Currently ‘flying high’ on the crest of her recent ‘Padmaavat’ success waves (surging towards Rs. 250 crores) the elegant diva Deepika Padukone was the cynosure at the ‘Volare Awards’ convened by the Italian Tourism and the Italian Consulate. The Volare (it means 'to fly') Awards are presented to those from Bollywood who played significant roles towards cinematic promotion of Italian tourism, according to its India-based head Signor Salvatore Iainniello. Besides Deepika, who was clad in a red n’white ‘stripe-tease’ ethnic saree, a galaxy of luminaries including maestro composer - singer A.R.Rahman, senior actor producer - film-maker Randhir Kapoor, film-makers Imtiaz Ali, Sajid Nadiadwala and Aashish Singh (Yashraj), were among those who were honoured. Also present was style-icon Jackie ‘Bhidu’ Shroff at the event emceed by suave Vinod Advani.
In her address to the elite gathering Deepika, expressed that cinema to her was like love – it has no language. “Films can be made in whatever foreign language. I could sit in a theatre or watch it on TV and yet understand every emotion, that the film is trying to convey. Love is exactly like that, it knows no language, you can feel it. Cinema has the power to bring the world together and bring people together,” she declared amidst applause.
Interestingly, Randhir Kapoor picked up the Volare Award on behalf of his ‘late’ showman father Raj Kapoor, whowas the first Indian filmmaker to showcase Italian locales when he shot the classic R. K. movie ‘Sangam’ (1964) out there. Which in turn initiated the Indo-Italian sangam (confluence).