Back in July, Kim Kardashian and Khloé Kardashian graced the wedding of Anant Ambani, the youngest scion of Asia's wealthiest man, Mukesh Ambani, among a host of other celebrity guests. Anant tied the knot with Radhika Merchant, the daughter of Indian pharmaceutical giants Viren and Shaila Merchant, in a grand Hindu ceremony held in Mumbai, India, capping off a month-long spree of opulent pre-wedding festivities.
Eight months hence, Kim and Khloé have unveiled some fascinating behind-the-scenes glimpses of the lavish wedding on their reality show, "The Kardashians." This week's episode chronicled their whirlwind 48-hour journey for the ceremonies, yet India wasn't quite the fairy tale landscape Kim had envisioned.
The sisters touched down in India at midnight and promptly dived into fittings for their wedding attire, eager to maximize their fleeting time in the country. The subsequent day saw even more fittings, but amidst the flurry, they resolved to explore some local markets before the celebrations commenced that evening.
Khloé confided in a confessional, "We're only here for 48 hours, and we have a tight schedule. We're planning to visit some local markets before heading to the wedding, so we can soak up as much of India as we can."
"We want to explore the city," echoed Kim, adding that they also needed to pick up souvenirs for their children.
However, their adventure got off on a bumpy note when they were informed that they would be walking from the hotel to the markets. The frenetic pace of Mumbai unfolded before them, captured in scenic shots of people weaving through the streets, rickshaws cluttering the roads, and car horns blaring incessantly.
"Shouldn't we just take a taxi?" Kim inquired, startled by the sight of a stray dog. "Oh! I'm not a fan of uninvited furry friends!"
"At least there's a Starbucks around here," Khloé remarked, pointing out the coffee shop with a slightly more amicable reaction towards the street dog.
"I envisioned it more as a bustling marketplace," Kim elaborated, and when her hairstylist, Chris Appleton, inquired if their current locale didn't qualify, Kim responded, "No, this is more like the teeming streets." Khloé, in a confessional, exclaimed, "We've left Calabasas far behind. Rickshaws are gliding by, and everyone is utterly astounded, thinking, 'What on earth are these people doing here?'" Kim quipped, adding a touch of humor, "A tad bit of chaos reigns on India's streets."
Khloé further clarified, "We anticipated a more specialized marketplace, akin to a spice bazaar," prompting Kim to confess that she had imagined Mumbai resembling the setting of the 1992 Disney film 'Aladdin,' which unfolds in the mythical Middle Eastern city of Agrabah. "You know, like where Aladdin ventures to and steals the bread," she said. "That's the vibe I thought we were embracing."
The scene then showed Kim and Khloé exploring local market stalls, where Kim picked up a Princess Jasmine figurine for her seven-year-old daughter, Chicago. They also bought jewelry for their kids and silver pill boxes for their entire family, capturing the essence of their Indian adventure.
The duo even took a rickshaw back to their hotel, documenting the entire experience on their social media pages at the time.
Elsewhere in the episode, Kim addressed widespread rumors that she had violated protocol with her outfit at the wedding. When pictures of her attire first surfaced in July, she faced harsh criticism for wearing red—a color traditionally reserved for the bride in Hindu ceremonies. However, Khloé clarified that the designers they collaborated with for the wedding were associated with the Ambani family, and each option presented to her and Kim had already been pre-approved by them.
"In ancient Indian times, wearing red was taboo," Kim explained to the camera. "But nowadays, red is embraced, so I'm rockin' the red."
