TEARS AND TRADITION: Radhika Merchant’s Emotional Vidaai Moves Nita and Mukesh Ambani to Tears

In a wedding defined by unmatched opulence, international celebrities, and a price tag reportedly crossing ₹5,000 crore, it was a quiet, tear-streaked moment — not fireworks or fashion — that captured the heart of a nation.

Radhika Merchant, the newlywed wife of Anant Ambani, broke down in tears during her vidaai ceremony, and in that vulnerable moment, she wasn’t alone. Standing beside her were Nita Ambani and Mukesh Ambani, not as billionaires, not as hosts of India’s most extravagant wedding — but as parents, overwhelmed by emotion, their eyes brimming with tears as they embraced their daughter-in-law like their own child.

It was a moment that no amount of planning or luxury could orchestrate. It was human. It was real.

Radhika Merchant brokedown & Crying at her Vidaai with Nita Ambani, Anant  Ambani and Mukesh Ambani!

A Farewell Rooted in Tradition

Draped in a resplendent gold lehenga, adorned with exquisite bridal jewelry, Radhika Merchant stepped into the Ambani home for the first time as a bride — a moment steeped in centuries-old rituals. Clutched in her hands was a silver idol of Goddess Lakshmi, symbolizing prosperity, purity, and the arrival of divine fortune into her new family.

As she placed her henna-covered feet onto a white cloth at the threshold of Antilia, performing the Griha Pravesh, something shifted. Her eyes welled up. Her poise faltered. And then, as the reality of her departure from her parental home sank in, the tears flowed freely.

Nita Ambani’s Tender Embrace

But what happened next stunned even the most seasoned viewers of high-society ceremonies.

Nita Ambani, usually composed and elegant in every public appearance, was seen crying — not a single tear, but openly weeping. She wrapped her arms tightly around Radhika, stroking her back, whispering words only a mother could say during a moment of such transition.

Beside them, Mukesh Ambani was also visibly emotional, his hand resting on his son’s shoulder, his eyes red as he tried to steady both his son and new daughter-in-law in this emotionally seismic moment.

This was no performance. This was no PR moment. This was the soft, aching truth of family — that no amount of money can shield anyone from the bittersweet grief of letting go and beginning anew.

Anant & Nita Ambani brokedown as Radhika Merchant Crying Badly at her Vidai  Hugging her father

A Nation Watches, and Feels

The video from the vidaai — now viral on social media — has touched millions across India and beyond. While the rest of the Ambani–Merchant wedding dazzled with global performances, diamond-studded outfits, and historic levels of extravagance, it is this quiet goodbye that has become the heart of the entire celebration.

“You can see it in Nita Ambani’s face — this isn’t just a daughter-in-law to her,” one comment read. “She’s gained a daughter.”

Another wrote: “This is what real love looks like. No matter how rich or powerful you are, the moment your child starts a new life — it hits the same.”

More Than a Wedding — A Welcome

Watch: Nita Ambani's poetic explanation of 'Kanyadaan' leaves guests in  tears - India Today

Throughout the Anant–Radhika wedding, the Ambanis have carefully balanced tradition with spectacle. But nowhere was that balance more beautifully realized than in the vidaai. It wasn’t choreographed. It wasn’t meant to be posted or praised. And yet, it is now the most beloved moment of the entire event.

For Radhika Merchant, the tears she shed were not just for the home she was leaving — but perhaps also for the immense love she was walking into.

And for Nita and Mukesh Ambani, their tears spoke not of sadness, but of gratitude — for the daughter they were gaining, and the humanity they refuse to lose, no matter how grand their world becomes.

In that instant, surrounded by tradition, cameras, and boundless luxury, what shone brightest was emotion.

Because in the end, weddings are not just about gold and grandeur — they’re about hearts letting go… and holding on.