Most of you probably know them after they threw one of the most lavish wedding celebrations for one of their sons this year, which included a private Beyonce concert and celebrity guests Priyanka Chopra, Nick Jonas, Hillary Clinton and Arianna Huffington in attendance.
Akash, the eldest son of business tycoon Mukesh Ambani tied the knot with diamantaire Russell Mehta's daughter Shloka in an extravagant affair, in March 2019. As Shloka celebrated her first birthday as an Ambani, the lavishness was no different. Apart from the family expressing their immense happiness that Shloka is now a 'Mrs', the video showed Mukesh hinting that the newlywed should or will become a mother soon.
the whole ambani family is stuck in their early teens where we all used to make cringey video compilations for each other's birthdays to our favorite songs that whole video made me relive an entire era best unexplored
— themsahab (@pettyparthy) July 14, 2019
The clip which has since gone viral on social media makes most women feel super uncomfortable - and a bit nauseous - as the Ambani clan came together fervently hoping Shloka gives them a child even though she's only been married for four months.
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We mean, it's already bad enough that the video is captured in an almost morbid fairytale style, with Shloka characterised as a princess and Akash as her prince. The My Favourite Things song from the film Sound of Music plays in the background to narrate the 'happy' story which feels like something out of The Stepford Wives in others words, trying way too hard to be perfect. In between, the family members, including Shloka's parents and friends, cut in to greet her.
https://twitter.com/writingiyer/status/1150409922363838464
The video has Mukesh hoping he becomes a grandfather before the daughter-in-law's next birthday and Akash's brother Anant Ambani wishing to become a kaku (uncle) soon. Akash is seen winking as he mentions he is looking forward to creating "new things" with her. We know we can hear you choking on your food!
https://twitter.com/hijabtufail/status/1150755305556307968
https://twitter.com/SevenDeviled/status/1150514625756028928
He also adds a "You know what I mean!" in case Shloka did not get the point already. It's a fair assessment to make that many desi women feel immense pressure to conceive soon after marriage and look after the children even if they are highly educated and skilled. Perhaps, we could go on about how this notion can be a toxic cycle in society but we will let Twitter do the talking.
Users on the micro-blogging site went into a frenzy after the video was leaked to express their dismay at the overt pressure and not-so-subtle hints passed at Shloka to give her husband's family an heir to the Ambani throne. It's practically medieval!
"Disturbing. Watch it to understand both subtle and direct pressure on women to have children," one Twitter user commented.
Just happened to see the Ambani video wishing Shloka Mehta a happy birthday. Disturbing. Watch it to understand both subtle and direct pressure on women to have children
— Vasudha Venugopal (@Vasudha156) July 13, 2019
"Either she is already expecting or she will be under immense pressure to conceive, going by this video and how her father in law, husband and brother in law have made it clear that she will have to be a mother before her next birthday. Oh no Shloku!" another said. Oh no Shoklu is a perfect analogy running through our minds too.
Either she is already expecting or she will be under immense pressure to conceive, going by this video and how her father in law, husband and brother in law have made it clear that she will have to be a mother before her next birthday. Oh no Shloku.
— Amith P 🇮🇳 (@amithpr) July 14, 2019
https://t.co/KZOu5cDdXF
If there's one thing the Shloka Ambani cringefest video shows, is the deep hold of patriarchy. Where a year in, the pressure on a woman to bear a child is immense. And begins to define her womanhood. Please note, her voice is nowhere. Scary shit. https://t.co/y1w6ZTlk4F
— Arnav Das Sharma ارنو داس (@arnav_d) July 15, 2019
Ok caved and watched the Ambani birthday video. What even was that wink? I threw up in my mouth. pic.twitter.com/TA0CguxlR5
— Potato based | @pepsiwithastraw@mastodon.social (@pepsiwithastraw) July 16, 2019
But some are sticking up for the Ambanis, speculating the dear daughter-in-law may already have a bun in the oven.
Unnecessary fuss abt the ambani video...what if she is already pregnant and they r just stating that...
— Komal (@Komal_Indian) July 14, 2019
There r a lot of reasons to judge the rich...but this is definitely not one of them 😏
Most of Twitter was just cringing as hard as us after watching the video.
I've never cringed this hard like I did after watching that Ambani video I mean everyone could only talk about having a kid like they're only married for 4months but nahh she's a baby making machine first, birthday girl later wtf. And what was that CREEPY WINK by Akash in the end
— June Paul (@journojuno) July 14, 2019
https://twitter.com/ras_gullla/status/1150434656354832384
https://twitter.com/writingiyer/status/1150409922363838464
Can we write a feminist take down of the Ambani birthday video? Perhaps, not. But there are real problems with this family's unsubstantiated pressure on Shloka to have a baby that's written all over the walls and whether you agree with us or not, these issues need to be addressed.
If your stomach can take it, watch the full video here:
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