Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone has been appointed as the new chairperson of MAMI Mumbai Film Festival. The actress' appointment came in after Kiran Rao stepped down as the chairperson of the film festival. According to a report in Mumbai Mirror, Kiran wants to focus on a film project. Known for her fan-following and credibility as an actor, the board members of MAMI had held a meeting, a few days ago, where Deepika received the maximum number of votes and was designated the job.
You may recall, a few pictures from the board meeting had started floating in the Internet. Ready to take on the responsibility, Deepika told Mumbai Mirror, “It’s an absolute honour and a huge responsibility. I believe in MAMI’s vision and we are committed towards creating a community that cinema lovers and creators of a film passionate nation like ours truly deserve.”
1st board meeting of 2019! Pulsating energy, crazy good ideas & unbridled laughter. Can’t wait to get cracking on #JioMAMIwithStar2019 @deepikapadukone #KiranRao @anupamachopra @kabirkhankk @smritikiran @VikramMotwane @kdhavse @VishalBhardwaj @rohansippy #ZoyaAkhtar #SidRoyKapur pic.twitter.com/h93IVD0RKB
— JioMAMIwithStar (@MumbaiFilmFest) 16 January 2019
While Kiran Rao told the leading tabloid, “It has been my privilege and pleasure to work as part of the core team of MAMI, and after four years as Chairperson of the Academy, I am delighted to welcome one of India’s most loved film stars, Deepika Padukone as the new Chairperson. Deepika has been a supporter of the festival and part of our Board of Trustees, and is a person whose ethos and work I greatly admire. I am sure that under her leadership the Academy will become stronger and more robust in serving the cinema community. I look forward to supporting her in this journey and wish her all the very best.”
Sharing her excitement, Board of Trustees, MAMI, Isha Ambani, said, “I am thrilled at Deepika’s appointment as Chairperson for Jio MAMI. Her stellar achievements speak for themselves and at Jio we’re confident that she will lend her brilliance to the Jio MAMI platform to continue taking the festival to newer heights.”
Meanwhile, Festival Director, Anupama Chopra told Mirror, “I want to thank both these amazing women for putting their might and muscle behind the festival. For the last four years, Kiran has worked with us in the trenches and provided every level of support. We are all delighted that Deepika is now leading the team. I’m an admirer of her work and I’m really looking forward to working with and learning from her.”
Image Source: Instagram/deepikapadukone,kiranraotr