Christopher Nolan finally made it to India for a film premiere. But the Oscar-winning director revealed that this visit was actually years in the making. He had originally planned to bring Tenet to Mumbai in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic ruined those plans completely.
Now, Nolan is in Mumbai with Matt Damon and Tom Holland for the India premiere of his new movie The Odyssey. This marks the first time a Christopher Nolan film has ever had an official premiere on Indian soil. The event is part of the film’s global promotional tour, placing Mumbai alongside London, Paris, and New York as official stops.
Nolan’s Original Plan for Tenet in India Got Destroyed by the Pandemic
During a press conference at the Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai on July 11, Nolan opened up about his long-standing desire to bring his films to Indian audiences. He shared that Tenet was supposed to have its premiere in India because the movie was partially shot in Mumbai.
“We actually intended to come with Tenet originally because we filmed here in Mumbai, and then because of the pandemic, we weren’t able to. And so finally, we’re actually able to, and it’s a thrill. We wanted to do this for years.”
Nolan shot key sequences of Tenet in Mumbai in 2019. The spy thriller starred John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Kenneth Branagh, and Indian actress Dimple Kapadia, who made her Hollywood debut with the film. The movie featured some of the first-ever aerial shots of Mumbai in a film.
The director recalled his earlier visit to Mumbai, which was arranged by his friend, filmmaker and film archivist Shivendra Singh Dungarpur. That trip left a deep impression on him.
“I first came to Mumbai years ago, brought by my friend Shivendra to do a conference about the future of film. I met a lot of filmmakers and really got to know a little bit about the film culture here. And I’ve never been anywhere in the world with an appreciation of what movies can be and what they should be for audiences.”
India’s Love for Cinema Made Nolan Want to Come Back
Nolan made it clear that his connection with India goes beyond just filming locations. He genuinely admires how Indian audiences experience movies.
“To me, it seemed crazy that we wouldn’t be bringing our films here to premiere them for Mumbai audiences, and absolutely thrilled to be able to do this.”
The filmmaker described Indian moviegoers as “some of the most enthusiastic and knowledgeable cinematic audiences in the world”. He said he had never encountered such appreciation for cinema anywhere else.
Nolan has visited India multiple times before. He shot portions of The Dark Knight Rises (2012) at Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur. He also returned in 2019 for the Tenet shoot in Mumbai. But he never got the chance to premiere a film here until now.
The Odyssey Marks Nolan’s First-Ever India Premiere
The Odyssey had its India premiere across July 10 and 11, 2026. The primary screening took place at the PVR ICON IMAX at Phoenix Palladium in Lower Parel, Mumbai. The team held a special fan screening on Friday, followed by an industry red carpet event on Saturday.
Matt Damon, who plays Odysseus in the film, told the Mumbai audience that this screening felt special because it was the first time the team had shown the movie to real viewers.
“This is the first real audience we’ve been in front of that’s seen the film. It means the world to us that you liked it.”
Tom Holland, who plays Odysseus’s son Telemachus, praised the energy of Indian moviegoers. He said no one brings energy to a movie theater like audiences in India.
Emma Thomas Says India Proves Theaters Are Still the Future
Nolan’s wife and longtime producing partner, Emma Thomas, also spoke at the press conference. She pointed out that India stands out globally for its love of cinema.
“There’s a lot of conversation in Hollywood about people not going to theatres, but India is showing that the future is in theatres.”
Thomas added that the team had heard about the passion of Indian audiences, but seeing it in person was amazing. She said they had screened a print of Dunkirk (2017) in India earlier, and the response was incredible. That experience actually pushed them to bring The Odyssey to the country.
Nolan’s Movies Have a Strong Track Record in India
Indian audiences have consistently supported Nolan’s films. His previous release, Oppenheimer (2023), earned over Rs 130 crore at the Indian box office. The country became one of the film’s strongest international markets.
Now, The Odyssey is generating massive buzz in India. Advance bookings reportedly crossed 1.5 lakh tickets sold. The film is on track for a Rs 20 crore-plus opening day in India.
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) cleared The Odyssey without any cuts. The film received an ‘A’ certificate, restricting it to viewers aged 18 and above. The censor certificate was issued on July 9.
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What The Odyssey Is About
The Odyssey is Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s ancient Greek epic poem. The film follows Odysseus, the King of Ithaca, on his long and dangerous journey home after the Trojan War. He encounters mythical creatures and faces trials that test his courage and determination.
Matt Damon stars as Odysseus. Anne Hathaway plays his wife, Penelope. Tom Holland portrays their son, Telemachus. The ensemble cast also includes Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, and Samantha Morton.
The movie runs for 172 minutes. It is the first feature film shot entirely using newly developed IMAX cameras. Nolan described it as the most challenging production of his career.
“Every film we’ve made has its own challenges, but this one felt like it had many challenges.”
The Odyssey Releases Worldwide on July 17
The Odyssey is scheduled to hit theaters worldwide on July 17, 2026. The film will be available in multiple formats, including IMAX 2D and 4DX.
Nolan’s visit to Mumbai concluded a two-day promotional stop. The team attended the premiere, held a press conference, and interacted with fans. Dimple Kapadia, Boman Irani, Shruti Haasan, Prateik Smita Patil, and Jim Sarbh also attended the Mumbai premiere.
The director made history by launching his film in India for the first time. It was a moment years in the making, delayed by a global pandemic but finally realized in Mumbai.
Also Read: Matt Damon Calls Not Working With Shekhar Kapur a 20-Year-Old Debt He Still Carries
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