Empire State Building lit in tricolour: Munmun Dutta feels 'on top of the world'
Synopsis
The Empire State Building glowed in saffron, white, and green — and the cast of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah was there to witness it. Munmun Dutta's Independence Day trip to New York, facilitated by the Federation of Indian Associations, turned a patriotic landmark moment into a viral television event.
Key Takeaways
Munmun Dutta and the cast of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah visited the Empire State Building in New York City to celebrate India's Independence Day .
The iconic skyscraper was lit up in the colours of the Indian tricolour , arranged by the Federation of Indian Associations .
Dutta shared a video on Instagram , saying she felt 'on top of the world' during the visit.
Dutta began her acting career with Hum Sab Baraati in 2004 and has been part of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah since its run began.
The show is based on Tarak Mehta 's column Duniya Ne Undha Chasma and is one of India's longest-running television series.
Television actress Munmun Dutta shared an emotional moment with fans after the iconic Empire State Building in New York City was illuminated in the colours of the Indian tricolour to mark India's Independence Day. Visiting the landmark alongside the full cast of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, Dutta said the experience left her feeling 'on top of the world.'
The New York Visit
The cast of one of India's longest-running television series made the trip to New York City as part of their Independence Day celebrations. Dutta documented the visit on Instagram, sharing a video that captured the team's excitement at seeing the famous Manhattan skyscraper bathed in saffron, white, and green.
In her caption, Dutta wrote: 'Couldn't have asked for a better way to kickstart our NYC journey than a visit to the iconic Empire State Building and lighting it up in our tricolour Felt 'On top of the world'. What an experience it has been.' She credited the Federation of Indian Associations and the team at the Empire State Building for making the moment possible.
Who Is Munmun Dutta
Dutta began her acting career with Hum Sab Baraati in 2004. She also appeared in a supporting role in the film Holiday, directed by Pooja Bhatt and starring Dino Morea, Gulshan Grover, and Onjolee Nair — a remake of the 1987 American film Dirty Dancing.
She is best known for her long-running role in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, which is based on the weekly column Duniya Ne Undha Chasma by Tarak Mehta, originally published in the magazine Chitralekha.
About Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah
Set in Mumbai, the show follows the residents of Gokuldham Co-operative Housing Society — a diverse community representing various cultural and regional backgrounds from across India. Most storylines centre on individuals, families, or the society as a whole navigating everyday problems, with characters frequently rallying around one another during festivals and crises alike.
The series is widely regarded as one of the longest-running television shows in India, a distinction that makes its cast's overseas Independence Day celebration all the more symbolically resonant.
A Patriotic Moment Abroad
The lighting of the Empire State Building in the Indian tricolour was facilitated by the Federation of Indian Associations, an organisation that coordinates cultural and civic events for the Indian diaspora in the United States. The gesture has become a recurring highlight of Independence Day celebrations in New York City, drawing members of the Indian community and public figures alike. The cast's visit adds a high-profile entertainment dimension to this year's diaspora festivities.
Point of View
But the presence of a prime-time Indian cast elevates it into a soft-power moment with genuine media reach. What is worth noting is how shows like Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah — built on the idea of a pluralistic, festival-sharing housing society — map neatly onto the Federation of Indian Associations' own messaging about Indian unity abroad. The overlap is not accidental; it is brand alignment. Whether or not the producers planned it that way, the optics are effective.
NationPress
20 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Empire State Building light up in the Indian tricolour?
The Empire State Building was illuminated in saffron, white, and green to mark India's Independence Day, an initiative facilitated by the Federation of Indian Associations. The lighting is part of the Indian diaspora's annual Independence Day celebrations in New York City.
Who is Munmun Dutta?
Munmun Dutta is a popular Indian television actress best known for her role in the long-running show Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. She began her acting career with Hum Sab Baraati in 2004 and has also appeared in the film Holiday directed by Pooja Bhatt.
What is Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah?
Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah is one of India's longest-running television series, set in Mumbai's fictional Gokuldham Co-operative Housing Society. It is based on the weekly column Duniya Ne Undha Chasma by Tarak Mehta, published in the magazine Chitralekha.
What did Munmun Dutta post on Instagram about the visit?
Dutta shared a video with the Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah cast at the Empire State Building and wrote that she 'Couldn't have asked for a better way to kickstart our NYC journey.' She credited the Federation of Indian Associations and the Empire State Building team for making the tricolour lighting possible.
Who facilitated the tricolour lighting of the Empire State Building?
The Federation of Indian Associations, which coordinates cultural and civic events for the Indian diaspora in the United States, facilitated the Independence Day lighting of the Empire State Building in the Indian tricolour.
