Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 1: Superstar Rajinikanth delivered a heartfelt tribute to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership during his address at the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025, while also expressing grief over the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 civilians, including a Nepalese national.
Speaking at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, Rajinikanth acknowledged the gravity of the tragedy and praised the government for proceeding with the summit despite the difficult circumstances. “After the barbaric, merciless attack in Pahalgam, many thought this event would be postponed due to criticism, given its focus on entertainment,” he said. “But I was confident it would go on, because I have faith in our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi ji.”
Calling Modi a “fighter,” Rajinikanth added, “He will face this situation with courage and bring peace to Kashmir and glory to our country.”
Rajinikanth also expressed his joy at being part of WAVES 2025, calling it a privilege and congratulating the central government for organizing the event.
The summit was officially inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi, who addressed a global audience of creators, industry leaders, and policymakers from over 90 countries. Calling it a “historic moment” for India’s creative industries, he said, “India, with a billion-plus population, is also a land of a billion-plus stories… Every village, every mountain carries a tale.”
With the theme “Connecting Creators, Connecting Countries,” WAVES 2025 is India’s first international summit dedicated to the audio-visual and entertainment sectors, encompassing film, OTT, AVGC-XR, comics, AI, and broadcasting.
Spanning four days (May 1–4), the summit aims to position India as a global media and entertainment hub, drawing over 10,000 delegates, 1,000 creators, 300 companies, and 350 startups.