During his recent India visit, French President Emmanuel Macron added a cinematic touch to his diplomatic engagements by revealing his favourite Bollywood star.
In an interaction with Brut India, Macron was asked to name his preferred actor from Hindi cinema. Without hesitation, he responded, “I mean, yesterday I mentioned Jai Ho, so I would say Anil Kapoor.”
The remark quickly caught attention online, blending diplomacy with popular culture.
Meeting with Indian Film Personalities
Macron, accompanied by First Lady Brigitte Macron, met several prominent names from the Indian film industry during his visit.
Among those present were:
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Manoj Bajpayee
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Anil Kapoor
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Zoya Akhtar
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Richa Chadha
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Shabana Azmi
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Ricky Kej
A group photograph was also taken at the iconic Gateway of India in Mumbai.
Sharing images from the meeting on social media, Macron 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.”
Anil Kapoor Reacts to the Meeting
Anil Kapoor later shared pictures from the interaction on X (formerly Twitter), expressing appreciation for the cultural exchange.
He wrote about discussing cinema, culture, and the strong bridge between India and France, highlighting the importance of storytelling in strengthening bilateral ties.
Macron’s Broader India Visit
The French President recently concluded a three-day diplomatic visit to India, covering Mumbai and New Delhi. He also attended the AI Impact Summit in the capital.
France and India co-chaired the AI Action Summit in February 2025, with innovation, science, and technology partnerships forming a key pillar of the Horizon 2047 roadmap between the two countries.
Anil Kapoor’s Upcoming Projects
On the professional front, Anil Kapoor was last seen in War 2 as Colonel Vikrant Kaul. He will next appear in Alpha, directed by Shiv Rawail, alongside Alia Bhatt, Sharvari, and Bobby Deol. The film is part of the YRF Spy Universe and is scheduled for release later this year.
Kapoor will also feature in Prime Video’s Subedaar, directed by Suresh Triveni. The action-drama co-stars Radhikka Madan, Saurabh Shukla, Aditya Rawal, Faisal Malik, and Mona Singh. The film is set to premiere on March 5.
