Coldplay's concert in Mumbai has its origins in PM Narendra Modi's visit to New York in 2014.
If you are sizzling like an isotope at the thought of Coldplay performing in India, you should thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
NDTV has learned that it was a chance meeting two years ago between the Prime Minister and Hugh Evans, the head of the Global Poverty project, in New York that led to the much-awaited show that will be held this November.
The Coldplay concert is a carefully cultivated event that was nurtured by some humanitarian groups and the Prime Minister's Office and then adopted along the way by young parliamentarians like Poonam Mahajan.
It all began in September 2014 when the Prime Minister made an appearance at New York's Central Park with Hollywood's Hugh Jackman and delighted everyone when he referenced Star Wars and said, "May the force be with you."
PM Modi was lauded for his 'rockstar' speech in New York's Central Park.
That event was part of the Global Citizens' Festival and Hugh Evans, the Chief Executive of the project managed to have a few words backstage with PM Modi. He spoke to the Prime Minister especially about his speech, which was about sanitation and building toilets for all.
The Prime Minister, said sources, liked the Global Poverty initiative because it involved youth and poverty, two aspects he's passionate about and he gave his nod to do an event in India too. Thus began the involvement of the Prime Minister's office, which has since carefully overseen preparations.
Mr Evans, who is an Australian, has tied up with Chris Martin of Coldplay to be their brand ambassador.
"No, I don't think the Prime Minister knows Coldplay,'' said BJP lawmaker from Mumbai, Poonam Mahajan, who has been coordinating the initiative and is also believed to have briefed PM Modi about a month ago. "He just likes the initiative and supports them."
The November show will be a high powered event; even the launch announcement is being made by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and mega stars like Amitabh Bachchan and Aamir Khan.
Will PM Modi share stage with Chris Martin on November 20? Organisers are not telling yet.