Nita Ambani recently took to the stage at the Harvard India Conference and shared a deeply personal and emotional story about her youngest son, Anant Ambani. She reflected on his struggles with health, particularly his lifelong battle with obesity, and the transformation he underwent.
It wasn’t just about weight loss; it was about strength, faith, and the support of loved ones. As Nita opened her heart to the audience, she also shared the proud moment of seeing her son marry the love of his life, Radhika Merchant.
The struggle with obesity
Anant Ambani’s health issues are known to everyone, but his mother, Nita, recently gave her perspective, exposing how deeply those challenges affected him. Anant struggled with obesity from an early age, which was made worse by his asthma treatments.
Steroids used to treat asthma cause weight gain by raising hunger and affecting metabolism. As Nita told the audience, her son overcame these challenges with incredible confidence. “He has fought obesity throughout his life and yet been so positive,” she told me.
Anant’s journey wasn’t just physical; it was also deeply spiritual. Nita spoke fondly of his faith, revealing that Anant is “very, very religious and deeply rooted in spirituality.” His belief system gave him the strength to tackle his health issues with a mindset focused not on physical appearance, but on inner peace and strength. Nita’s words echoed the powerful bond between spirituality and personal growth, offering hope to those facing their battles.
Hard work, dedication, and love
In 2014, Anant decided to take charge of his health. He started his weight loss journey, losing 108 kilograms in just 18 months, reducing his weight from 208 kg to around 100 kg.
With the support of his fitness trainer, Vinod Channa, Anant added a combination of intense training, including 21 kilometers of daily walking, yoga, and high-intensity cardio, to his tight, healthy diet. He ate only 1,200 to 1,400 calories a day, focussing on fresh veggies, lentils, and dairy while avoiding junk food completely.
Beyond the physical transformation, Nita Ambani also shared a joyous chapter from Anant’s life: his relationship with Radhika Merchant. Describing their connection as “magic.” Anant had found his life partner, someone who stood by him through every challenge and celebrated his growth. The couple’s wedding in 2024 was a grand occasion.
In an interview with Bloomberg Television, Nita Ambani said, “When he (Anant) went up on a stage as a confident groom, he told me, ‘Mom, it’s not what I am physically, it’s what my heart is.’ And I saw him holding his life partner’s hand. I think that was the most touching feeling, as a mother.”
The Harvard India Conference was not just about Anant’s journey, but also about Nita Ambani’s own dreams and accomplishments. During her speech, she shared a story about her 90-year-old mother, who had long dreamed of seeing her daughter speak at Harvard. “Today in the morning, my 90-year-old mother got very emotional and called my two daughters-in-law, Shloka and Radhika, and said, when Neeta was young, we couldn’t afford to send her to Harvard, though she wanted to,” Nita shared, tears in her eyes.
Nita Ambani’s words remind us that our journeys are not always smooth, but with the right mindset and support, we can transform our lives.