French President Emmanuel Macron, currently on an official visit to India with First Lady Brigitte Macron, added a cultural note to his diplomatic engagements by revealing his admiration for Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor.
During a conversation with Brut India, President Macron was asked to name his favourite Bollywood actor. Without hesitation, he responded, âYesterday I mentioned Jai Ho, so I would say Anil Kapoor,â referring to the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire, in which Kapoor played a pivotal role.
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A meeting of cinema and diplomacy
Earlier in the week, President Macron shared photographs from his interactions with Indian film personalities during his Mumbai visit. Posting the images on Instagram, he wrote in French, âAux cĂŽtĂ©s de lĂ©gendes du cinĂ©ma indien. La culture nous rassemble,â which translates to, âAlongside legends of Indian cinema. Culture unites us.â
The photographs featured Macron and Brigitte Macron with actors and filmmakers including Manoj Bajpayee, Zoya Akhtar, Richa Chadha, Shabana Azmi and composer Ricky Kej. Some of the interactions took place against the backdrop of Mumbaiâs iconic Gateway of India.
Anil Kapoor also shared moments from the meeting on social media platform X, describing the interaction as an exchange of ideas on cinema, culture and the enduring creative ties between India and France.
A visit beyond diplomacy
The French Presidentâs three-day India visit included stops in Mumbai and New Delhi and featured engagements focused on technology, innovation and culture. Macron also attended the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, reflecting the growing collaboration between the two countries in science and technology under the Horizon 2047 roadmap.
France and India had earlier co-chaired the AI Action Summit in February 2025, underscoring the expanding scope of bilateral cooperation beyond traditional diplomacy.
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Whatâs next for Anil Kapoor
On the professional front, Anil Kapoor was last seen in War 2, portraying Colonel Vikrant Kaul. He is set to appear next in Alpha, directed by Shiv Rawail, alongside Alia Bhatt and Sharvari, with Bobby Deol in a key role.
He will also be seen in the Prime Video film Subedaar, directed by Suresh Triveni. The film, which premieres on March 5, also stars Radhikka Madan, Saurabh Shukla, Aditya Rawal, Faisal Malik and Mona Singh.
