
Tom Cruise once expressed his regret at not being able to shoot Mission: Impossible in India due to logistical constraints. In an old interview with CNN-News18's Rajeev Masand, Cruise said that the next time he did a Mission: Impossible film, he would shoot it in India, logistics and government rules permitting. When Masand raised a 'complaint' that the 'Mumbai portions' for Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol were shot in Vancouver and Dubai instead, and the Kashmir parts in Mission: Impossible - Fallout in New Zealand and Norway, Cruise replied, "I just need to be able to shut down streets," alluding to the lack of logistical permits.
However, it now seems that Cruise has bigger ambitions than just having one of his films shot in India. Speaking during the global promotional tour for his latest film, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, which released in India a week before its global theatrical premiere, Cruise stated, "I feel so much love for India. India is an amazing country, people, and culture. I have to say the whole experience has been etched in my memory. Every single moment. From the moment I landed, going to the Taj Mahal, and spending time in Mumbai—I remember each moment quite vividly." It is worth noting that during the promotional campaign for Ghost Protocol, Cruise visited Mumbai and the iconic Taj Mahal in Agra.
The acclaimed actor further revealed his fondness for musicals in Hindi cinema and articulated his ambition to film in India. "I would love to go back to India and make a film there. I love Bollywood films, the skill that it takes you to do what you all do is so natural. I love it when in a scene someone suddenly breaks into a song. I love it. It’s something that I have grown up watching—musicals from different countries. I love Bollywood movies. You can just break out into a song—it’s so beautiful. I love the dancing, singing, the actors. That is such a unique experience and craftsmanship of the actors to be able to sing, dance, and act."
Reiterating his aspiration to create a Bollywood-style feature film, Cruise added, "I cannot wait to go back to India. I have so many friends there. I have met such amazing people there. I would love to make a Bollywood-style movie. It would be so much fun and amazing to do that. I love the dancing and the singing—it would be so much fun to do that."
In a gesture of connection with his Indian audience, Cruise also delivered his memorable line from Final Reckoning, "I need you to trust me, one last time," in Hindi, saying, "Mujh par bharosa karo, ek aakhri baar."