Ed Sheeran Praises Shah Rukh Khan’s Om Shanti Om, Shares Fond Memories of India Visit

International music sensation Ed Sheeran recently expressed his admiration for Shah Rukh Khan’s iconic Bollywood film Om Shanti Om during a candid conversation with Zane Lowe on his official YouTube channel. The global star, well known for his love of India, shared insights from his trip to the country, where he collaborated with some of India’s biggest names, including Arijit Singh and Diljit Dosanjh.

While discussing his passion for traveling to experience different cultures, Ed Sheeran fondly recalled his visit to India for the shoot of his song Sapphire, part of his eighth studio album Play. Reflecting on the diverse experiences during the shoot, he said, “What was interesting about doing the whole India tour was that the only reason we were there was to shoot the music video. We thought that we needed to go all over the country and shoot a little bit everywhere. I love that every hundred miles, the culture, language, food, fashion, rhythms, and all of it changed. Everywhere we went something was more interesting. There are also talents there that have existed for decades that you would not know about.”

Ed Sheeran did not hold back his praise for Om Shanti Om, comparing it to a cinematic universe discovery. “It’s a wealth of discovery of movies, and someone going like, ‘Oh, have you seen this movie?’ Have you seen Om Shanti Om? It’s like a really big Shah Rukh Khan movie, and it has amazing songs and dances in it. This is a weird analogy, but it is almost like introducing Star Wars to someone for the first time, and they just go like, ‘What the f** is this?’ There are superstars in the same country singing in different languages.”

During his month-long stay in India, Ed Sheeran was seen exploring local streets, enjoying auto-rickshaw rides, and even performing impromptu gigs in Hyderabad alongside Arijit Singh. He described his time in India and the collaboration with Arijit as “the most amazing days in my musical career.”

About Om Shanti Om

Directed by Farah Khan and produced by Red Chillies Entertainment, Om Shanti Om starred Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone in her Bollywood debut, Arjun Rampal, and Shreyas Talpade. The film follows the story of Om, a junior artist in the 1970s, who dreams of stardom. After witnessing the tragic death of the leading actress Shanti, orchestrated by a producer, Om himself dies and is later reborn as a successful actor seeking justice.

Released in 2007, the movie became a massive commercial success, grossing ₹148.20 crore worldwide according to Sacnilk. One of its biggest highlights, the song Deewangi Deewangi, featured special appearances by over 31 Bollywood stars, including Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra, and Kareena Kapoor, creating a spectacular cinematic moment.

Ed Sheeran’s fond reflections on India and Bollywood not only reveal his deep respect for the country’s culture but also highlight the growing cultural exchange between Western music and Indian cinema.