How much money the Boston-based Indian couple had to pay to turn Wall Street into a dance floor for their wedding
The Couple Behind the Celebration
Music, Magic, and Manhattan
Two Traditions, One Celebration
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Wall Street turned into a dance floor for this unbelievable Indian wedding. Who are the bride and groom?
Permits, Police, and Precision
In an event that stopped both traffic and timelines, Varun Navani and Amanda Soll brought the grandeur of a big fat Indian wedding to the heart of New York City. With a traditional baraat—the groom's wedding procession—cascading down Wall Street, the couple quite literally shut down the most iconic financial street in the world.But it didn't come easy. The couple reportedly filed 28 permits to make their dream celebration possible, shelling out an eye-watering $25,000 to $66,000 (₹21 lakh to ₹56 lakh) per location, as per city records reviewed by the New York Post. That's not a wedding budget—it's a Wall Street-grade investment.So who are these headline-makers? Varun Navani is the CEO of Rolai, an AI platform helping people learn data science and machine learning. A Forbes 30 Under 30 alumnus (Boston, 2023), he brings innovation to the tech space. His bride, Amanda Soll, is no less accomplished—she serves as the Director of Legal Compliance and Risk Management at Mastercard.Hailing from Boston, the couple chose New York City as their wedding stage—and spared no expense turning it into a multi-day extravaganza.The celebration began on May 23 at the Conrad Hotel with a welcome brunch and tea. That evening, guests gathered at The Glasshouse for a lively sangeet, filled with song and dance.But the real showstopper arrived on May 24, when Wall Street transformed into a dazzling baraat route. Videos now viral on social media show more than 400 guests dressed in traditional Indian attire dancing to the beats of dhols and DJ sets. Groom Varun arrived in a vintage white car, clad in a finely tailored ivory sherwani and layered pearl necklaces. Amanda stunned in a deep red Sabyasachi lehenga, epitomizing elegance and tradition.The baraat ended at Cipriani Wall Street, where the grand reception unfolded—running from 5:30 p.m. until the early morning hours.The cultural fusion didn't end with the baraat. On May 25, the couple hosted a Jewish wedding ceremony at Cipriani, paying tribute to Amanda's heritage. An after-party followed at Slate, keeping the festive energy alive until 4 a.m. The final farewell came on May 26 with a goodbye brunch.Every detail—from venue choices to guest experiences—was thoughtfully curated to blend Indian and Jewish customs in a dazzling cityscape.Pulling off a 400-person event in the middle of Lower Manhattan isn't simple. The city labeled it an 'extra-large' event, requiring extensive NYPD coordination and full block closures. The price tag—ranging between $25,000 and $66,000 (₹21–56 lakh) per permit—reflects the scale and ambition of the celebration.But far from celebrity status or royalty, Varun and Amanda are a reminder that modern professionals, too, can pull off events that feel straight out of a Bollywood fantasy—if they're willing to plan and pay accordingly.In a city known for deals, deadlines, and data, the Navani-Soll wedding gave Wall Street a rare glimpse of uninhibited joy. For a few magical hours, the financial capital of the world grooved to dhols, draped itself in dupattas, and welcomed tradition with open arms.It was a dazzling display of culture and ambition, as Varun Navani and Amanda Soll turned New York's Wall Street into a vibrant celebration of love. With 28 permits, meticulous planning, and a lavish budget, the couple blended Indian and Jewish traditions across a multi-day wedding spectacle. Their grand baraat wasn't just a procession—it was a statement that even the busiest street can pause for joy.
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If someone says I moved to India for money, I want to tell them that I left assets worth crores when I moved to India. When I stand at the airport in India and look at the flag, I tell myself: 'My kids better remember what their father went through to get that flag, because it's something that didn't come on a platter'. I live with those emotions. I have every right to love my country, my India. Not sparing trolls Growing up, we were told that we should never blow our own trumpet and be humble. But now we are living in a time when everyone is marketing themselves: 'Maine yeh kar liya, maine woh kar liya'. Earlier, if I felt sharing my opinion on something would be slightly controversial, I would just stay quiet, because main jhooth nahin bol sakta. But log khamoshi ko meri kamzori samajhne lagey, unhe lagne laga, 'yeh to backfoot pe hai'. Hence, I started speaking the language people understand, because the trolls needed to be told off. India, the land of music I went all over the world, but I never felt more at home with my existence and music than India. If I was a swimmer, India was my swimming pool. I wanted a place that could help my passion for music grow and you cannot deny that jitni mohabbat aur izzat music ko India mein di jaati hai, it's unparalleled. Wasn't it a miracle that as a public figure with a Pakistani passport, I could live here peaceful from 2000 to 2016, until I got my citizenship? Being fearless People evolve. I realised a few years ago that the good old cliche that the truth will set you free is so apt that you don't have to worry about anything else. Hum poori zindagi darr ke rehne mein guzaar dete hain. But when you realise ki zindagi ka sabse bada khauf sirf maut hai, aapko aur kisi baat ka khauf nahin hona chahiye kyunki woh waqt upar waale ne tay kiya hua hai. Your destiny is written by the Almighty so why have the fear of anyone else? I have seen so much in life, so I don't care about the consequences. Moving to India - personal or work decision? Personal. A lot of people separate their personal life from their profession. Music, to me, is my passion and has always been my personal space. It's never been a profession for me. I never look at the watch when it comes to music, the longest so far being 48 hours. I was like that back in my teenage and I am still the same. It's so beautiful that you make your livelihood out of something that's so much fun. I went all over the world, but I never felt more at home with my existence and music than India. If I was a swimmer, India was my swimming pool. I wanted a place that could help my passion for music grow and you cannot deny that joh mohabbat aur izzat music ko India mein di jaati hai, it's unparalleled. Wasn't it a miracle that as a public figure with a Pakistani passport, I could live here peacefull from 2000 to 2016, until I got my citizenship? When you started out, there was a section in the music fraternity that was not okay with 'outsiders'. Did you ever experience that outsider to insider transition? Pakistani musicians such as Mehdi Haasan Khan, Farida Khanum, Ghulam Ali, Nushrat Fateh Ali Khan etc were working in India for many decades. But when I and some other Pakistani musicians (such as Atif Aslam, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Ali Zafar) came in the scene, there was a difference between them and me. I was living in India and working here, while they would come, work and leave. So this section that had an issue comprised artistes who were frustrated themselves and were barely working. They should have realised that India is such a big market for music, that people from across the world would want to try their hand here, and they should have been welcoming. But the reasons for not allowing Pakistani artistes to work in India now is absolutely valid. Art has been used in the past for the purpose of political indoctrination. There's nothing like art has no boundaries. No matter who you are, you belong somewhere. Otherwise artistes wouldn't have been issued passports! Is your daughter Medina also into music? Yes, very much. She is 8 and plays the piano. I don't teach her. She has a teacher who comes in, as learning music needs a certain kind of discipline. She's also passionate about singing and writing poetry. How do you keep her guarded from all the negativity? I always wanted to send her to a school where she could just be a herself, and was not seen as a celeb child. I want her to have a normal childhood. I try to keep her away from all the filmi things, because this is not the time for it. When I enter the house, I am just baba who makes her a sandwich. That's my way of keeping her guarded. Baaki sab upar waale ke haath mein hai. What's Asha Bhosle to you? Asha ji is like a mother to me. My relationship with her is how a normal mother-son bond is. We love each other and we fight too. My respect for her as a human being and artiste is infinite. There's no one as brilliant and versatile as Asha ji. She's 91 and is still so magical. Lata Mangeshkar once said, 'Jo gaane main gaa sakti hoon, woh Asha gaa sakti hai. Par jo gaane Asha gaati hai, woh main nahin ga sakti'.
