The meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his UK counterpart Keir Starmer took a musical twist when artists performed a rendition of Ed Sheeran and Arijit Singh’s hit track Sapphire.
PM Modi shared a video of the performance on social media, describing it as “a great example of India-UK cultural partnership.”
“Wonderful rendition of Ed Sheeran & Arijit Singh’s Sapphire, which is a great example of India-UK cultural partnership!” the Prime Minister wrote.
Released in June 2025, Sapphire is a collaboration between British pop star Ed Sheeran and Indian playback singer Arijit Singh. The track, part of Sheeran’s eighth studio album Play, merges Western pop with Indian and Punjabi musical influences, celebrating cross-cultural harmony.
For the two leaders, the song was presented in a classical Indian style, featuring traditional instruments such as the sitar and tabla. The soulful performance left both Prime Ministers smiling.
Wonderful rendition of Ed Sheeran & Arijit Singh’s Sapphire, which is a great example of India-UK cultural partnership! pic.twitter.com/aLtx5WyiXT
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 9, 2025