Kim Kardashian Ambani wedding: What most people get wrong about that Mumbai trip

Honestly, the internet almost broke when Kim Kardashian touched down in Mumbai. We’ve seen the photos. The red lehenga. The massive diamonds. The sheer "what is happening?" of it all. But if you think this was just another influencer vacation, you're missing the real story. It wasn't just about the clothes. It was a 48-hour fever dream that involved lost jewels, culture shocks, and a 50-pound invitation that literally played music.

Most people assume Kim and Khloe are besties with the Ambanis. They aren't. In an episode of The Kardashians that aired in early 2025, Kim straight-up admitted she didn't even know who they were before the invite arrived.

"I actually don't know the Ambanis," she told the cameras. "We definitely have friends in common."

The bridge between Calabasas and Mumbai was actually Lorraine Schwartz. She’s the legendary jeweler who works with both the Kardashians and the Ambani family. When Lorraine mentioned she was heading to the wedding of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant, she told Kim the family would love to have her. Kim's response? A total whim. She just said "sure" and hopped on a plane.

The 44-Pound Invitation and the "Too Booby" Question

Let’s talk about that invitation. Khloe described the thing as weighing between 40 and 50 pounds (that's about 18-22 kg for those outside the US). It wasn't a card; it was an experience. It played music when you opened it. When something that heavy lands on your doorstep, you don't say no.

Once they got to India, the fashion took over.

Kim went bold. Like, really bold. She wore a custom "Maharani red" lehenga-sari by Manish Malhotra for the main ceremony. It featured an ultra-cropped tasseled blouse and a mermaid-style skirt. It was classic Kim—tight, curvy, and very cleavage-forward. In fact, she actually asked Manish Malhotra if the outfit was "too booby" before she walked out.

He told her it was fine.

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But social media disagreed. A lot of people were annoyed because, in traditional Indian weddings, red is usually reserved for the bride. Wearing it as a guest is often seen as a major faux pas, similar to wearing white to a Western wedding. Kim didn't just wear it once; she wore red again on Sunday, this time a flame-orange/red chiffon piece by Gaurav Gupta with a long veil.

The Mystery of the Missing Diamond

If you’ve followed Kim long enough, you remember the Bora Bora earring incident. "Kim, there’s people that are dying," Kourtney famously quipped. Well, history sort of repeated itself in Mumbai.

During the festivities, Kim realized a pear-shaped diamond had fallen off her borrowed Lorraine Schwartz necklace.

"It's nowhere to be found," Kim said during a confessional. "I literally had it on, I walked, didn't even hug anyone... nothing happened for me to lose it."

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The search was frantic. Khloe was checking her own dress, Kim’s skirt, and even joked about checking "in her boobs." Security and guests joined the hunt, but the diamond—part of a massive bib-style necklace—was gone. Kim was visibly stressed, mostly because she realized she’d have to pay for it.

The episode even ended with a title card: "In Loving Memory of The Ambani Wedding Diamond."

Why the Ambanis wanted the Kardashians there

There’s been a lot of talk about whether they were "hired." While "hired" is a strong word, the Ambanis are known for "flexing" their global connections. They got Rihanna out of retirement for a pre-wedding show. They had Justin Bieber perform. Bringing the Kardashians to Mumbai was the ultimate status symbol. It signaled that they are the center of the global elite.

For Kim, it wasn't just a party; it was a business move. The Ambanis own some of the largest retail and cosmetic distribution networks in India. If you want to launch SKIMS or SKKN in a market with 1.4 billion people, you want to be on good terms with the people who own the malls.

What you can learn from the "Kim in India" chaos:

• Research the Dress Code: Even if a world-famous designer says it's okay, check the cultural context. Wearing red to a Hindu wedding is a risk.
• Insure the Jewelry: If you're borrowing millions in diamonds from Lorraine Schwartz, maybe don't "walk around on a whim" without a safety catch.
• Networking is Everything: Kim didn't get invited because of a movie role; she got invited because of her jeweler.

The trip was only 48 hours. They visited the ISKCON temple in Juhu with Jay Shetty to feed children, which was a surprisingly grounded moment amidst the $600 million wedding budget. Then, they were gone as fast as they arrived. Kim called Nita Ambani the "Kris Jenner of the Ambani family," and honestly? That might be the most accurate thing she's ever said.

If you're planning to visit Mumbai or attend a high-end Indian wedding, your next step should be checking out the traditional etiquette for guest attire—specifically the "colors to avoid" list. You might also want to look into the work of Manish Malhotra or Sabyasachi if you're looking for that specific level of craftsmanship.