Iran has taken a Bollywood-inspired swipe at US President Donald Trump, using a popular meme featuring Bollywood star Akshay Kumar to mock him amid rising tensions between Tehran and Washington.
The Iranian Embassy in Tunisia shared the meme on its official X account, shortly after Iran claimed that its forces had intercepted a US drone near the Strait of Hormuz.
The meme features several sarcastic and mischievous expressions of Akshay Kumar taken from his popular comedy films. Its caption read: “Submarine intercepted. Oil prices nearing $100. Election also approaching. How’s it going, Trump?”
Using Kumar’s comic expressions, the Iranian diplomatic mission brought together three issues—the alleged interception of a US submarine, rising oil prices and the upcoming US election—to take a dig at Trump.
The post quickly gained traction on X, with users commenting on the Iranian embassy’s jibe, the growing military tensions between Iran and the United States, and the potential impact of higher oil prices on global markets.
Iran Has Used Bollywood to Mock the US Before
This is not the first time Iran has turned to Bollywood memes to poke fun at the United States.
In April this year, Iran’s consulate in Mumbai used a scene from the Bollywood comedy Dhamaal to mock Washington. In the scene, Riteish Deshmukh’s character is seen fleeing from several people before hiding behind the door of a house without walls.
The video appeared to portray the United States as being chased by Iran. The post was accompanied by the caption: “Indian memes are the best.”
The latest meme also sparked a wave of jokes and reactions on social media.
One user joked: “Trump better not find out this is an Indian meme. Otherwise, he might sanction India again!”
Another suggested that memes like this should only be used on the “Iran in India” account.
A third user jokingly described Akshay Kumar as a “geopolitical asset.”
The unusual use of Bollywood humor by Iran highlights how social media and popular culture have increasingly become tools for political messaging amid heightened tensions between countries.
