A few years ago, Brad Pitt's visit to Varanasi offered a fascinating glimpse into the Hollywood star's appreciation for Indian culture and his ability to blend into the local atmosphere. The actor's time in the ancient city, captured in a series of images, showed him experiencing the everyday life of Banaras.
Pitt's connection with India goes back some time. He accompanied Angelina Jolie during the filming of "A Mighty Heart". In 2012, Pitt spoke about his visit to Varanasi, describing it as "absolutely staggering". He expressed awe at the way the city "spills into the river Ganges," calling it a holy place.
During his time in Varanasi while filming a sequence for "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," Pitt was seen in several candid moments. One memorable photo showed him engrossed in a game of chess with a local on the ghats, the steps leading down to the Ganges River. Another captured him sitting under a tree, casually posing with locals. He was also photographed riding a bike through the city's narrow streets.
One of the most striking images showed Pitt getting a trim at a local barber shop. He was seen reading a newspaper while the barber worked on his beard, fully embracing the local experience.
Pitt himself has spoken fondly of his Indian experiences. He told DNA in 2012, "On my last visit, I got to see a lot of India. There is no place like it". He also noted the country's diversity, saying, "it's so diverse — both the South and the North — that one cannot get to see all of it in a couple of weeks".
Pitt has also expressed his fondness for Indian cuisine, mentioning his love for "chicken masala, dal and naan" in a 2006 interview with NDTV. In 2011, he shared his positive impressions of Diwali, the Indian festival of lights.
In the years since his visit to Varanasi, other Hollywood figures have also shared their experiences in India. Will Smith, for example, posted pictures of himself participating in the Ganga Aarti in Haridwar, noting that his visit "awakened a new understanding" of himself.
Brad Pitt has visited India on several occasions. In 2002, he made a private visit to Delhi and Jaipur. In 2012, he was in Chandigarh shooting for a film on Osama bin Laden. In 2016, he made a hush-hush trip to Mumbai. In 2017, he visited Mumbai to promote his film "War Machine" and meet with Shah Rukh Khan.
