Another opulent Indian wedding is making headlines around the world, drawing comparisons to the lavish Ambani nuptials a year ago. Top Bollywood celebrities have taken part in several pre-wedding performances in Udaipur, with DJ Tiesto and Jennifer Lopez also entertaining guests during the celebrations.
Who are the Mantenas?
The festivities are for the wedding of tech entrepreneur Vamsi Gadiraju and Netra Mantena, daughter of Indian-American millionaire Rama Raju Mantena, chairman and chief executive of Ingenus Pharmaceuticals. Founded in Switzerland in 1997, the privately-held company has its headquarters in Orlando, Florida.
The Mantenas have roots in the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. In 2017, Mantena made headlines when he donated a 28-kg necklace estimated to be worth 80 million rupees to a Hindu temple in Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh.
While little is known about the bride Netra Mantena, bridegroom Gadiraju is a Columbia University graduate and co-founder of San Francisco tech start-up Superorder, an all-in-one software platform that helps restaurants streamline their deliveries and take-outs.
"Superorder's tools, including one of the world's fastest AI website builders for restaurants, have attracted big investors, including Y Combinator, Slow Ventures and angels including the cofounder of AngelList. In all, Superorder has raised $12.5 million," Forbes said in a profile of Gadiraju and co-founder Raghav Poddar last year.
Where is the wedding being held?
The wedding is taking place across Udaipur, a city in Rajasthan in northern India known for its lakes and palaces. Venues include Jagmandir Island Palace, a 17th-century landmark, and the Taj Lake Palace – both set on their own islands in the middle of Lake Pichola.
Who has performed at the wedding?
Some of the biggest Bollywood stars have performed across several events, with celebrations beginning on November 20 with a welcome party featuring DJ Tiesto. The sangeet took place the following day – a music-filled evening where the families of the bride and groom come together for song, dance and often a playful performance face-off.
Bollywood producer Karan Johar and actress Sophie Choudry hosted the event, with Johar interviewing the bride and groom in a format similar to his popular show, Koffee With Karan.
Performers on the night included Bollywood stars Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, Janhvi Kapoor, Varun Dhawan and Jacqueline Fernandez. In a video posted on social media by Wizcraft Weddings, top actor Ranveer Singh, who performed a rap number, was seen encouraging guest Donald Trump Jr and his girlfriend, socialite Bettina Anderson, to dance.
The following night, Bollywood actress Dia Mirza played host for the mehendi ceremony – another a pre-wedding celebration. Performers included actress and singer Nora Fatehi, a Cirque du Soleil troupe and veteran actress Madhuri Dixit.
Lopez attended the wedding ceremony on Sunday afternoon, dressed in a glittering sari by Manish Malhotra. She later took the stage for the reception to perform some of her best hits including Jenny from the Block and Let's Get Loud.
The wedding reception was also attended by South Indian superstar Ram Charan, best known for the blockbuster RRR, which won an Oscar for Best Original Song in 2023.
Popular South African DJ Black Coffee also performed later in the evening.
Stamp duty timeline
December 2014: Former UK finance minister George Osbourne reforms stamp duty, replacing the slab system with a blended rate scheme, with the top rate increasing to 12 per cent from 10 per cent:
Up to £125,000 - 0%; £125,000 to £250,000 – 2%; £250,000 to £925,000 – 5%; £925,000 to £1.5m: 10%; Over £1.5m – 12%
April 2016: New 3% surcharge applied to any buy-to-let properties or additional homes purchased.
July 2020: Rishi Sunak unveils SDLT holiday, with no tax to pay on the first £500,000, with buyers saving up to £15,000.
March 2021: Mr Sunak decides the fate of SDLT holiday at his March 3 budget, with expectations he will extend the perk unti June.
April 2021: 2% SDLT surcharge added to property transactions made by overseas buyers.
Fight card
Bantamweight
Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK) v Rey Nacionales (PHI)
Lightweight
Alexandru Chitoran (ROM) v Hussein Fakhir Abed (SYR)
Catch 74kg
Tohir Zhuraev (TJK) v Omar Hussein (JOR)
Strawweight (Female)
Weronika Zygmunt (POL) v Seo Ye-dam (KOR)
Featherweight
Kaan Ofli (TUR) v Walid Laidi (ALG)
Lightweight
Leandro Martins (BRA) v Abdulla Al Bousheiri (KUW)
Welterweight
Ahmad Labban (LEB) v Sofiane Benchohra (ALG)
Bantamweight
Jaures Dea (CAM) v Nawras Abzakh (JOR)
Lightweight
Mohammed Yahya (UAE) v Glen Ranillo (PHI)
Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) v Aidan Aguilera (AUS)
Welterweight
Mounir Lazzez (TUN) Sasha Palatnikov (HKG)
Featherweight title bout
Romando Dy (PHI) v Lee Do-gyeom (KOR)
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Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.6-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 285bhp
Torque: 353Nm
Price: TBA
On sale: Q2, 2020
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Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
Fight card
1. Featherweight 66kg: Ben Lucas (AUS) v Ibrahim Kendil (EGY)
2. Lightweight 70kg: Mohammed Kareem Aljnan (SYR) v Alphonse Besala (CMR)
3. Welterweight 77kg:Marcos Costa (BRA) v Abdelhakim Wahid (MAR)
4. Lightweight 70kg: Omar Ramadan (EGY) v Abdimitalipov Atabek (KGZ)
5. Featherweight 66kg: Ahmed Al Darmaki (UAE) v Kagimu Kigga (UGA)
6. Catchweight 85kg: Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) v Iuri Fraga (BRA)
7. Featherweight 66kg: Yousef Al Husani (UAE) v Mohamed Allam (EGY)
8. Catchweight 73kg: Mostafa Radi (PAL) v Ahmed Abdelraouf of Egypt (EGY)
9. Featherweight 66kg: Jaures Dea (CMR) v Andre Pinheiro (BRA)
10. Catchweight 90kg: Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Juscelino Ferreira (BRA)
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.5-litre supercharged V6
Power: 416hp at 7,000rpm
Torque: 410Nm at 3,500rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Fuel consumption: 10.2 l/100km
Price: Dh375,000
On sale: now
Off-roading in the UAE: How to checklist
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed
Based: Muscat
Launch year: 2018
Number of employees: 40
Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
