Thankfully, this interaction required only a selfie: PM Modi meets Fauda cast during Israel visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday shared a lighthearted selfie with the star cast of the Israeli series Fauda, posting the picture on X and writing, "Thankfully, this interaction required only a selfie, no undercover work!"

The meeting comes amid growing interest among stakeholders in the Indian and Israeli entertainment industries to explore collaborative projects and leverage each other’s strengths across the creative sector.

Fauda, which means “chaos” in Arabic, is a critically acclaimed Israeli political thriller that has gained global popularity. The series explores the high-stakes and morally complex world surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, depicting undercover operations, counterterror missions and the human cost of prolonged violence on both sides.


Last year, as part of efforts to position India as a global film production hub, an Indian film festival was held in Israel, opening with the screening of filmmaker Kiran Rao’s feature Laapataa Ladies. Other films screened included Dangal, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Mimi, English Vinglish and 777 Charlie. The festival ran until March 8 and highlighted India’s diversity, traditional heritage, contemporary themes and creative output.


During his 2018 visit to India, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appealed to the Hindi film industry to shoot in Israel and posed for a widely shared selfie with leading Bollywood personalities at an event titled Shalom Bollywood. “We believe in India-Israel relationship. One of the most viral pictures occurred at the Oscars a few years ago. I’d like the Bollywood stars to join me for a selfie so a few hundred million Indians and Israelis can see this phenomenal friendship. Jai Hind, Jai Maharashtra, Jai Israel!” he said.

India-Israel entertainment ties in focus

India’s entertainment industry is valued at approximately $29–30 billion in 2024, spanning films, television, OTT platforms, music, gaming and advertising. It produces the highest number of films globally and has significant cultural influence across Asia, the Middle East and the diaspora. Israel’s industry is comparatively smaller in revenue but is recognised for its global television formats, high-quality dramas and creative exports.

(With inputs from TOI)