French President Emmanuel Macron maintains his fitness regime, meets celebrities in Mumbai

Mumbai: As he landed in Mumbai for bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, French President Emmanuel Macron ensured that he maintains his fitness regime and took time out for a jog at the iconic Marine Drive and had a meeting with who’s who of the Hindi entertainment industry. 

Besides, Macron, accompanied by Brigitte Marie-Claude Macron, the First Lady, also paid tributes to the victims and martyrs of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace off the Gateway of India. 

This was the fourth visit of Macron to India and first in Mumbai, the financial capital of India. 

Macron landed in Mumbai past midnight at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, where he was welcomed by Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar, Protocol Minister Jaykumar Rawal, Chief Secretary Rajesh Aggarwal, Director General of Police Sadanand Date and Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti. 

However, after a brief rest,  in the morning, he was ready for the jog. 

Videos of the 48-year-old Marcon went viral on social media platforms. 

Dressed in a navy blue athletic T-shirt, black shorts and running shoes, he blended easily into the morning crowd even as the security detail followed him. 

As morning office goers and joggers were surprised, he waved at them.

Thereafter, Marcon and the First Lady paid tributes to the 26/11 memorial inside the Taj Hotel.

"At the Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai, we paid tribute to the victims of the 2008 attacks. To their families and loved ones, and to India: France stands with you. In the face of terrorism, unity and determination," Macron said. 

Later in the day, a delegation of the film industry called on the visiting President.

Among those present included  Shabana Azmi, Anil Kapoor, Manoj Bajpayee, Zoya Akhtar, Richa Chadha and Grammy-winning music composer Ricky Kej.

“Alongside legends of Indian cinema. Culture brings us together,” Macron wrote on X.

Kapoor said: “Spent an inspiring afternoon with President Emmanuel Macron and his gracious better half, Brigitte exchanging thoughts on cinema, culture, and the powerful bridge between India and France. Here’s to India x France…And to many more stories waiting to be told.”

About the meeting, Bajpayee said: “It was an honour meeting President Emmanuel Macron at today’s luncheon, along with other dignitaries. What stood out was not just the warmth of the interaction with him, but the clarity and depth of the exchange around cinema, culture, and the role of storytelling in building bridges between countries. Conversations like these, on how India and France can work together more closely in cinema and culture, remind you of how important thoughtful leadership and cultural dialogue are in today’s world.”

After delegation level talks with Modi, Macron said: “We have identified areas where we need to cooperate more to elevate our ties further. France and India can give a lot to the world. We have expressed co-production interest with Bollywood. I welcome the FTA between India and the European Union."