Mumbai pulsed with the infectious energy of Enrique Iglesias last night as the renowned pop sensation made his triumphant return to India after a 13-year hiatus. Performing at the MMRDA Grounds, Iglesias captivated a sold-out crowd of 25,000 fans, delivering a memorable 90-minute set packed with his most beloved hits.
The concert featured fan-favorite tracks like ‘Bailamos,’ ‘Escape,’ ‘Bailando,’ and ‘Ring My Bells,’ showcasing Iglesias’s enduring appeal and dynamic stage presence. He effortlessly interacted with the audience, creating an electric atmosphere that had everyone on their feet.
A particularly poignant moment of the evening came when Iglesias began singing ‘Hero,’ the iconic ballad from his 2001 album ‘Escape.’ The massive crowd joined in, their voices filling the venue and visibly moving the singer. Overcome with emotion, Iglesias knelt on stage, expressing his heartfelt gratitude to the adoring fans.
Beyond the music, the concert was filled with charming and spontaneous moments. Fans near the stage even managed to catch Iglesias’s attention by throwing their phones, prompting him to oblige with a few selfies before security intervened. He also made his way down to the barricades to connect with fans, even sharing a kiss with one admirer.
While most fans were thrilled with the performance, a few expressed minor disappointments, noting the absence of hits like ‘Rhythm Divine’ and ‘Addicted’ from the setlist. Some attendees in the general admission areas also felt they were too far from the stage. To address this, organizers set up a secondary stage closer to the general audience, allowing Iglesias to perform several songs from there.
The star-studded event saw numerous celebrities in attendance, including Malaika Arora, Vidya Balan, Rakul Preet Singh, Jackky Bhagnani, Rubina Dilaik, Anu Malik, Abhinav Shukla, and Shweta Basu Prasad, who were all spotted enjoying the show.
The concert’s opening acts featured the EDM duo Progressive Brothers and Indo-Canadian pop singer Jonita Gandhi. This performance marks Iglesias’s third visit to India, and he is scheduled for another show at the same venue tonight, with an even larger audience anticipated.