Hollywood icon Hugh Grant, celebrated as one of the world's 50 greatest actors, has performed a complete U-turn on one of his most famous cinematic moments. At the prestigious Hindustan Times Leadership Summit (HTLS) 2025, the BAFTA and Golden Globe winner opened up about his legendary dance sequence from the 2003 romantic comedy 'Love Actually', admitting he once loathed it but now loves to dance spontaneously anywhere.
From Prime Ministerial Grooves to Cringing Memories
The scene in question features Grant's character, Prime Minister David, joyfully dancing through 10 Downing Street to the tune of 'Jump' by The Pointer Sisters. While it became an iconic moment for audiences worldwide, for Grant, the memory of filming was far from joyful. In a conversation with Indian actor Rahul Khanna at the summit, Grant confessed, "I dreaded that scene more than anything." He even employed childish tactics to avoid rehearsals, pretending to have a bad leg when the crew mentioned practice.
The actor, known for his roles in 'Notting Hill' and 'Four Weddings and a Funeral', has been famously critical of the sequence in the past. He once labeled it "the most excruciating scene ever committed to celluloid." For over two decades, this sentiment defined his public stance on the beloved clip, much to the amusement of his fans.
A Joyful Transformation: Dancing at Starbucks
Twenty-two years after the film's release, Grant's perspective has undergone a delightful transformation. Speaking at the summit, he revealed a newfound love for movement. "I love dancing, I can dance at any moment. If I'm standing at Starbucks and there's music... It's good manners to dance," Grant declared with a laugh.
This liberated attitude, however, comes with a dose of familial embarrassment. The actor humorously noted that his children are mortified by his spontaneous bursts of dance. "My children are horrified. They begged me not to," he shared, highlighting the generational gap in comfort with public displays of joy.
HTLS 2025: A Summit of Global Voices
Grant's candid interview was part of the final day of the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit 2025. The event, the flagship gathering of the Hindustan Times Group, operated under the powerful theme "Transforming Tomorrow." It aimed to capture the contemporary spirit of innovation, resilience, and reinvention.
The summit stage saw an impressive array of speakers from diverse fields, including:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi
- Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman
- Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta
- Chief Justice of India Surya Kant
- Actor Aamir Khan
Grant's participation in the entertainment segment provided a light-hearted and deeply human counterpoint to discussions on politics, business, and global affairs, reminding everyone of the simple joys that define a life well-lived.
The actor's journey from cringing at a choreographed prime ministerial boogie to finding unbridled joy in an impromptu Starbucks shuffle is a testament to personal reinvention—a core idea of the summit itself. It proves that even for global stars, change is not only possible but can be wonderfully liberating.
