For two days, on July 10 and 11, Mumbai became the global capital of entertainment as Academy Award-winning filmmaker Christopher Nolan, producer Emma Thomas, and actors Matt Damon and Tom Holland arrived in the city for the Indian premiere of The Odyssey. More than just a red carpet event, the premiere became a cultural spectacle that dominated entertainment headlines worldwide.
In a move that surprised even seasoned industry insiders, Mumbai was chosen to host the film’s first public screening anywhere in the world, ahead of traditional premiere destinations such as London, Paris and New York. The significance of the occasion was undeniable. Nolan’s mythological epic is already being hailed as a landmark in filmmaking, becoming the first feature ever shot entirely using IMAX 70mm film cameras. The excitement was reflected in ticket sales, with premium IMAX seats priced at ₹3,300 selling out nearly a month before the screening.
Mumbai gets the world-first look at Nolan’s biggest epic yet
The world premiere unfolded at PVR ICON IMAX in Phoenix Palladium, where thousands of fans gathered to meet Hollywood’s biggest names. Students arrived straight from school, office-goers rushed in after work, and cinema lovers lined the barricades hours in advance, hoping for a glimpse of Nolan, Emma Thomas, Matt Damon, who portrays Odysseus, and Tom Holland, who plays Telemachus.
The excitement reached another level when Christopher Nolan unexpectedly walked down a sprawling 30-metre red carpet to greet the crowd personally. Joining the celebrations were Indian cinema veterans, including Dimple Kapadia, who previously worked with Nolan in Tenet, along with actor Boman Irani.
Addressing the roaring audience, Nolan reflected on his connection with the city.
“This is not the first time I’ve been to Mumbai, but it is the first time I’ve had the chance to launch a film here. So, you are amongst the first audiences in the world to see this film. Every time I come here, it’s very, very special.”
Before the glamour came cutting chai & bun maska
Before flashing cameras and packed auditoriums, the Hollywood stars embraced a very different side of Mumbai. Universal Pictures India delighted fans by sharing candid photographs of Christopher Nolan, Matt Damon and Tom Holland visiting a local café. The trio enjoyed steaming glasses of cutting chai and freshly made bun maska, instantly winning over social media.
A late-night pilgrimage to Trishna’s legendary Butter Garlic Crab
As the celebrations continued, the evening ended at one of Mumbai’s most celebrated culinary institutions: Trishna in Kala Ghoda. The Hollywood delegation, accompanied by Trishna co-owner Ruchit Anchan, sat down for what has now become one of the city’s most talked-about celebrity dinners.
The star of the table was Trishna’s world-famous Butter Garlic Crab, prepared in its signature butter, pepper and garlic style inspired by historic Mangalorean-Goan coastal flavours. For decades, the dish has attracted food lovers from across the globe, and now it has earned another remarkable endorsement from some of Hollywood’s biggest names.
