshad Warsi, has expressed her disappointment for the use of an elephant as a 'prop.'
Taking to Instagram, the 52-year-old shared a photo of Ivanka Trump, a notable attendee, standing beside a decorated elephant at one of the venues. Describing the image as 'appalling' and 'heartbreaking,' Goretti criticised the use of the elephant as a mere decoration in the midst of noise and people.
She wrote, "I’m appalled at this picture of the Ambani celebration. I don’t think this should happen to any animal, especially not to animals that are being rescued and rehabilitated. Heartbreaking, just heartbreaking that this elephant was made to stand like a prop."
The three-day pre-wedding festivities began on March 1 in Jamnagar. It featured themed events such as 'An Evening in Everland,' 'A Walk on the Wildside' set in the Ambanis’ animal rescue center Vantara.
A star-studded line-up of celebrities, including Rihanna, Arijit Singh, Diljit Dosanjh, Udit Narayan, Shreya Ghoshal, Sukhwinder Singh, and Akon, graced the celebrations with their performances.
The guest list also boasted the presence of Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Rajinikanth, Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, Kajol, Katrina Kaif, Madhuri Dixit, and Anil Kapoor, Janhvi Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan, Deepia Padukone, Ranveer Singh, Katrina Kaif, Vicky Kaushal, Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor among others.
Among industry leaders, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Fink, Gautam Adani, N Chandrasekaran, Kumar Mangalam Birla and Ajay Piramal took part in the wedding festivities.