Nigerian afrobeats sensation Rema has addressed the widespread reports claiming he was paid $3 million to perform at the wedding of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant. The high-profile event, held on July 12 at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai, attracted significant attention due to the wealth and status of the families involved.
The wedding of Anant Ambani, son of Mukesh Ambani, Asia’s richest man, and Radhika Merchant, daughter of pharmaceutical magnates Viren and Shaila Merchant, was a grand affair. Reports, notably from the Hindustan Times, suggested that Rema was compensated a staggering $3 million to perform his international hit, “Calm Down.”
In a recent interview with GRM, Rema was asked to confirm the veracity of these claims.
Interviewer: “Is it true you got paid $3million for Ambani’s Wedding in India?”
Rema: “Hehehe. That’s what I can say, to be honest. Money-wise, but overall, it was a great treatment. It was beautiful.
“I love India. India loves me, too. And it’s just beautiful to see something that people trolled me for, criticised me for. And now, I’m benefiting from that.
“Imagine if I stopped. Imagine if I actually listened to the trolls online and switched up my sound.
“Four years later, it paid and still paying and more to come. India is a huge territory. I’m actually the first afrobeats artiste to tour India. I’m even probably the first African if I’m not wrong, but if I’m mistaking, please, forgive me. But it’s a huge deal.
“It’s not just about the wedding. It’s about the reception everywhere I go. I remember when I was touring India, I didn’t even know how they knew. When I go anywhere just to eat, it’s just paparazzi. It’s crazier than the love in Nigeria.”
