Latest news with #Navani
NDTV
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Couple Paid Up To Rs 56 Lakh For Each Of 28 Spots Booked For Wall Street 'Baraat'
Varun Navani and Amanda Soll's extravagant baraat shut down Wall Street and gave New York a taste of a colourful Indian wedding celebrations. The couple filed for as many as 28 permits to make this possible for their big day, as per the city records viewed by the New York Post. Mr Navani and Ms Soll spent between $25,000 (Rs 21 lakh) and $66,000 (Rs 56 lakh) per location to shut down Wall Street for the special occasion. A video of the grand Indian wedding celebration was shared on Instagram by DJ AJ. "We shut down Wall Street for a 400-person baraat- who would've ever thought? Definitely a once-in-a-lifetime kind of magic," the DJ wrote. View this post on Instagram A post shared by DJ AJ (@djajmumbai) In the video, which has garnered over 2 million views so far, people, dressed in their traditional best, are seen grooving to the peppy beats of dhol and electrifying music. Who Are Varun Navani And Amanda Soll? According to their LinkedIn profiles, Mr Navani is the CEO of Artificial Intelligence platform Rolai, while Ms Soll is the director of legal compliance and risk management at MasterCard. The couple hails from Boston, Massachusetts. As per their wedding page on The Knot, the couple's wedding festivities kicked off on May 23 at the Conrad hotel. This was followed by a Sangeet ceremony at The Glasshouse. On May 24, the celebrations started with brunch and tea at the Conrad. The couple also hosted a reception for their guests. For the big day, Mr Navani picked a finely tailored sherwani, layered with pearl necklaces. Meanwhile, his bride looked stunning in a deep red Sabyasachi lehenga. Another round of breakfast was organised by the couple on May 25 before their Jewish wedding. It was held at Cipriani, followed by an after-party at Slate.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Who are Varun Navani and Amanda Soll? Meet Indian couple whose baraat shut down Wall Street
An Indian couple recently went viral after their '400-person baraat' briefly shut down Wall Street. On Wednesday, DJ AJ shared a clip of the extravagant desi celebrations in the Financial District for Varun Navani and Amanda Soll's wedding. The video shows hundreds of baraatis or members of the wedding parade, partying in the middle of the street, causing a halt to traffic. 'We shut down Wall Street for a 400 person Baraat- who would've ever thought?! Definitely a once-in-a-lifetime kind of magic,' DJ AJ captioned the video shared on his Instagram page. In the now-viral clip, wedding guests can be seen decked in glitzy traditional Indian attire and showing off dance moves. A post shared by DJ AJ (@djajmumbai) As the buzz around the desi spectacle took over the internet, netizens could not help but ask, 'Who are the bride and groom?' Eagle-eyed Instagram users were quick to find out the newlyweds' social media handles. According to their LinkedIn profiles, Navani is the CEO of enterprise AI platform Rolai, and Soll is a director of legal compliance and risk management. Also Read: 'Crazy rich Indians': 400-baraatis bring Wall Street to a banging halt in viral wedding celebration The Indian-origin couple hail from Boston, Massachusetts and their identities were confirmed by New York Post. According to the city records viewed by the outlet, Navani and Sol filed 28 permits for the wedding, which cost them anywhere between $25,000 and $66,000 per location to shut down the Financial District for their festivities. Their lavish wedding celebrations began on Friday, May 23. Breakfast and afternoon tea at the Conrad hotel were followed by a sangeet at The Glasshouse. The next day, guests were invited back to the Conrad for brunch and tea, followed by the now-viral baraat at 3:30 pm and reception at Cipriani Wall Street, where guests danced till 2 am, per the outlet.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Meet the Indian couple whose baraat shut down Wall Street: All you need to know about them
Image credits: X/@NELiveTV Recently, videos of a baraat shutting down the streets of the New York Stock Exchange went viral on the internet from people across the world being shocked by the typically bustling streets of NYC being filled with 400 people dressed in Indian attires dancing to music. The video of the crowd grooving outside Cipriani Wall Street was shared by DJ AJ on his Instagram account. "We shut down Wall Street for a 400-person Baraat. Who would've ever thought?!" While people were surprised to see the entire scene, what they were more intrigued about were the couple whose wedding procession took over the NYC- who they were and how rich they would be to block down blocks of the city for their wedding baraat? Here's all you need to know about the Indian couple whose baraat 'shut down' Wall Street. The couple who were deemed to be some sort of 'millionaires' by half the people viewing the videos of their wedding baraat were identified as Varun Navani, CEO of enterprise AI platform Rolai and Amanda Soll, director of legal compliance and risk management, according to their LinkedIn pages. Additionally, the NYPost confirmed their identities by their wedding page on The Knot, which had details of their four-day wedding celebration. While the high-power couple hails from Boston, Massachusetts, they decided to tie the knot in NYC not only breaking the internet but most probably also their bank. As per the city records viewed by The Post, Navani and Soll filed 28 permits for their wedding day, thus spending somewhere between $25,000 and $66,000 per location to shut down the streets of the Financial District. The street events are classified by the Mayor's Office on the basis of the area they take over-curbs, sidewalks and roads and by size and impact. While "large" events require full block closure and extensive setup, "extra-large" events need even more space, permits and NYPD coordination. Navani and Soll's wedding festivities began on May 23rd, with breakfast and afternoon tea at the Conrad Hotel and a sangeet at The Glasshouse. On the 24th, the day began with brunch and tea at the Conrad, before the baraat started off at 3:30 pm, followed by a reception at the Cipriani Wall Street that had guests dancing from 5:30 pm to 2 am. That's not all, on the 25th, the couple had another wedding, this time a Jewish one, at Cipriani and an after-party at Slate that was going on till 4 am. Lastly, on the 26th, they wrapped up the festivities with a post-wedding brunch and lunch at Conrad. The couple's wedding surely had been grasping their chains on its expenditure and others relishing in the fun of two people joining hands forever.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Wall Street turned into a dance floor for this unbelievable Indian wedding. Who are the bride and groom?
Varun Navani, CEO of AI platform Rolai and a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, married Amanda Soll, a legal compliance director at Mastercard, in a lavish multi-day wedding in New York City. Their celebration included a traditional Indian baraat that temporarily shut down Wall Street, drawing crowds and going viral online. The Boston-based couple hosted events across several venues, including Cipriani Wall Street and The Glasshouse, blending Indian and Jewish wedding traditions. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Meet the Couple: Accomplished Professionals from Boston Luxury and Tradition Combine Across Multiple Events Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Major Permits and Costs for a Major Celebration A grand Indian wedding took over Manhattan's Financial District last weekend, as the traditional baraat—a jubilant wedding procession—brought a full stop to the usually fast-paced Wall Street. The couple behind the widely circulated social media spectacle was identified as Varun Navani and Amanda Soll, both accomplished professionals based in gathered in the hundreds, dressed in glittering traditional attire, while music from a live DJ set the tone for an unforgettable celebration. The groom's arrival was marked by dancing, music, and vibrant decor, with videos showing onlookers visibly stunned by the transformation of Wall Street into a scene of celebration and Navani, originally from Gujarat, India, is the founder and CEO of Rolai, an enterprise artificial intelligence platform designed to help users master data analytics and machine learning. According to his professional background, Navani was recognized in Forbes 30 Under 30 Boston list in 2023 for his work in education and AI bride, Amanda Soll, works as the director of legal compliance and risk management at Mastercard. According to their LinkedIn profiles and confirmed through their wedding page on The Knot, the couple resides in Boston and chose New York City to host their multi-day wedding wedding kicked off on May 23 and stretched over four days, beginning with breakfast and afternoon tea at the Conrad Hotel. That evening, a sangeet—a music and dance celebration—was held at The headline event took place Saturday, when the baraat commenced at 3:30 p.m., followed by a grand reception at Cipriani Wall Street. For this traditional Indian wedding procession, Navani wore an ivory sherwani adorned with layered pearl necklaces. He arrived in a vintage white car, surrounded by friends and family dancing along the historic street. Soll wore a ruby red lehenga by famed Indian designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee, paired with gold jewelry and soft glam Wall Street, the reception venue, hosted guests from 5:30 p.m. until 2 a.m., continuing the celebratory mood into the early hours. The party resumed on Sunday with a Jewish wedding ceremony at the same location and an after-party at Slate, which lasted until 4 a.m. The events concluded Monday with a farewell brunch and wedding did more than just draw attention; it also demanded substantial planning and resources. The couple filed a total of 28 permits with the city, with each area closure in the Financial District estimated to cost between $25,000 and $66,000. According to city classifications, the baraat was labeled as an 'extra-large' event due to its size and logistical requirements, which included full block closures and NYPD speculation online about their wealth, the couple are not celebrities or billionaires—but their credentials and professional standing reflect the success that allowed for such a and Soll's wedding served as both a celebration of love and a cultural display that captivated locals and social media alike. With their blend of Indian and Jewish traditions, high-end fashion, and a major metropolitan backdrop, the couple created an unforgettable moment that briefly turned Wall Street into a place of joy, color, and cultural pride.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
How GEPL is powering India's Esports revolution through digital cricket
How GEPL is powering India's Esports revolution through digital cricket A decade ago, the idea of making a career out of gaming in India was mostly met with raised eyebrows. Today, India is home to more than 591 million gamers1. The number of e-sports athletes has quadrupled in recent years. With the government recognising esports as a legitimate sport, the landscape has changed rapidly. JetSynthesys CEO Rajan Navani believes India holds significant potential in sectors such as e-sports, video gaming and media. While the country currently has a relatively small global presence in these areas, the market is expanding rapidly. Nearly 25% of gamers in India2 are now paying users. Brands, investors, and broadcasters are taking notice. National networks are acquiring streaming rights, and prize pools are reaching into crores. India's esports sector is not just catching up, it is developing its own unique formats. And perhaps nowhere is this transformation more visible than in the Global e-Cricket Premier League (GEPL), the world's largest franchise-based eCricket sports & entertainment league , one of the strongest examples of this momentum, having seen exponential growth since its launch. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo Season 2 featured an expanded prize pool of ₹3.05 crore, up from ₹2.51 crore the previous year. The season 1 also recorded a multiplatform reach of 70 million+ and more than 2.4 million minutes of streamed content - evidence of its growing appeal among both cricket and gaming fans across India. Season 2 of GEPL was broadcasted live on JioHotstar (linear and OTT platforms) , expanding its accessibility and national footprint. The league featured six dynamic city-based franchises—Mumbai Grizzlies, Delhi Sharks, Bengaluru Badgers, Chennai Falcons, Hyderabad Rhinos, and Pune Stallions—each bringing its own fanbase, strategy, and flavour to the competition. These teams reflect the local pride and national ambition fuelling the esports boom in India. At first glance, GEPL looks like a traditional cricket league - with city-based franchises, team auctions, and marquee names. But instead of stadiums and leather balls, it unfolds on screens, powered by Real Cricket™, a mobile-first simulation game that's built for the touchscreen generation. In just its second season, the league has attracted over 9 lakh registrations, which is five times more than its debut year. The Season 2 finale of GEPL saw Chennai Falcons take home the title, with Mumbai Grizzlies finishing as runners-up. But the more significant outcome may be what happened off the pitch: all six team owners committed to another three years, signalling rare continuity in a young industry. 'GEPL is not just about tournaments,' says Navani . 'It's about creating an ecosystem where sport, technology, and ambition come together. It's a model that could work not just in India, but globally.' 'With every season, we see esports gain more ground, not just in participation but in purpose,' says Rohit Potphode, CEO of GEPL , highlighting how the league has evolved beyond novelty into a serious sporting format. That momentum is echoed by investors too. Prashant Prakash, co-owner of the Bengaluru franchise , believes GEPL is tapping into a unique opportunity. 'This is one sport where everyone in the audience also has a chance to be a player,' he says. 'It's truly democratic and inclusive—and has the potential to go from zero to a hundred in no time.' The league's backers aren't your typical gaming insiders, either. The franchise owners reflect a mix of youth icons and seasoned entrepreneurs: Suniel Shetty (actor and investor), Sara Tendulkar (entrepreneur and philanthropist), Prashant Prakash (Founding Partner, Accel India), Nikhil Kamath (Co-founder, Zerodha & True Beacon), Mr. Ankit Nagori (Founder, Curefoods), Peyush Bansal (Founder & CEO, Lenskart), Mr. Gopal Srinivasan (Chairman, TVS Capital Funds), Mr. Madhusudanan R (Founder, YAP), and Mr. Arjun Santhanakrishnan (Investor & Entrepreneur) and Mr. Amit Mehta (Director, LNB Group) alongside many more. 'Cricket has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, and exploring its future through esports is incredibly exciting,' says Sara Tendulkar, owner of the Mumbai franchise . 'Being part of GEPL, especially with a team from Mumbai, brings together my love for the game and my city.' Suniel Shetty adds as the owner of the Pune franchise , 'Cricket has always been a passion - whether playing it, watching it, or now investing in its digital evolution. GEPL is changing how fans experience the game, and I'm proud to back a league that's energizing young India through e-cricket.' Amit Mehta, owner of the Hyderabad Rhinos , shared a similar perspective, 'GEPL's structure and community focus make it a meaningful platform to invest in. Our commitment is about backing young talent, early, and consistently.' Gopal Srinivasan, co-owner of the Chennai Falcons added, 'GEPL is a meaningful step toward building a sustainable, investable esports ecosystem in India. The league's format and quality of participation make it an exciting platform for both business and talent.' That mix of community, aspiration, and structure is part of what's making esports in India more than just a trend. Since being formally brought under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in 2022, esports has gained institutional legitimacy. This has unlocked new avenues for investment, training infrastructure, and talent development. With affordable smartphones and cheap data, India's esports revolution is being driven from the bottom up - by Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, by students and creators, by people who might never step onto a physical cricket field but can still top a leader board. India's esports story is still unfolding, but leagues like GEPL signal a shift - from passion to profession, from pastime to platform. References - Disclaimer - The above content is non-editorial, and TIL hereby disclaims any and all warranties, expressed or implied, relating to it, and does not guarantee, vouch for or necessarily endorse any of the content. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. 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