India–Russia relations did not emerge overnight during the Cold War; they are historical, layered, and deeply multidimensional. Yet contemporary discussions often reduce the relationship to defence cooperation, energy ties, or strategic convergence, leaving its cultural foundations largely overlooked. At the same time, conversations on foreign cultural influence in India tend to privilege the West, and more recently, the rise of Korean popular culture. What is often missed is the depth of India–Russia cultural engagement and the extent to which the two sides have influenced each other over the centuries. This curated visual essay offers glimpses into that lesser-told history, tracing a historical, cultural, and emotional connection that runs parallel to the formal diplomatic relationship.