Filmmaker Karan Johar has expressed heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the PM gave a special mention to the iconic Bollywood film 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' during his address in Jakarta, Indonesia. The acknowledgement, which drew widespread attention, prompted Johar to publicly thank Modi on Tuesday for making the song 'live forever'.

What PM Modi Said in Jakarta

During his address in Jakarta, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the deep popularity of Indian cinema in Indonesia, singling out the title track of 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' — the 1998 romantic drama starring Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, and Rani Mukerji — as a cultural touchstone. Modi was heard saying: 'Yahan Bharat ka gana Kuch Kuch Hota Hai bahut hi lokpriya hai. Aaj maine is par kaha ki jab Bharat aur Indonesia saath milkar chalte hain, toh kuch kuch se bhi aage badhkar bahut kuch hota hai.' (Here, India's song Kuch Kuch Hota Hai is very popular. When India and Indonesia move forward together, a lot more will happen.)

The wordplay — turning the film's title into a diplomatic metaphor for the bilateral relationship — was widely noted as a deft cultural bridge between the two nations.

Karan Johar's Emotional Response

Overwhelmed by the Prime Minister's reference, Karan Johar re-shared the video on the Stories section of his official Instagram handle. The Dharma Productions head wrote: 'Elated and honoured to have our esteemed Prime Minister @narendramodi ji speak about Kuch Kuch Hota Hai in Jakarta. There is indeed a language that transcends all — it's love. Thank you for embracing and making this song live forever!!!'

About the Film

'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' marked Karan Johar's directorial debut and was produced by his father, the late Yash Johar, under the Dharma Productions banner. The film starred Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, and Rani Mukerji in the lead roles, with Salman Khan and Sana Saeed in significant supporting parts. It remains one of the most celebrated romantic dramas in Bollywood history, with its songs and dialogues continuing to resonate across generations and geographies.

Soft Power and Cinema Diplomacy

PM Modi's invocation of a Bollywood classic on an international stage is consistent with India's broader cultural diplomacy strategy. Indian cinema has long enjoyed a dedicated following in Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia, where Hindi film music has crossed language barriers for decades. Notably, this is not the first time a diplomatic address has drawn on Bollywood's cultural reach — but the specific wordplay here gave it an unusual resonance. The moment underscores how Indian soft power increasingly flows through entertainment, even in formal bilateral settings.

With India and Indonesia deepening ties across trade, defence, and digital infrastructure, the cultural dimension — symbolised by a 1998 film still beloved in Jakarta — adds a human texture to the relationship that formal agreements rarely achieve.