Vinay Virmani was invited by Stephen Harper to host a dinner party for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Vancouver during his 2015 visit to Canada
By Subhash K Jha
BOLLYWOOD: Indo-Canadian actor Vinay Virmani of Dr Cabbie fame was invited by Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper to host a dinner party for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Vancouver in April 2015.
Vinay, who flew to Vancouver immediately from Toronto, not only discussed bilateral issues with Modi he also shared sartorial tips with the dapper Indian Prime Minister.
Says Vinay happily, “It was quite an evening, and one that I am not likely to forget for a very long time. Modiji was at his articulate best. He won over the hearts of the Canadians and the Indian community in Canada.”
Vinay admits he was honoured pleased and flattered to be at the dinner for the Indian prime minister. “There are 1.2 million people of Indian origin in Canada. And Modiji was the first Indian prime minister in 42 years to pay Canada an official visit. So it was quite a historic occasion. To be invited by the Canadian PM to host the dinner was a singular honour.”
He said, “Modiji and I discussed the co-production treaty between India and Canada. He was very closely clued in to the details of the treaty. I just feel there’s so much scope to bring the two countries closer through cinema. There are so many Indians in Canada with inspirational stories to tell. In fact I was in one such story in the film Dr Cabbie.”
Incidentally, Prime Minister Modi took a shine to Vinay’s jacket and commented on it. “Coming from a person who has impeccable taste in clothes I was very flattered,” says Vinay.
The Indian prime minister and the young Indo-Canadian actor had a fairly lengthy conversation.
“When I told him I was expected to be in India soon, Modiji very generously offered to meet me during my trip,” says Vinay appreciatively.
The young actor seen in Breakaway and Dr Cabbie hopes for much closer cultural and cinematic ties between the two countries. “I must confess that on the evening of the amazing dinner when I met our wonderful prime minister I was convinced that India was poised for a global impact. Modiji is a true visionary.”
Vinay Virmani’s speech at the dinner in Vancouver for Prime Minister Narendra Modi
“Good evening. Namaste. Sat Sri Akal. My name is Vinay Virmani and I will be your host for this historic evening.
Tonight and over the past few days we have witnessed history in the making between two great nations India and Canada. So without much further ado, let’s celebrate this valuable relationship by putting our hands together for two men who have a deep love for their nations and a strong belief in good governance – the Prime Minister of Canada, the right Honorable Stephen Harper and the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modiji!
Our rich ties as nations are built upon a mutual commitment to democracy, fostering unity among diversity, and the rich exchange of trade, culture and ideas.
And now, I would like to introduce someone who works tirelessly and has been instrumental in building these ties, a dear friend of Canada’s South Asian community and a great friend of India. Please welcome Canada’s Minister of National Defence and long-serving Minister for Multiculturalism, the Honorable Jason Kenney.
Thank you very much Prime Minister Modiji and Prime Minister Harper for those inspiring words.
Our two nations are bound together not just by our common interests and our hearts, but most importantly our stomachs. It was pretty amazing to learn that Canada’s chief export to India is lentils or “dal”. Yes! Most Indians are probably unaware that quite a lot of this staple Indian food comes all the way from our beautiful prairie fields of Saskatchewan!
Prime Minister Modiji, I hope this visit to our beautiful country will be the first of many and these ties will deepen. “Sabka saath sabka vikas” or “Unity for all, prosperity for all” is a line often used by Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji. But it is also a tenet Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper lives by. I’m sure I speak for everyone in this room when I say, “AAVJO”, a Gujarati word that means, “Please come again soon.” (This article first appeared on April 23, 2015)
