Indian audiences watching the Oscars 2025 on Monday morning were in for a surprise. Host Conan O’Brien greeted them in Hindi from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

O’Brien Attempts Hindi for Indian Audiences

The 97th Academy Awards aired live in India on JioHotstar and Star Plus. During his opening monologue, O’Brien directly addressed Indian viewers.

He said, "Bharat ke logon ko namaskar wahan subah ho chuki hai toh mujhe ummeed hai ki naashte ke saath Oscars kar rahe hain.” This translated to: "Greetings to the people of India. It’s morning there, so I hope you’re having breakfast with the Oscars."

Mixed Reactions on Social Media

Immediately after his greeting, social media users shared their reactions. Many appreciated his effort.

One fan wrote, "Conan O’Brien deserves an Oscar for best attempt at a foreign language! Good job, though the Hindi was definitely Hinding! #Oscars2025."

Similarly, another user praised him, saying, "#ConanOBrien kicked off the #Oscar ceremony with a thoughtful shoutout to India. Spoke in Hindi to connect with viewers. #Oscars2025."

However, not everyone was impressed. Some viewers criticized his pronunciation.

For example, one user commented, "Good attempt, but frankly, Conan totally butchered the Hindi greeting! #Oscars #Oscars2025." Another added, "…that was NOT Hindi."

O’Brien Jokes About Trump and Russia

Later in the show, O’Brien took a jab at Donald Trump. He joked, "Anora’s having a good night. That’s great news. Two wins already. I guess Americans are excited to see somebody finally stand up to a powerful Russian."

As a result, his remark sparked laughter and added to the night’s entertainment.