Watch: British PM Keir Starmer Lights Diyas, Listens to Tunes of DDLJ at Yash Raj Studios in Mumbai on Day 1 of India Visit

Mumbai:

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is in India for a two-day visit, lit earthen lamps in Mumbai to symbolise the deep cultural ties between India and the UK, as the Diwali festival approaches. Starmer, who landed to a warm welcome in Mumbai earlier today, visited Yash Raj Studios in the city and met Indian diva and actress Rani Mukherjee.

In order to mark Keir Starmer's first official visit to India as Prime Minister, the iconic Sea-Link bridge and the Brihan Mumbai Corporation (BMC) building in Mumbai were lit up to celebrate India-UK relations.

Starmer's visit highlights the growing strength of the India-UK partnership and shared commitment to deepen bilateral cooperation.Putting a lot of impetus on trade deal with India, UK PM Keir Starmer said this trade mission of UK to India is the biggest trade mission Britain ever sent to India.In a statement, he said, "We are here in India because this is the biggest trade mission the UK has ever sent to India. There are business opportunities. We have some of the biggest businesses, iconic businesses, some small businesses as well, we have great academic institutions. There are films, drama, sports... Thank you for being here... This would be the biggest deal."

Visiting Yash Raj Studios, Keir Starmer felt mesmerised as he listened to the tunes of Bollywood's evergreen blockbuster Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ).

Keir Starmer's Two-Day India Visit

• The British PM, on a two-day visit to India, has been accompanied by a delegation of his country's film industry including representatives of the British Film Institute, British Film Commission, Pinewood Studios, Elstree Studios and Civic Studios.
• Three new Bollywood films will be made in the United Kingdom from the next year, a statement by the British High Commission quoted Starmer as saying.
• Flying in from London earlier in the day, Starmer drove to the YRF Studios amid heavy police security.
• He met several Indian producers including YRF CEO Akshaye Widhani, YRF chairperson Aditya Chopra's actor wife Rani Mukerji, Dinesh Vijan from Maddock Films, Ritesh Sidhwani of Excel Entertainment and Apoorva Mehta of Dharma Productions and Producers Guild of India President Shibasish Sarkar, among others.

With inputs from PTI