PM Modi Mentions ‘Shree 420’ Raj Kapoor, ‘Disco Dancer’ Mithun in Moscow Address

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned Bollywood stars Raj Kapoor and Mithun Chakraborty to describe the strong bond between India and Russia; while addressing the Indian community in Moscow.

Raj Kapoor and Mithun Chakraborty are extremely popular in Russia.

PM Modi spoke about the classic Bollywood song “Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani” from Raj Kapoor’s 1955 film “Shree 420”.

“Every Indian knows in their heart and feels that when they hear ‘Russia’, the emotion that comes to mind and heart that Russia is India’s “sukh-dukh ka saathi” (all-weather friend). We all have a song in our heart – in the hearts of every Indian – that ‘sar par laal topi Roosi, phir bhi dil hai Hindustani’ (have a red Russian cap on the head, but the heart is still Indian),” he said.

Mithun Chakraborty is popularly known as Jimmy, his character from the 1982 movie ‘Disco Dancer’.

In the 1980s during a visit to India, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev was introduced to Amitabh Bachchan by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Gorbachev surprisingly responded, “But my daughter only knows Mithun”.

PM Modi emphasized that the phrase “Russia” evokes a deep emotional response in every Indian, recognizing Russia as a trusted companion through thick and thin.