Global pop sensation Ed Sheeran’s affection for India just keeps getting stronger, as the Shape of You sensation spills the beans about his recent musical tour of the nation. From working alongside Arijit Singh to immersing himself in India’s rich culture, Sheeran’s love for the nation has deepened more than ever. In a recent interview with Zane Lowe on his YouTube channel, Sheeran even likened Shah Rukh Khan’s Om Shanti Om to George Lucas’ Star Wars a bold and heartwarming compliment to the country’s cinema.
“India Was a Visual and Cultural Feast”
Looking back on his experience filming the music video for Sapphire, a track from his eighth studio album Play, Sheeran said that the month-long journey throughout India was emotionally and creatively stimulating. “The only reason we were there was to do the music video,” he said. “We felt like we needed to travel around the whole country and film a bit all over the place.”
What intrigued Sheeran most was India’s diversity. “Every hundred miles, the culture, language, food, fashion, rhythms—all of it changed,” he clarified. From Hyderabad’s street performances to discovering West Bengal with Arijit Singh, Sheeran called the experience “some of the most amazing days” of his musical career.
Om Shanti Om = Star Wars?
One of the clinches in the discussion was Sheeran’s enthusiastic appreciation for Bollywood and Shah Rukh Khan’s classic movie Om Shanti Om. Describing it as a revelation, he added, “It’s a treasure trove of discovery of films. Someone said, ‘Have you watched Om Shanti Om?’ It’s a very big Shah Rukh Khan film with fantastic songs and dances.”
In a vivid comparison, he likened viewing Om Shanti Om for the first time to being introduced to Star Wars: “It’s like showing someone Star Wars for the first time, and they go like, ‘What the f\k is this?'” He was particularly amazed at the notion that India has “superstars within the same country singing in various languages.”
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A Bollywood Classic That Left a Mark
Directed by Farah Khan, Om Shanti Om starred Shah Rukh Khan and marked the Bollywood debut of Deepika Padukone. The film blended romance, drama, reincarnation, and music, and became a cult classic, remembered for its grandeur and the iconic song Deewangi Deewangi. Ed Sheeran’s admiration is just another reminder of Bollywood’s growing global influence.
