Zohran Mamdani Aces SRK Classic, Fumbles Rest In Fun Bollywood Quiz

Last Updated:November 29, 2025, 07:18 IST

Zohran Mamdani joined Mehdi Hasan for a Bollywood song quiz, recognizing Chaiyya Chaiyya but missing It's the Time to Disco and Mehndi Laga Ke Rakhna.

Zohran Mamdani joined Mehdi Hasan for a Bollywood song quiz, recognizing Chaiyya Chaiyya but missing It's the Time to Disco and Mehndi Laga Ke Rakhna.

In a light-hearted chat with Mehdi Hasan, New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani agreed to take on a playful Bollywood song quiz with a warning: he didn’t expect to do very well.

Mamdani started on a high note. The first song introduced was the classic Chaiyya Chaiyya from the 1998 film Dil Se starring Shah Rukh Khan, and Mamdani instantly recognised it, nailing the answer.

But things got trickier from there. When another track played, he had no clue, prompting quips from Hasan about the difficulty level, and even a joking suggestion that a “call-a-friend" lifeline might help. The song turned out to be It’s the Time to Disco from the 2003 film Kal Ho Naa Ho — but Mamdani couldn’t name it.

For the third song, Mamdani tried to guess by picturing a typical SRK pose: he said he could “feel like Shah Rukh Khan is moving in the song," and even struck the actor’s signature pose, arms out wide on steps. Despite the dramatic flair, he still failed to name the track, which was revealed as Mehndi Laga Ke Rakhna from the 1995 film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. His playful attempt, though incorrect, turned into one of the most amusing moments of the segment.

Throughout, Mamdani’s good humour and willingness to laugh at himself made the quiz fun and perhaps more revealing of his fondness for Hindi cinema than a perfect score ever could. 

News world Zohran Mamdani Aces SRK Classic, Fumbles Rest In Fun Bollywood Quiz

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