With great power comes great responsibility, but with great wealth? In the case of Asia’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani, his immense fortune is accompanied by its fair share of superstitions. The deeply spiritual billionaire, worth $98 billion, built one of the world’s most expensive private residences, Antilia, in the poshest area of Mumbai City. Valued at $5 billion, this architectural marvel wasn’t immediately occupied by the Ambani family.
How could he possibly resist the allure of the palatial 27-story residence designed by Perkins & Will? Yet, one significant deterrent kept Mukesh, his wife Nita, and their three young children from making it their permanent home; the building did not conform to the ancient Indian architectural principles of Vastu Shastra, a Hindu equivalent of Feng Shui.
According to the NY Times, despite hosting lavish parties and occasionally spending nights in the residence, the family refrained from moving in permanently. After all, they didn’t invest a fortune in creating their dream home just to use it as a pied-à-terre. Instead, after socializing, the Ambanis would head back to their humble 14-story residence, Sea Wind. Changes were deemed necessary to align Antilia with Vastu Shastra, believed to bring spiritual harmony and ward off bad luck. According to an expert, Basant R. Rasiwasia, the building’s eastern side lacked sufficient windows and openings, preventing adequate morning light from entering, a critical flaw for the Ambanis.
Natural light has since become so important to the family that they prioritize residing on the top floor, ensuring they are blessed with ample morning light. The issue arose partly because the building was designed by American firms like Perkins & Will and Hirsch Bedner Associates, rather than Indian architects who might have incorporated these concerns. For over a year, the 568-foot-tall structure, complete with helipads, floating gardens, six car parks, a theater, and a grand ballroom, stood unoccupied, proof that no amount of luxury could outweigh tradition and auspiciousness for the Ambanis.
The family finally moved into Antilia at the end of 2011, once all Vastu-related modifications were made. Since then, the iconic residence has been the backdrop to countless milestones, including the wedding celebrations of all three children, Isha, Akash, and Anant, and the joyful presence of four grandchildren. As they say, happiness is a state of mind, and perhaps a bit of sunlight.
