Prime Minister Narendra Modi struck a light-hearted note during his address to the Indian diaspora in Jakarta by referencing the iconic Bollywood film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai to highlight the close cultural bond between India and Indonesia. The remark drew applause from the audience and was followed by an equally memorable moment when Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto revealed that a genome sequencing test showed he has "Indian DNA."
Speaking at the community event, Modi said he had noticed that the song Kuch Kuch Hota Hai is extremely popular in Indonesia. "Today I told President Prabowo that when India and Indonesia move forward together, it goes far beyond just 'kuch kuch'—it becomes 'bahut kuch hota hai'," he said, using the Bollywood reference to underscore the growing partnership between the two nations.
President Prabowo entertained the gathering by sharing that a genome sequencing test had revealed he has Indian DNA. He jokingly said this could explain why he, along with many of his ministers, enjoys singing and dancing to Indian songs. Modi praised the Indonesian leader's affection for India and thanked him for the warm welcome extended during the visit.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the deep civilisational and geographical links between the two countries, noting that India's Great Nicobar Island and Indonesia's Aceh are separated by only around 150 kilometres. He said the trust and friendship shared by the two nations provide a strong foundation for expanding cooperation in trade, technology, maritime security and cultural exchanges.
Modi's Indonesia visit is the first leg of his three-nation tour, which also includes Australia and New Zealand. During the trip, he held bilateral talks with President Prabowo, addressed the Indonesian Parliament, and was conferred Indonesia's highest civilian honour, reflecting the strengthening Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries
PM Modi talks about 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' song popularity in Jakarta, Karan Johar reacts
Filmmaker Karan Johar expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving a special mention to his iconic film 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' during his address in Jakarta. On Tuesday, KJo thanked the PM for making the song 'live forever'.
