Bollywood returns to Britain, UK campuses in India: Big takeaways from Modi–Starmer talks in Mumbai

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer (L) speaking with PM Narendra Modi upon his arrival at the Raj Bhavan ahead of their bilateral meeting in Mumbai on October 9, 2025.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s maiden visit to India concluded on a high note in Mumbai, where he held wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on trade, defence, education, and cultural cooperation. After a day that blended soft diplomacy with cricket and cinema, Starmer turned his focus to deepening bilateral ties, calling India and the UK “natural partners” united by democracy and shared values.

Here are the key takeaways from the Modi–Starmer meeting and their joint press briefing in Mumbai.

Trade and investment take centre stage

The meeting’s biggest focus was the expanding trade and economic partnership between the two countries. Prime Minister Starmer described his visit as the UK’s “largest trade delegation in a decade,” aimed at boosting investments, innovation, and job creation.

He said, “We are building something here -- a new modern partnership focused on the future and availing the opportunities, and we are doing it together.”

Starmer reaffirmed his commitment to “doubling down on the trade deal,” referring to the India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) signed in July 2025. Accompanied by around 100 business leaders, academics, and cultural representatives, Starmer expressed optimism about securing tangible results from the agreement.

Prime Minister Modi echoed the sentiment, saying, “With this agreement, the import cost between the two countries will come down, new employment opportunities will be generated for the youth, trade will increase and this will benefit our industries and consumers. Your visit to India within just a few months of signing the Agreement, with the biggest business delegation ever accompanying you, is a symbol of the new vigour in India–UK partnership.”

Starmer also praised India’s economic momentum, noting, “I want to congratulate the PM on his leadership, aiming to be the world’s third largest economy by 2028. Your vision of Viksit Bharat is to make it a completely developed country by 2047. Everything I have seen since I have been here is absolute proof to me that you are on track to succeed in that. We want to be partners on that journey.”

Defence cooperation reaches new milestone

Defence emerged as another key pillar of the Modi–Starmer talks. Prime Minister Modi announced that both countries “are moving towards defence co-production,” with new frameworks for collaboration between their respective industries.

He said, “Defence cooperation between India and the UK has strengthened, advancing toward co-production and linking the defence industries of both countries. Taking this collaboration further, an agreement on military training has been signed, under which Indian Air Force flying instructors will serve as trainers with the UK’s Royal Air Force.”

The partnership is expected to boost interoperability, enhance maritime security in the Indo-Pacific, and deepen strategic alignment between the two nations.

Starmer added that Britain strongly supports India’s bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. “We sit together in the Commonwealth, G20, and we want to see India taking its rightful place in the UN Security Council,” he said.

Education ties strengthened as UK universities set up campuses in India

Perhaps the most notable announcement came from Prime Minister Modi, who revealed that nine leading UK universities would open campuses in India, beginning with the University of Southampton’s Gurugram campus, which has already enrolled its first batch of students.

“It is a matter of great joy that now nine universities from the UK are going to open campuses in India. The Gurugram campus of Southampton University was recently inaugurated, and the first group of students has also taken admission,” said PM Modi.

According to reports, the list includes the University of Liverpool in Bengaluru, University of York, University of Aberdeen, and University of Bristol in Mumbai, while the University of Surrey is expected to open a campus in GIFT City, Gujarat. Lancaster University has also received approval for a Bengaluru campus.

The move aligns with India’s National Education Policy 2020 and aims to give Indian students world-class educational opportunities at home while promoting joint research, innovation, and skill development.

Bollywood returns to Britain

Starmer’s trip also spotlighted cultural collaboration, particularly in the entertainment industry. After visiting Yash Raj Studios in Mumbai, he announced that the production house would begin shooting three major projects in the UK from early 2026.

“Bollywood is back in Britain, and it’s bringing jobs, investment, and opportunity, all while showcasing the UK as a world-class destination for global filmmaking,” said Starmer.

The move is expected to create over 3,000 jobs and inject millions of pounds into the British economy. The UK has long been a filming destination for Indian cinema, though no major YRF production has been shot there in nearly eight years.

Additionally, a cooperation agreement was signed between the British Film Institute and India’s National Film Development Corporation to encourage co-productions and share resources between filmmakers in both countries.

Strengthening people-to-people ties

Both leaders placed strong emphasis on the role of the Indian diaspora in nurturing bilateral relations. Prime Minister Modi said, “The 1.8 million Indians residing in the United Kingdom are a living bridge of our partnership. Through their valuable contributions to British society and the economy, they have strengthened the bonds of friendship, cooperation, and progress between our two nations.”

Prime Minister Starmer also extended Diwali greetings to the Indian people and paid tribute to the victims of the June Air India crash that killed 247 passengers. He said, “We share your grief and stand in solidarity with all those who lost loved ones.”

A new chapter in India–UK relations

Keir Starmer’s short but eventful trip marks a new phase in the India–UK relationship, balancing trade and security priorities with deeper educational and cultural links. With both leaders pledging to make their partnership “modern and future-focused,” the visit sets the stage for what could become one of the most comprehensive bilateral relationships of the decade.

As Starmer put it, “India and the UK are natural partners, sharing a common belief in democracy, freedom, and the rule of law at the foundation of our relationship.”