Anwar Ibrahim Brings Bollywood to the BRICS Dinner

New Delhi, September 13, 2026 A gala dinner on the sidelines of a major diplomatic summit turned into an unexpected musical moment when Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim took the microphone in New Delhi. While the 18th BRICS Summit brought leaders together for discussions on global and economic issues, Anwar’s performance of a beloved Hindi film song offered a more informal side of the gathering. Anwar chose Kishore Kumar’s 1965 classic Khwaab Ho Tum Ya Koi Haqeeqat from Teen Devian for his performance. With a pianist accompanying him, the Malaysian leader sang the romantic number, composed by S.D. Burman and penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri. The rendition quickly became a talking point among those attending the dinner, adding a distinctly Indian cultural flavour to the diplomatic occasion. The Prime Minister later took the moment to social media, sharing a video from the performance with the caption, "Guru mintak izin nyanyi kejap ok!" The line roughly translates to “Teacher, may I sing for a moment?” The post soon attracted enthusiastic reactions, with viewers complimenting his singing and welcoming his affection for Indian music. One user wrote, "U sang really well sir; hope you had a great time in India," while another said, "From Yemen to Malaysia - this country has become my second home. Grateful for every memory, every opportunity, and every beautiful moment. Terima kasih, Malaysia,". A third commenter added, "Wow, didn't know Mr Anwar is so Melodious...loving this. Lots of Love from an expat Indian from Malaysia,". Anwar’s choice of song also underlined a connection with Indian cinema that he has displayed before. He had previously sung the same Kishore Kumar number during a media interaction on an earlier India visit. In 2024, he also performed Mukesh’s Dost Dost Na Raha at an event in Delhi. His latest rendition therefore became more than an entertaining interlude at the BRICS dinner, once again highlighting his personal appreciation for India’s musical and cinematic culture.