British Prime Minister Keir Starmer flew into Mumbai on Wednesday morning on a direct London-to-Mumbai British Airways Flight 9100 and landed at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), where he was warmly received by a high-profile official delegation comprising Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
As UK PM Starmer landed at CSMIA, Modi tweeted on X, “Welcome, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, on your historic first visit to India with the largest ever trade delegation from the United Kingdom. Looking forward to our meeting tomorrow (Thursday) for advancing our shared vision of a stronger, mutually prosperous future.”
After PM Starmer stepped onto the red carpet at the airport, Governor of Maharashtra and Gujarat Acharya Devvrat, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Minister of Protocol Jaykumar Rawal, and senior bureaucrats received him and welcomed him warmly.
Starmer, who is being hosted at the Tata Group’s Hotel Taj Mahal at Colaba, is on a two-day visit to India from Wednesday, marking the beginning of his first-ever visit to India since he took over as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 2024.
Starmer is scheduled to meet PM Narendra Modi on Thursday. His visit to India follows a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed between India and the UK in July.
Shortly after UK PM Starmer arrived at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel off Mumbai’s Gateway of India at Colaba, he said, “What do Rolls-Royce, Diageo, National Theatre, University of Lancaster, and British Airways have in common? They’re all backing Britain. I’ll be flying the flag for British business in Mumbai this week because growth in India for British businesses means more jobs at home for the British people”.
Later on Wednesday, UK PM Starmer drove downtown to Bollywood production house Yash Raj Films (YRF) Studios in Andheri West, accompanied by heavy security.
At YRF Studios, the British PM was received by actress Rani Mukherjee as he also interacted with YRF CEO Akshaye Widhani, according to a press release issued by the British High Commission in Mumbai. The UK PM also watched a movie with actress Rani Mukherjee and YRF CEO Akshaye Widhani.
#WATCH | Mumbai | UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Yash Raj Films today. Yash Raj Films CEO Akshaye Widhani and actor Rani Mukerji were also present with him
(Video source: Pool via Reuters) pic.x.com/vunZNmhC6I
— ANI (@ANI) October 8, 2025
According to a release from the British High Commission, “PM Starmer’s visit to a key Bollywood production hub like YRF is aimed at strengthening cultural ties and promoting collaboration between the British and Indian film industries. His visit to the facility is seen as a step towards fostering creative partnerships, including potential joint film projects and cultural exchange programmes.”
It has also been confirmed that members of the Scotch Whisky Association are part of PM Starmer’s delegation to India, aiming to explore a potential increase in whisky sales to India. The India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is set to open significant opportunities for the Scotch whisky industry, which is expected to be a major beneficiary of the recently signed FTA deal.
According to a statement issued by UK Secretary of State for Scotland Douglas Alexander, “The historic trade deal the UK government struck with India this year is great news for Scotland, and especially for our whisky industry. But having secured the deal, our challenge and responsibility now is to put this deal into action. The Prime Minister will actively promote Scotland’s products and help them expand into global markets”.
The Maharashtra CM’s office stated that UK PM Starmer’s very first trip to India will include high-level meetings with senior Indian government ministers and business leaders to strengthen bilateral trade and diplomatic ties that will benefit the UK.
On Thursday, UK PM Keir Starmer is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Raj Bhavan, the official residence of the Maharashtra Governor, where PM Modi will reside during his two-day visit to Mumbai. The two Prime Ministers are expected to make a statement to the media after their deliberations on Thursday, official sources said.