Bollywood movies inspire Egyptian student to learn Hindi

"Bollywood movies were the main reason I fell in love with the language," Muhammad said.

Muhammad is among 30 Egyptian students who are studying Urdu and Hindi at the Maulana Azad Centre for Indian Cultural in Cairo.

The Egyptian students studying Indian languages had been invited to an iftaar party being organised by the centre which occupies a strategic location in downtown close to the iconic Tahrir square.

Nadia is another 25-year-old student who started studying Hindi at the centre and later included Urdu as well to her studies.

"I believe India is such an important country and its languages have to be optionally taught in Egyptian schools. This is what I want to do in the future," Nadia says.

Around 60 Indian students studying at Al-Azhar University and members of the Egyptian Indian Friendship association also attended the event.

Meanwhile, The Indian embassy in Cairo celebrated the country's, unfurling the national tri-colour and organising a series of cultural events to mark the occasion.