'We are the most famous couple': Giorgia Meloni's quip to PM Modi goes viral at G7 Summit

Just when the internet thought the 'Melodi' trend had cooled down, a brief exchange between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the G7 Summit brought it roaring back into the spotlight.

The moment unfolded in France's Evian-les-Bains, where leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) gathered on Tuesday to deliberate on major global issues, reiterate support for Ukraine, and discuss the recent breakthrough in US-Iran talks.

rime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the G7 Summit, in Evian. /ANI

Ahead of the official group photograph, PM Modi and Meloni greeted each other warmly and exchanged a brief conversation. A video of the interaction, now widely shared on social media, shows the two leaders shaking hands before joining other world leaders, including US President Donald Trump.

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Though the audio in the clip is not entirely clear, PM Modi appeared to mention their popularity on social media. Responding to him, Meloni said, "Yes, we are the most famous couple on Instagram".

Watch the clip here:

From a viral hashtag to diplomatic symbolism

The latest exchange comes weeks after PM Modi's visit to Rome, where he presented Meloni with a packet of Parle's Melody toffee, a playful nod to the internet-coined term 'Melodi' that combines the surnames of the two leaders.

Sharing the moment online, Meloni posted, "Thank you for the gift".

In a video shared on her social media platforms, both leaders were seen holding the popular Indian candy while laughing over the trend. Referring to the gift, Meloni said, "Prime Minister Modi brought as a gift a very, very good toffee."

How the 'Melodi' phenomenon began

The term 'Melodi' first gained traction after a bilateral meeting between the two leaders in 2023. Since then, photographs, videos and informal interactions between PM Modi and Meloni at international events have repeatedly gone viral.

Meloni embraced the trend publicly in 2024 when she shared a selfie with PM Modi and wrote, "Hi friends, from #Melodi," on X. During the G7 Summit in June 2025, she again referenced the popular nickname, posting a selfie video with the caption: "Hello, from the Melodi team."

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Beyond the social media attention, India and Italy have strengthened cooperation across several sectors. Both countries are key stakeholders in the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), while bilateral trade between them has crossed $16.77 billion.

FAQs:

Are Giorgia Meloni and PM Narendra Modi friends?

PM Narendra Modi and Giorgia Meloni share a warm diplomatic rapport, often highlighted by their friendly interactions at global summits.

Does Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni have children?

Yes, Giorgia Meloni has one daughter, Ginevra, who was born in 2016.