I watched Dangal, and liked it: Chinese President Xi Jinping to PM Modi

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he watched Aamir Khan- starrer sports drama Bollywood film Dangal and liked it.

Dangal, which was released in China on May 5, has broken several records in China and raked in over Rs 1,100 crore.

It became only the 33rd film in China to cross a whopping collection of one billion yuan ($147 million). It continues to play in over 7,000 screens across the country.

Xi said Dangal is doing well in China, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said after the talks between the two leaders on the sidelines of the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), where India and Pakistan today became full members of the grouping.

Dangal has also become the first top-grossing non-Hollywood film in China.

The film is inspired by the real-life story of wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat, who went against a patriarchal society to train his daughters to become champion wrestlers.

Aamir Khan had recently said he hoped the film would be loved in China but never dreamt of such a spectacular success.

“I always believe that language is not a barrier when it comes to creative endeavours and its success in China has proved that,” Aamir said.

Jaishankar said both Modi and Xi also deliberated on enhancing cultural cooperation between the two countries. Xi also talked about upcoming Yoga Day celebrations in China.