‘Not the first time I’ve come to Mumbai’: Christopher Nolan beams with joy, Tom Holland waves at paps, thanks fans for welcome at The Odyssey screening

The year 2026 is filled with surprises. Never in our wildest dreams did anyone think that Christopher Nolan, Tom Holland, Matt Damon, and producer Emma Thomas would be in Mumbai. However, the dream has come true, as Hollywood’s biggest director, actors, and producers are right here, right now in Mumbai for a special fan screening of The Odyssey.

For a city that has grown up celebrating cinema as passionately as it celebrates cricket, this was a truly special moment. Indian fans clearly gave Christopher Nolan and his team something every filmmaker hopes for before a film reaches the world. The celebs had a heartfelt and candid discussion as they warmly greeted fans in Mumbai.

Let’s take a look at who said what!

Christopher Nolan said, “This is not the first time I’ve come to Mumbai but its the first time I’ve had a chance to launch a film here. You are among the first audiences in the world to see the film. Its a thrill to be in India, I had the pleasure of filming here twice, once in Jodhpur, once in Mumbai. Everytime we come here its very special. I wanted to launch our film and experience it with the Indian audiences, one of the most knowledgeable, enthusiastic, cinematic audiences in the world.”

The roaring approval from the audience prompted another question from the filmmaker. “Who is better, Matt or Tom?” he asked. Instead of choosing between the two stars, the crowd pointed back at Nolan himself, drawing laughter across the theatre. Smiling at the response, he simply said, “They are both fantastic.”

Damon was welcomed with loud cheers for his performance and joined in, saying, “We have had a premiere before but that’s family and friends, this is the first real audience we have been in front of. It means the world to us that you liked it. We worked very hard, it was the result of thousands of people pushing themselves.”

Tom Holland echoed the emotion, saying the affection they receive in India is unlike anywhere else. “From the bottom of my heart, thank you for always welcoming us with such open arms, with so much happiness and excitement and grace and love,” he said.

Tom Holland thanked the audience for welcoming the team with open arms, grace, and love. “No one brings an energy to a movie theatre like you do in India. Thank you for supporting and enjoying Chris’s work,” he said.

Several videos and photos of Tom Holland waving at Mumbai paps have gone viral.