Bollywood Goes to Space: Indian Astronaut's Playlist Features SRK's 'Swades' Anthem on Axiom Mission 4

As the Axiom Mission 4 crew embarked on their journey to the International Space Station (ISS) from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, one song resonated deeply with Indian pilot Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla: "Yuh Hi Chala Chal" from the 2004 film Swades, starring Shah Rukh Khan.

Shubhanshu Shukla's music choice pays tribute to his heritage.

The uplifting song, composed by A.R. Rahman and performed by Udit Narayan, Kailash Kher, and Hariharan, was chosen by Shukla for his launch day playlist. It represents not only his Indian heritage but also the spirit of determination that defines both the film and his mission.

Watch Shubhanshu Shukla's first words from space.

Axiom Space shared the Ax-4 crew's full playlist on X. While mission commander and spaceflight veteran Peggy Whitson selected "Thunder" by Imagine Dragons, Shukla's Bollywood selection garnered significant attention.

Launched aboard a SpaceX Dragon from Launch Complex 39A in Florida at 2:31 am ET (12 noon IST), Ax-4 signifies the fourth private astronaut mission to the ISS. The crew, including Shukla, Whitson, Poland’s Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, and Hungary’s Tibor Kapu, is scheduled to dock with the station by 4 pm IST on Thursday, June 26.

The team will spend approximately 14 days in orbit, executing over 60 experiments and commercial activities involving 31 countries, including India. Shukla's participation highlights a crucial collaboration between ISRO and NASA. The astronauts will wear advanced AxEMU spacesuits designed for future Moon missions.

Reflecting the theme of Swades, where an Indian-origin NASA scientist rediscovers his purpose in rural India, Shukla carries that sentiment into space. This reinforces the idea that science, like music, transcends geographical boundaries.