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Diljit Dosanjh says Shakira invited him on her tour after their Met Gala 2025 car ride. Talks about a possible Indian version of ‘Hips Don’t Lie’.
During a candid conversation at the Billboard Summit in Toronto, Punjabi superstar Diljit Dosanjh shared details about his viral Met Gala 2025 car ride with Shakira, revealing that the global icon invited him on tour and expressed interest in doing an Indian version of “Hips Don’t Lie.”
Punjabi music superstar Diljit Dosanjh continues to break cultural boundaries with his unique blend of global flair and desi roots. After making headlines for his grand debut at the Met Gala 2025, where he was spotted sharing a ride with Latin pop icon Shakira and global sensation Nicole Scherzinger, Diljit has now opened up about that much-discussed moment—and dropped an exciting hint about a potential Indo-Latin collaboration.
The revelation came during the inaugural Billboard Summit Canada at NXNE in Toronto’s TIFF Lightbox on June 11, 2025, where Diljit was invited as a special guest for a one-on-one conversation with Panos A Panay, President of the Recording Academy—the organization behind the Grammy Awards.
Addressing the singer with genuine admiration, Panos said, “You’ve worked with Sia, you’ve been seen hanging out with Ed Sheeran, and now you’re apparently carpooling with Shakira. How do you look at these collaborations, especially when they come from such different cultures and music traditions?”
With his trademark charm, Diljit laughed and replied, “Hips don’t lie, sir,” sending the audience into delighted applause. But what followed wasn’t just a joke—it was a musical scoop. “Actually, it was Shakira who invited me on her tour. She said, ‘We should do an Indian version of Hips Don’t Lie. It’s going to be tricky, but I’m in,’” Diljit revealed.
This playful and unexpected revelation adds another layer to the already viral moment from earlier this year, where Diljit, Shakira, and Nicole were seen riding together in a luxurious car en route to the Met Gala. The clip, captioned “If global domination had a face – Diljit x Shakira,” set social media ablaze, marking a cultural crossover moment that felt equal parts surreal and inevitable.
Adding fuel to the frenzy was a behind-the-scenes video shared by Diljit’s team a few days after the Met Gala. In it, Diljit is seen casually narrating why they were running late. “They’re not taking us to the main area, all the action is happening backstage. I think the zipper on Shakira’s dress broke, that’s why we’re late. I knew we would be late because of Shakira,” he chuckled.
But behind the light-hearted humour is the image of a man who has become one of India’s most recognizable cultural exports. At the Met Gala, Diljit wore a regal white ensemble designed by American-Nepalese fashion icon Prabal Gurung—his look inspired by the grandeur of the Maharaja of Patiala. It was both a tribute to royal Indian heritage and a bold statement about his place on the global stage.
Inside the gala, Diljit mingled with the world’s biggest celebrities. Nicole Scherzinger, known for her fierce style and pop diva status, even complimented Diljit on his look. Later, the trio—Diljit, Nicole, and Shakira—were spotted at an intimate dinner hosted by Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, solidifying Diljit’s arrival in fashion’s most elite circle.
Diljit’s rise in global recognition isn’t an overnight success. He made history as the first Punjabi artist to perform at Coachella in 2023 and followed it up with his record-breaking Dil-Luminati Tour, which saw him sell out massive stadiums like Vancouver’s BC Place and Toronto’s Rogers Centre—marking the largest Punjabi music concerts held outside of India.
In 2024, he graced the cover of Billboard Global and Billboard Canada, becoming the face of a new era in Indian music. An era where language and geography are no longer barriers to global acclaim. His career now straddles music, film, fashion, and diplomacy.
That’s precisely what made his presence at the Billboard Summit so significant. This year marks the first time the summit was launched in Canada, in celebration of Billboard’s 30th anniversary. Hosting the event at NXNE in Toronto, one of the world’s most multicultural cities, was intentional. Panos A Panay told Billboard Canada, “For decades, the music industry was viewed through an Anglo-American lens. But we’re finally seeing a seismic shift. Artists like Diljit are reshaping the global soundscape. He doesn’t need to sing in English to go viral or move stadiums—and that’s powerful.”
At the summit, a slew of artist-led workshops and conversations focused on the intersection of culture, identity, and music as the new language of diplomacy. Diljit’s interview was one of the biggest highlights, not just because of the star power but because of the message he carries: that art transcends borders, and authenticity is more magnetic than assimilation.
As for the Shakira collaboration? Nothing’s official yet—but if an Indian version of Hips Don’t Lie does materialize, it would be a symbolic and sonic celebration of two powerhouse cultures colliding in the best way.
Yatamanyu Narain is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for all things entertainment. Whether he’s breaking the latest Bollywood news or chatting with rising stars in the OTT world, he’s always on the hun…Read More
Yatamanyu Narain is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for all things entertainment. Whether he’s breaking the latest Bollywood news or chatting with rising stars in the OTT world, he’s always on the hun… Read More
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