Bollywood stars attend Modi's swearing-in ceremony

New Delhi, May 26: Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony today turned out to be quite a starry affair with a generous smattering of famous faces from Bollywood like Salman Khan, Dharmendra, Anupam Kher and actor-politicians Hema Malini, Shatrughan Sinha, Kirron Kher in attendance.

The grand ceremony saw Modi, 63, taking oath as India's 15th Prime Minister in front of a huge gathering that included state heads of SAARC countries, national leaders, religious personalities and business magnates besides film stars.

Invitations were apparently also sent to megastar Amitabh Bachchan, Tamil superstar Rajinikanth and melody queen Lata Mangeshkar. The 84-year-old singer, however, wrote a letter to Modi apologising for her absence from the ceremony citing ill health.

"Despite getting your invitation I had to decline it with a heavy heart as my health did not permit me to attend the ceremony," Lata said in a hand-written letter, which was posted by Modi on Twitter.

Wishing Modi for his new beginning, Lata said, "Narendra bhai, today the whole country is with you as you begin your new journey." In the crowd, Salman and his scriptwriter father Salim Khan were spotted sitting in a row behind Congress President Sonia Gandhi. Vivek Oberoi, another Modi supporter, was seen wearing the lotus symbol on the lapel of his purple jacket.

Dharmendra was spotted with his MP wife Hema Malini and Shatrughan Sinha, another actor-turned-politician. Bollywood couple Anupam and Kirron Kher were also present at the ceremony. Kirron made her political debut as the BJP MP from Chandigarh.

Bollywood filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar, music composer-turned-politician Bappi Lahiri, Poonam Dhillon, Vinod Khanna, TV actress-turned-BJP leader Smriti Irani and Bhojpuri singer-actor Manoj Tiwary were also spotted in the crowd.

PTI