Radhika Merchant’s hand-painted lehenga

In a unique

collaboration

, designers

Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla

teamed up with artist

Jayasri Burman

to create an extraordinary dress for

Radhika Merchant

‘s wedding to Anant Ambani. The concept was suggested by stylist Rhea Kapoor, and Abu Sandeep were thrilled to transform Jayasri’s artistic vision into a stunning

bridal ensemble

.

To bring Jayasri’s painting to life, the lehenga’s 12 panels were hand-painted on special Italian canvas.

The garment featured Jayasri’s signature mythical aesthetic, celebrating Anant and Radhika’s union through deeply meaningful imagery. Human figures representing the happy couple radiated a celestial aura, honoring the divinity in their love. The fauna reflected Anant’s fondness for animals, particularly elephants, which were considered auspicious and beautiful. Blushing lotuses symbolized the purity of the couple’s hearts and were also a hallmark of Abu Sandeep’s style.
The craftsmanship included meticulous hand embroidery with real gold Zardozi. A glittering sea of sequins adorned the intricate spaces of Jayasri’s art. The lehenga was paired with a blouse entirely hand-embroidered in Resham by Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla’s master craftsmen.

The ensemble exuded the joy of new beginnings and the excitement of living with one’s true love. The dominant pink color of the canvas lehenga was affectionately referred to by Sandeep as ‘Ambani pink’ because the Ambani women adored this shade and carried it with grace. This color signified celebration, beauty, and auspiciousness, with Jayasri layering multiple hues to achieve the desired depth.
Abu Sandeep remarked, “Radhika was a gorgeous young lady, and her smile illuminated an entire room! We aimed to make her the happiest bride with this outfit. We were honored to be part of this collaboration that beautifully juxtaposed hand-embroidery with art. Art and fashion had always been lovers, and this creation became the perfect ode to Anant and Radhika.”

Jayasri Burman commented, “Abu Sandeep were artists, with their medium being couture while mine was canvas. Rhea, Abu, and Sandeep gave me total creative freedom and understood my essence as an artist. My brush danced all over the canvas. I hoped it inspired a smile on Radhika’s face, and maybe someday, it would hang on her wall!”
Rhea Kapoor added, “It was an honor and privilege to work with three legendary artists: Jayasri Burman, Abu Jani, and Sandeep Khosla. I had dreamt of creating something like this for almost a decade but never thought it would become a reality. I was forever humbled by the experience and grateful to my beautiful muse Radhika and everyone involved.”