The 2007 film Namastey London was a huge hit back in the day and it fetched the lead pair Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif a lot of acclaim. The film is about a simple guy from Punjab (Akshay) who gets hitched to an unwilling British-Indian girl played by Katrina due to a plan orchestrated by her parents. Katrina dislikes Akshay in the beginning but gradually is drawn to his charm (but naturally!).
One of the most famous scenes in the film is one where Akshay gives it back to an elderly English gentleman who has unsavoury things to say about India and its culture. Taking a dig at the popular notion of India being the land of snake charmers, this character has a few not-so-pleasant opinions about the country which he expresses to an embarrassed Katrina. In steps Akshay and gives him a piece of his mind and a small lecture on what India is all about. Needless to say, the British gentleman is tongue-tied. Over the years, this particular scene has acquired a cult status because of both, its inherent cheesiness and its entertainment value.Â
But the film and this scene in particular established Akshay as the ultimate patriot, a title which he now carries with pride, working on films that have a distinct nationalist flavour.
Below is a still from the scene…
But how do Britishers react to this scene? In an interesting video that is doing the rounds of the internet. The video was sent to us by James, a Bollywood enthusiast in the UK who created it after being requested to do so by fans of the film. The result is there for all to see. Check it out and let us know your views.
