Long before Akshay Kumar’s Bollywood career took a “nationalism” arc, the actor starred alongside Katrina Kaif in the 2007 film Namastey London. It featured a monologue by him, lecturing Brits on India’s cultural diversity, religious harmony, and its massive influence and accomplishments. 17 years later, the once-celebrated scene has become fodder for debate on social media.
Kumar’s character, Arjun Singh, delivers this powerful speech in response to the famous “snake charmers” comment by Katrina Kaif (Jazz's or Jasmeet's) fiancé at a dinner party on a yacht.
The monologue, as translated by the lead actress, goes, “When we greet one another, we fold our hands in namaste because we believe that God resides in the heart of every human being. We come from a nation where we allow a lady of Catholic origin to step aside for a Sikh to be sworn in as Prime Minister by a Muslim President to govern a nation of over 80 percent Hindus. It may also interest you to know that many of the origins of your English words come from Sanskrit. For example, 'maatra' becomes 'mother', 'bhratra' becomes 'brother' , ‘giamiti' becomes 'geometry' , and 'trikonniti’ becomes ‘trigonometry’. We have 5,600 newspapers, 35,000 magazines in over 21 different languages with a combined readership of 120 million. We have reached the moon and back yet you people still feel that we have only reached as far as the Indian rope trick. We are the third largest nation in the world of doctors, engineers, and scientists. Maybe your grandfather didn’t tell you that we have the third largest army in the world. And even then, I fold my hands in humility before you because we don’t believe that we are above or beneath any individual.”
Turns out, the pride that the mention of our country’s inclusive and pluralistic once evoked is no longer the sentiment with which Kumar’s Namastey London scene is received today.
INDIA was beautiful before 2014How we used to proudly say, we come from a nation where we allow a lady of Catholic religion to step aside for a Sikh to be sworn in as the Prime Minister by a Muslim President to govern a nation of over 80% Hindus.Modi destroyed that India💔 pic.twitter.com/BCUcsWvdH4
— Mohit Chauhan (@newt0nlaws) November 2, 2024
When Mohit Chauhan, an X user, shared the video on social media, his nostalgia for an India that “was beautiful” was met with a heavy pushback.
“The problem with you is you can welcome PM of any other religion in the world but not unapologetic Hindu. We were the same people who applauded all secular move however when we noticed your reaction on Hindu PM then eyes opened, how misled we were !! No more games, be real !!,” a commenter wrote.
“The lady…is of foreign origin, was forced to step aside because Mulayam Singh refused to extend support to her. The President was elected by the@BJP4India govt of ABV. The [PM] was the puppet in office of the lady,” another contested.
Namastey London, directed by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, also featured Rishi Kapoor as Kaif's father in the film.