Anant Ambani: From Turning Reliance Green, To Building Vantara Green

Anant Ambani, the youngest scion of Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries and Reliance Foundation, is set to marry Radhika Merchant in July this year. Preceding the wedding, the Ambanis are holding a special 3-day festivities at the Reliance Greens complex in Jamnagar. The pre-wedding festivities reflect his love for wildlife and sustainable growth, with themed events highlighting wildlife conservation. Anant announced the largest animal rescue and rehabilitation centre in India, named ‘Vantara’ before the beginning of pre-wedding festivities.

Early Life & Struggles With Health

Born on 10 April 1995, he is the youngest of three siblings. Anant attended Dhirubhai Ambani International School in Mumbai before moving to Rhode Island, USA, for his graduation from Brown University.

Anant Ambani has a long-standing medical condition of asthma and was put on steroids during his childhood. The medications he took as a child caused him to gain a lot of weight. 

In 2014, he decided to take control of his life and started his weight loss journey by following a strict diet and working out six hours a day; he lost a staggering 108 kilos of weight in just 18 months. However, in the latest pictures, it can be seen he has regained all that weight. It remains to be seen how hard he works to cut those kilos this time.

Love For Animals And Environment

Under the positive influence of Neeta Ambani, who is a notable philanthropist, Anant is deeply involved in working towards animal welfare, wildlife conservation and sustainable growth.

Known to be an animal lover and passionate about animal welfare, he is constantly involved in the rescue, healthcare, rehabilitation and conservation of animals.

Interestingly, the invite for the pre-wedding festivities reflects this sentiment. The invite reads, “Anant has lovingly nurtured this complex into a haven of care and compassion for thousands of animals.”

About Vantara

The Vantara Greens Zoological, Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (GZRRC) is an enormous zoo being built by RIL over 280 acres, situated in the Jamnagar refinery green corridor. Vantara is a noble initiative aimed at rescuing, caring and treating abused and threatened animals in India and abroad.

Anant conceived and created the idea of Vantara, which hosts more than 200 elephants and 300 big cats like tigers, lions, jaguars and leopards. Over 3000 herbivores, such as deer, along with 1200+ reptiles, including crocodiles, snakes and turtles.

The animals were brought in after obtaining all permissions and clearances from appropriate authorities under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and the Zoo Recognition Rules 2009.

Vantara is seeking to partner with the Zoo Authority of India and other relevant organisations to improve zoos in India in terms of training, capacity building, and animal care infrastructure.

Working Towards Turning RIL Green

Anant Ambani is currently the director on the boards of Reliance Industries Limited, Jio Platforms Limited, Reliance Retail Ventures Limited, Reliance New Energy Limited and Reliance New Solar Energy Limited. He also serves on the Reliance Foundation Board since September 2022. He is driving the expansion of the energy and materials business of RIL and its global operations in renewable and green energy. Anant also leads Reliance’s renewable energy project in Jamnagar to make the company Net Carbon Zero by 2035.

Beyond Business: The Dharma of Humanity

In a conversation with the press, Anant shared his inspiration behind founding Vantara and highlighted its mission to protect critically endangered species in India. 

He believes in the ancient Indian philosophy of ‘jeev seva’, which equates caring for animals with service of almighty and humanity. Indeed, Anant has gone above and beyond his arena to provide animals with a safe space with adequate facilities at Vantara.

Read more: Ajinkya Dhariya: An Engineer Reshaping Menstrual Hygiene & Waste Management