French President Emmanuel Macron added a touch of cinematic glamor to his diplomatic visit to Mumbai, holding a special interaction with Bollywood celebrities on February 17. The French leader and First Lady Brigitte Macron met prominent figures of Indian cinema including actors like Anil Kapoor, Manoj Bajpayee, Richa Chadha, Zoya Akhtar, Neeraj Ghaywan, and Shabana Azmi.
Taking to his official X handle, Macron shared pictures of their gathering, showing the leader interacting with the celebrities. "Alongside legends of Indian cinema. Culture brings us together," he wrote in the caption.
Actor Anil Kapoor also shared glimpses of the meeting on his X handle and wrote, "Spent an inspiring afternoon with President Emmanuel Macron and his gracious better half, Brigitte exchanging thoughts on cinema, culture, and the powerful bridge between India and France. Here's to India x France. And to many more stories waiting to be told."
Actress Richa Chadha, who has previously been recognized by the Government of France with one of its top honors for contributions to the arts, said she was thrilled to meet the French President.
"We had a lively discussion on what could be done to make independent cinema more feasible in both our nations. I personally am very grateful for the French CNC’s contribution in my career, both as an actor and a producer... 'Masaan' and 'Girls Will Be Girls' were both official Indo French Co Productions," she said.
