Language not a barrier for Bollywood lovers in Armenia

They may not understand a single word of Hindi, but Armenians’ love for Bollywood superstars Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan surpasses the language barrier.

Bachchan and SRK-starrer Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham is popular in the country and Armenians’ love grooving to Shava Shava from the Bollywood hit.

Posters of SRK and Deepika Padukone-starrer Om Shanti Om can be spotted on the buses as part of Indian cultural exhibition in the country.

Armenian couple Gayne and Norayz Iskandaryan said they love SRK as he comes across as someone “who is soft, romantic and not afraid to show his emotional side.” “In actors like Shah Rukh, I see a guy who is soft, romantic and not afraid to cry or show his emotional side, though it is not easy to understand the story as you don’t know the language,” said Norayz, a freelance interpretor.

“I love Bollywood songs especially Shava Shava from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham,” Gayne said when asked about the popularity of Bollywood films.

Norayz said Indian exhibitions in Armenia are a great medium to connect people of the two countries.

For the past few years, Indian cultural exhibitions in Armenia have become a huge affair and Bollywood is the connecting link.

Milena, a Student of Yerevan University, says for her it was love at first sight for SRK when she watched Om Shanti Om. “I did not know his name and had no idea about his popularity. But when I saw him in Om Shanti Om...you could say he was my first crush,” she said.