Macron’s ‘Thank you India’ goes full Bollywood with desi tadka of ‘Na De Dil Pardesi Nu’

The Dhurandhar movie soundtrack has found its way into a 45-second video posted by French President Emmanuel Macron, after he returned from his two-day visit to India.

French President Emmanuel Macron with the Bollywood personalities, including Shabana Azmi, Anil Kapoor, Manoj Bajpayee, Zoya Akhtar, Richa Chadha and Grammy-winning music composer Ricky Kej, in Mumbai | Credit: X

New Delhi: After completing his trip to India, French President Emmanuel Macron didn’t just post a routine “Thank you India” message on X. He also posted a video—a cinematic spectacle—of his visit.

A 45-second montage, with the appearance of a blockbuster trailer, carried snapshots of the French President’s India tour. What especially caught netizens off guard was its desi twist—the Punjabi track, Na De Dil Pardesi Nu, in the background.

Between 17 and 19 February, Macron and French First Lady Brigitte Macron were on an official visit to India, and it would appear that they had a truly memorable time.

The video opens with visuals from Macron’s grand welcome, including fluttering flags, ceremonial greetings, and formal state engagements. The tone later shifts to a Macron-Modi camaraderie—marked by firm handshakes, hugs, and animated conversations.

Thank you India! 🇮🇳🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/vDJ9IH2hZy

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) February 19, 2026

Beyond the official optics, the montage highlights Macron immersing himself in India’s vibrancy, as he samples food, interacts with locals, and jogs along Mumbai’s iconic Marine Drive. Sweeping cityscapes of Mumbai and candid moments from his interactions with residents, performers, and public figures are interspersed in the video.

Among those featured in the video are actors Manoj Bajpayee, Shabana Azmi, Anil Kapoor, and Richa Chadha. The reel also includes Macron’s light-hearted exchanges with YouTuber Raj Shamani, adding a contemporary pop-culture touch to the diplomatic narrative.

What ties the montage together is the energetic soundtrack, Na De Dil Pardesi Nu, from Dhurandhar.

Composed by Shashwat Sachdev and featuring artists Hanumankind and Jasmine Sandlas, the track injects a distinctly Indian flavour into the video.

Macron and wife leave for France | ANI

The song’s title translates to “Don’t give your heart to a foreigner”—a tongue-in-cheek choice that adds playful irony to Macron’s “Thank you India” message.

The montage, blending statecraft with street energy, ultimately is a celebration of the evolving cultural and diplomatic ties between France and India.

(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)