Macron Meets Anil Kapoor, Zoya Akhtar, Calls Them Legends During Mumbai Visit

French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday described several prominent Indian film personalities as “legends of Indian cinema” during his visit to Mumbai, where he was accompanied by First Lady Brigitte Macron. The French delegation held a special interaction with members of the Hindi film industry as part of the president's ongoing diplomatic trip to India. The meeting highlighted the growing cultural engagement between the two countries. Images from the interaction quickly gained traction online. The visit to Mumbai is part of Macron’s multi-day India tour.

In a social media post, Macron shared photographs featuring actors Anil Kapoor, Manoj Bajpayee, filmmaker Zoya Akhtar, and actor Richa Chadha, among others. He wrote in French, “Aux côtés de légendes du cinéma indien. La culture nous rassemble,” which translates to “Alongside legends of Indian cinema. Culture unites us.” The photographs showed the group interacting warmly and posing together. One of the images was taken at the iconic Gateway of India. The post underscored the soft-power role of cinema in India-France relations.

Veteran actor Shabana Azmi and music composer Ricky Kej were also present during the interaction. Kapoor later shared his own photos from the meeting, describing the afternoon as inspiring. He noted that discussions covered cinema, culture, and the growing creative bridge between India and France. The actor expressed optimism about future collaborations between the two countries. His post echoed the broader diplomatic messaging of cultural partnership.

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Ricky Kej separately revealed that he had travelled with the French president and the first lady on their presidential aircraft as part of the French delegation. He said he participated in meetings and events linked to the India-France Year of Innovation. The composer described the interaction as an honour and hinted at upcoming developments between the two nations. He also mentioned that his choice of glasses was a tribute to Macron’s recent appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos. His post added a personal dimension to the diplomatic visit.

President Macron and Brigitte Macron arrived in Mumbai early Tuesday for engagements scheduled through February 19. During their visit, they also paid tribute to the victims of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. After completing the Mumbai leg, the delegation is set to travel to New Delhi for the India AI Impact Summit 2026. The visit is being viewed as an effort to deepen strategic, technological, and cultural ties between India and France. Further bilateral meetings are expected in the coming days.

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