Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi has found a new admirer in Ghulam Noon, popularly known as the 'Curry King of Britain', who is credited with popularising the 'taste of India' in Britain.

Noon, who was on a two day visit to Gujarat, on Saturday and Sunday had met Modi and was impressed by the dynamic chief minister.

"Noon, chairman of $200-million Noon Products, had a 30 minute one-to-one meeting with the chief minister last Saturday," a senior official in Gujarat chief minister's office told PTI on Monday.

Earlier, Noon was one of the most vocal critics of Modi following 2002 post-Godhra riots which had claimed a several hundred lives mostly from the minority community.

He had also written a 'strongly-worded' article on the riots, criticising the role of the Modi administration during the large scale carnage against minorities.

However, he seems to have had a 'change of heart' and is now all praise for the chief minister, who, he believed, had made the state 'truly vibrant.'

He had met Modi in 2003 at the residence of then British High Commissioner and there Gujarat chief minister had voiced his views on the Muslims, which had convinced Noon.

After that interaction, Noon had changed his opinion about Modi, sources said, adding he was also invited to visit Gujarat.

According to sources, he has also indicated his plans to set up facilities in Gujarat to make ready meals, food products and various ingredients to be exported to western markets.