India, March 16 -- Podcaster and AI scientist Lex Fridman revealed that in preparation to interview Prime Minister Narendra Modi he took on a two-day fast, eating no food and just drinking water. "I am fasting right now. It has been almost two days, 45 hours. I have not had any food just water. In honour of this conversation, just to get into the right mindset and spiritual level," he said, drawing a laugh from the prime minister, as the two sat down for a chat.

During the conversation, which lasted over three hours, Fridman spoke of PM Modi's frequent fasting rituals and asked him what he thinks about when he is fasting for several days at a time. "I am truly pleasantly surprised and honoured that you are fasting. All the more because i...