The 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi may have focused on geopolitics and diplomacy, but Bollywood music has emerged as one of the more unexpected talking points following the gathering.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim caught social media users' attention with his choice of Hindi film songs accompanying photos and videos from his India visit.
In an Instagram video showing Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcoming him at Bharat Mandapam, Ibrahim used Tujhe Dekha To Ye Jana Sanam from the Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol-starrer Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge.
For another photograph with Modi, he selected Dil Toh Pagal Hai, from the Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit and Karisma Kapoor-starrer film of the same name.
The Malaysian leader also used Bollywood music to accompany posts from his BRICS engagements. For photographs of himself addressing the summit, he chose Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega from the 2000 film starring Salman Khan, Rani Mukerji and Preity Zinta.
In a video marking his departure from India, Ibrahim used Kandhon Se Milte Hain Kandhe from Lakshya, another song centred on unity and collective effort.
During his visit, Ibrahim also met Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. Sharing photographs from a meal with the Opposition leaders, he selected Aisa Des Hai Mera from Veer-Zaara, a song celebrating India's cultural diversity.
His musical choices also extended to his diplomatic engagements. For a post featuring his meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Ibrahim chose Saathi Haath Badhana from the 1957 film Naya Daur, a song associated with joining hands and moving forward together.
For a photograph with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he selected Chale Chalo from Aamir Khan's Lagaan, again reinforcing a message of unity and collective progress.
Ibrahim was not the only foreign leader whose India visit featured Bollywood music. Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono also used music from Dil Dhadakne Do in posts related to President Prabowo Subianto's visit.
Beyond the cultural moments, India described the BRICS Summit as a success despite being held amid global divisions and conflicts.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said, "The BRICS Summit was taking place in a very polarised world – there were two major conflicts, big divides and very strong opinions and interests. Even in the midst of this polarisation, we actually forged a consensus. If you look at it, the toughest issue of the day was the West Asia conflict. But we were able to get out a statement to which everybody agreed," as quoted by NDTV.
Jaishankar said the summit brought together 32 delegations, including 11 from BRICS member states, 10 partner countries, four regional bodies and seven international organisations, NDTV has reported.
While the summit focused on diplomacy and global issues, Ibrahim's carefully chosen Bollywood soundtrack offered a lighter cultural dimension to the high-level gathering, resonating with audiences online.