AR Rahman reveals unknown details of Anant Ambani-Radhika Merchant’s wedding: His audience outnumbered Rihanna's and Justin Bieber's

Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman recently won the Excellence in Cinema Award at the 15th Annual Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. Rahman was honoured for his work on Headhunting to Beatboxing, a documentary that delves into the unique musical talents of the Naga tribes. The film was screened at the festival, drawing significant attention for its portrayal of the rich cultural heritage of the Naga people.

In an interview with an Australian news channel, Rahman expressed his joy over the recognition and shared some behind-the-scenes details about the extravagant wedding of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant, which transformed Mumbai into a city of celebration. The wedding, marked by days of grand pre-wedding events, culminated in a grand ceremony that blended Indian tradition with global glamour. The guest list was filled with A-list celebrities from across the Indian film industry, Hollywood, and beyond.

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"It was very generous of them to invite all kinds of musicians. There were classical, folk, and film musicians, and pop stars like Rihanna and Justin Bieber. All performing for an audience of 200-300 people," Rahman revealed. Reflecting on his own experience, he added, "I think I got the highest audience. I performed for 25,000 people over two days. We had the Firdaus Orchestra from Dubai and many others who have sung with me before."

Rahman also took a moment to discuss the evolving landscape of Indian cinema, highlighting the increasing inclusivity and diversity within the industry. "In the past 30 years, a lot of things have changed. I take a little credit for being courageous in bringing in new people. It set an example that it (the industry) is not fortified for a few people, but open to new talent," he said.

He emphasized the growth of regional cinema and the importance of treating all film industries with equal respect. "Indian cinema is expanding. There are great movies, there are commercial movies. It’s not just the Mumbai film industry, what people call Bollywood. There is a Malayalam film industry...and yesterday it was a great testament to see all of them being treated equally," Rahman observed. "It was a culmination of all the great industries being treated equally. It was great."

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