Deepika Padukone, a Bollywood actress, expressed her gratitude for becoming a member of the Cannes Film Festival jury panel on Wednesday but expressed her desire for India to become as prestigious a cinema centre as the city on the French Riviera.
One of the eight members of the Cannes Competition jury, the actor said India needs to “conventionally” support domestic artists.
“As a country, we have a long way to go.” As an Indian, I am proud to represent my country, yet only a few Indian films, performers, or talents have been able to make it to Cannes in the past 75 years.
Deepika Padukone said, “I feel collectively as a nation we have the talent, ability and we need conviction. There will come a day, I truly believe, where India won’t have to be at Cannes; Cannes will be in India,” at following the inauguration ceremony of the India Pavilion. It was live streamed on PIB’s official YouTube channel.