Obama's 'DDLJ' moment in India

New Delhi: Bollywood's impact was evident when US President Barack Obama made a reference to a memorable dialogue from iconic Hindi movie "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge", during his address at the Siri Fort Auditorium here on Tuesday.

Obama said that on his visit to India in 2010, he had experienced some 'bhangra'. He also recounted dancing with some children in Mumbai, but this time, he said: "Unfortunately, we were not able to schedule any dancing on this visit." He then delivered Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's dialogue from the hit 1995 movie. "Senorita, bade bade deshon...You know what I mean," Obama said, leading the crowd in the packed Siri Fort Auditorium to break into loud cheers that kept the American president silent and smiling for 12 seconds during his speech.
The audience largely comprised young people, students, NGOs and diplomats. In the speech, he also touched on the need for India and the US to work together on climate change, on how the US can partner India in its growth story, in defence cooperation and becoming partners in the security of the Asia-Pacific region.
Another Bollywoood moment at the event occurred at the end of Obama's speech when the song "Mitwa" from Aamir Khan's Oscar-nominated movie "Lagaan" was played. Obama was accompanied by his wife Michelle, whom he hailed as a "strong and talented woman".